High Energy Costs Cause Problems for Japanese Public Bathhouses
High Energy Costs Cause Problems for Japanese Public Bathhouses
Introduction
Japanese public bathhouses are called sento. They have big problems now. The cost of oil for heating is going up. Also, there is not enough oil. This is because of problems in the Middle East. Many bathhouses already had problems before. Fewer people come to them. The owners are old and have no one to take over.
Main Body
The number of bathhouses is going down. The Japan National Sento Association says there are now only about one-twelfth of the bathhouses from 60 years ago. Owners have fewer customers. They cannot find new owners. Also, the government says they cannot raise prices. So when oil costs go up, the bathhouses lose money. The energy crisis makes things worse. At Ikesu Onsen in Aichi, the bathhouse opened one hour later in March. The oil delivery was cut in half. They lost about ten customers each day. Atsuko Matsui, who works there, says the supplier decides the price and amount. The bathhouse has no choice. In Aomori, Katsuragi Onsen will close at the end of May. The owner, Masayoshi Yamaguchi, says oil prices go up every week. They cannot keep the old building working. Even with enough customers, they cannot continue. The oil supply problem comes from the Middle East crisis. The text says US and Israeli attacks on Iran caused this. Tankers cannot pass through the Strait of Hormuz easily. Oil prices go up. About 30% of bathhouses use oil boilers. So they feel the problem directly. They cannot change their business easily.
Conclusion
Because of these problems, bathhouse owners are reducing hours or closing forever. If oil supply does not become stable or if they cannot change prices, many public bathhouses may close.
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Energy Cost Increases from Middle East Disruptions Threaten the Future of Japanese Public Bathhouses
Introduction
Traditional Japanese public bathhouses, called sento, are facing serious operational problems because of rising fuel oil prices and supply disruptions. These challenges, which are linked to tensions in the Middle East, are adding to existing structural issues such as a falling number of customers and aging owners who have no one to take over their businesses.
Main Body
The sento industry has been declining for many years. According to the Japan National Sento Association, the number of bathhouses has dropped to about one-twelfth of its highest level from almost sixty years ago. Owners have dealt with fewer customers and a shortage of people to take over their businesses. Furthermore, government-set prices stop bathhouses from raising their fees, so they are easily affected by sudden changes in the cost of supplies. The current energy crisis has made these pressures worse. At Ikesu Onsen, a family-run sento founded in 1919 in Tsushima, Aichi Prefecture, the business delayed its opening time by one hour from late March because of unreliable fuel oil deliveries. Monthly fuel deliveries were cut by about half, from roughly one tonne, which caused a loss of around ten customers each day. Atsuko Matsui, a 57-year-old who helps run the bathhouse, said that the supplier decides both the amount and the price, and the business has no choice but to accept these terms. In Aomori, Katsuragi Onsen has decided to close at the end of May. The owner, Masayoshi Yamaguchi, also 57, explained that fuel oil prices go up every week and do not seem to be getting stable. He added that continuing to operate is impossible, even though they have enough customers. The fuel supply problems in Japan are caused by the crisis in the Middle East, which sources say is due to attacks by the US and Israel on Iran. This conflict has disrupted the movement of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz and increased global oil prices. According to the Japan National Sento Association, about 30% of sento use fuel oil boilers, so they are directly affected by these supply and price shocks. The combination of outside geopolitical factors and domestic rules has left owners with little ability to change their situation.
Conclusion
The combination of long-term decline and severe energy cost pressures is forcing sento owners to reduce their hours or close down for good. Unless fuel supply becomes more stable or pricing rules become more flexible, the survival of many remaining public bathhouses is uncertain.
Vocabulary Learning
Sentence Learning
Energy Cost Increases from Middle East Disruptions Threaten Viability of Japanese Public Bathhouses
Introduction
Traditional Japanese public bathhouses, known as sento, are experiencing severe operational difficulties due to rising fuel oil prices and supply disruptions. These challenges, linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, are compounding pre-existing structural problems such as declining patronage and an aging owner demographic without successors.
Main Body
The sento sector has been in long-term decline. The Japan National Sento Association reports that the number of bathhouses has fallen to approximately one-twelfth of its peak level from nearly six decades ago. Operators have faced a shrinking customer base and a lack of successors for aging owners. Additionally, regulated pricing prevents bathhouses from passing on increased costs to customers, leaving them vulnerable to input cost volatility. The current energy crisis has exacerbated these pressures. At Ikesu Onsen, a family-run sento founded in 1919 in Tsushima, Aichi Prefecture, the establishment delayed its opening time by one hour from late March due to unstable fuel oil supply. Monthly fuel deliveries were halved from roughly one tonne, resulting in a daily loss of approximately ten customers. Atsuko Matsui, a 57-year-old involved in running the bathhouse, stated that the supplier dictates both quantity and price, leaving the business with no alternative but to accept the terms. In Aomori, Katsuragi Onsen has decided to close at the end of May, citing rising fuel costs as an additional burden on maintaining its aging facilities. Masayoshi Yamaguchi, the 57-year-old head of that bathhouse, noted that fuel oil prices increase weekly and show no signs of stabilization, making continued operation unsustainable despite sufficient customer numbers. The disruption to fuel supply in Japan originates from the Middle East crisis, which the sources attribute to US-Israeli attacks on Iran. This conflict has affected tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and driven up global oil prices. According to the Japan National Sento Association, approximately 30% of sento use fuel oil boilers, making them directly exposed to these supply and price shocks. The combination of external geopolitical factors and domestic regulatory constraints has left operators with limited room to adapt.
Conclusion
The confluence of long-term structural decline and acute energy cost pressures is forcing sento operators to reduce hours or close permanently. Without changes in fuel supply stability or pricing flexibility, the viability of many remaining public bathhouses remains uncertain.