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SOAP COMPANIES advertise a soap that floats, but that buoyant claim matters little to the Japanese. They never use soap in the bathtub so they aren't concerned whether it rides the water or plunges out of sight.

A Japanese completely soaps his body before entering the tub. Then he rinses himself clean and shiny by pouring small bucketsfull of water over his frame.

Soaping before a bath is a fine practice but soaping before a shower is not recommended procedure. Stubborn showers have been known to yield no water and the victim is left soaped from head to toe, his eyes blinking with a burning glow. (Author's note: the foregoing statement is prompted by an acquaintance with Navy showers. It is safe to assume, however, that it also applies to showers of the Army, Air Force, and Marines.)

After the outside-the-tub soaping and rinsing, the Japanese steps into the water - and it is takusan atsui (very hot). Now there is nothing for him to do  but sit back and relax because all the rubbing and scrubbing has been done. When he finishes his bath he does not empty the tub because each member of the family, one after another, uses the same bath water. The oyu (hot water) is not to be wasted.

In some Japanese bath houses there is a girl-san to scrub the bather's back. She will also, without encouragement - or thanks, push down on his shoulders when he gets one foot in the tub but can't master the nerve to drag the rest of him into the steaming oyu.

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