The Kyoto Shimbun
  • Home
  • Kyoto
  • News
  • 26-Year-Old Landlady Takes over Long-Established, Retro Showa-Style "Yoki-yu"
    Public Bathhouse Used as Model for Kyoto Animation Film

    6 September 2019 - Kyoto//Local topics
    The public bathhouse "Yoki-yu" with its characteristic magnificent undulating gable and its landlady Yukina Fujiuchi. She said, "I would like the neighbors to recognize its appeal again." (Sakaemachi, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture)

    The public bathhouse "Yoki-yu" with its characteristic magnificent undulating gable and its landlady Yukina Fujiuchi. She said, "I would like the neighbors to recognize its appeal again." (Sakaemachi, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture)

    The elderly landlady of the roughly 90-year-old public bath "Yoki-yu," in Sakaemachi, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture, has handed it over to a young public bath manager in Kyoto City. Yukina Fujiuchi, who grew up in the area, is managing the bathhouse as its new landlady, and working hard to make it a source of community invigoration.

    Yoki-yu is said to have been founded in 1932. An outstanding characteristic is its entrance with a large "Karahafu," or a gable with an undulating curve, which is 2.2 meters high and 5.8 meters wide. Reportedly, it is the model for the bathhouse in "Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions," an animated film produced by Kyoto Animation.

    The new manager is Yusuke Minato, an attendant at "Sauna no Umeyu," a public bathhouse in Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto. He uses the name, "Sanjiro Minato" to do business as a public bathhouse activist. He has also managed "Miyako-yu," a public bathhouse at Bamba 3-chome, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture, from last fall.

    Fujiuchi, the new landlady, spent her preschool days in the Ishiyama district, where Sakaemachi is located. She became acquainted with Minato when she was producing goods inspired by public bathhouses while at Kyoto Seika University, Sakyo Ward. After graduation, she worked for a company in Otsu City, but at the same time, she and Minato helped clean Yoki-yu, which was short of hands.

    At the end of last year, Fujiuchi heard from Shizuko Miyamae, the former landlady, that she was thinking of closing the bathhouse due to her poor health. Desiring to "save the public bathhouse in the town where I was born and grew up," Fujiuchi made her mind up and offered to take over the business. Although Miyamae declined, saying, "This business is not profitable. It has no future," Fujiuchi, along with Minato, made persistent efforts to persuade her. She quit her company job and has been at the reception to handle the bathhouse's everyday business since July. She has also been focused on advertising through SNS and other methods.

    (Translated by Mie Hiuzon, Psyche et l’Amour, Inc.)
  • Also in Kyoto//Local topics:

    Kyoto Sanga Ensures J1 Survival
    18,000 Spectators at 1-1 Playoff Final against Kumamoto
    6 December 2022

    Men in Their Prime Should Be Cautious about Binge Eating Disorder
    Doctor Warns Depression May Develop Due to Weight Gain
    6 December 2022

    Kabuki signboards under preparation in Kyoto
    6 December 2022

    Matcha, Yatsuhashi: Vehicles Selling Souvenirs Appear
    Amid Pandemic, What Is Their Aim?
    31 October 2022

    Mao Asada "Feels Elated" over New Story
    Self-Directed Ice Show Opens
    31 October 2022

News Archive
  • December 2022
  • October 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • More...
Categories
  • Sightseeing/Events
  • Temples/Shrines
  • Tradition/Culture
  • Local topics
  • Education/University
  • Business/Company
  • Traffic
  • Gourmet
  • 1min Kyoto
  • Kyoto
  • Shiga
Web site
Introducing Privacy Policy Japanese Site
Copyright © 1995-2023 The Kyoto Shimbun Co., Ltd. All rights reserved.
We use cookies for a number of reasons, such as keeping our websites reliable and secure, providing social media features and to analyze the performance of ads. Accept & continue Read More
Privacy Policy