Decorations of Zakuro-guchi
(Pomegranate door)


The Edo bathing style evolved from steam baths into hot baths, or 'arai-yu' (wash bath). Various different forms evolved during this process, such as 'Ita-buro', 'Todana-buro' or 'Zakuro-buro'. Both ita-buro and todana-buro are steam baths in which the bathtub is separated by a sliding panel to keep in the vapor. This sliding door was called an 'ita', and it was also nicknamed a 'todana', meaning cupboard, as that's what it looked like. 'Zakuro-buro', the grown-up version, first appeared in the Genroku era(1688-1703). In this style, a 'zakuro-guchi' took the place of the sliding door.

The zakuro-guchi was an extraordinarily low set fixed lintel at the entrance to the bath. The bathers had to stoop down under it to enter the bathtub.

Before long, these zakuro-guchi's had good-luck symbols painted on as decorations, such as 'shochikubai' (pine trees, bamboo, plum trees), and 'tsurukame' (cranes, turtles), etc. As the number of sento increased, their owners started to compete with one another in the quality of their decor, and it is said that, as a result, the sento were soon known by these motifs alone, such as 'Matsu-no-yu' or 'Kame-no-yu'.