John Yamamoto-Wilson wrote:

> I wrote:
> 
>> > As I understand it, it's not considered essential to wash oneself down
>> > before getting into the onsen (hot spring), because that's running
> water,
>> > but it would be a definite faux pas to not wash oneself down before
> getting
>> > into the sentou (public baths), because that's standing water - not that
>> > many people use the public baths any more, now that everyone has a
> bathroom
>> > of their own at home.
> 
> Kevin Gowen replied:
> 
>> When will you be making your first trip to Japan?
> 
> Oh, you are a wag! 

Sometimes I am a scalawag, even.

 > But there are people who were born here and lived all
> their lives here who earnestly testify to the truth of the above, my merry
> prankster!
> 
> I've never been to a sentou myself, so I really couldn't say whether people
> wash off more consistently in the sentou than in the hot spring. Not that my
> observations matter much; what's *really* needed is for Eric to resolve the
> matter once and for all by drumming up some statistics...

Oh, I wasn't referring to the bit about washing off. It was the 
statement, "not that many people use the public baths any more" that 
caught my eye.

-- 
Kevin Gowen
"I like old Joe. Joe is a decent fellow,"
  - U.S. President Harry S Truman, speaking for all liberals by saying 
about Stalin what he should have said about McCarthy