The Last Business Day of a 74-Year-Old Manager Who Ran a Neighborhood Bathhouse for 50 Years [Japanese Side]

74-Year-Old Shigenobu Matsukura Operating Bathhouse in Hakodate City
Retired Due to Population Decline and Rising Prices... Noteworthy for Taking Over from the City

As the weather gets colder, soaking in warm water seems to wash away all fatigue. These days, it has become quite difficult to find public bathhouses.

Even in Japan, a country serious about bathing, public bathhouses are struggling due to population decline and rising prices. In rural areas, the term "bath refugees" has even emerged, referring to people who have to travel far to find a bathhouse because there are none in their neighborhood.

Amid this, NHK recently reported on the last day of business of a 74-year-old bathhouse owner in Hakodate City, Hokkaido. He had responsibly operated the only bathhouse in the village for 50 years and was retiring that day.

Store manager Matsukura Shigenobu has maintained warm bathwater here for 50 years since 1973. Located near a village with many elderly residents, it was an indispensable presence in the community. On that day, many people came by saying, "Since it’s Matsukura-san’s last day."

Mr. Matsukura is cleaning the bathhouse for the final day of business. (Photo by NHK)

Several factors contributed to Matsukura-san’s decision to close. Besides physical challenges, the serious issue of regional extinction led to a decrease in customers. With income declining and prices such as fuel costs rising, financial difficulties were inevitable. In Hakodate City, there were over 80 bathhouses 40 years ago, but now fewer than 20 remain.

On his last day, Matsukura-san cleaned the bathhouse as usual. Since it closes at 8 p.m., he stayed alone in the evening to finish cleaning. When deciding to close, his first thoughts were concern for the remaining customers and gratitude.

He said, "I am simply grateful to the customers. I really appreciate them. It seems that not only their bodies but also their minds are cleansed by bathing, because their faces look truly different after a bath."

Mr. Shigenobu Matsukura. (Photo by NHK)

Since the bathhouse was a beloved gathering place for the elderly, many felt it could not just be closed. This time, Hakodate City made the decision to take over the bathhouse.

If this place closed, the nearest bathhouse for the village’s elderly would be more than 2 km away, requiring bus travel. With only a few buses a day, the elderly would have to wait shivering in the cold winter. To prevent the creation of such "bath refugees," the city decided to take over the bathhouse.

In the new bathhouse, the counter where Matsukura-san used to sit was removed, and a ticket vending machine was installed. City officials present at the site said, "Since we are amateurs, we will cooperate with Matsukura-san and try to eliminate bath refugees," greeting the elderly customers.

As such, even a single bathhouse can determine the lives and convenience of local residents. Through Matsukura-san’s story, it seems the time has come for us, facing aging and regional extinction issues like Japan, to consider what policies we should implement.