What is an onsen?
An onsen (温泉?) is a Japanese hot spring and the bathing facilities and inns frequently situated around them. As a volcanically active country, Japan has thousands of onsens scattered throughout its length and breadth. Onsens were traditionally used as public bathing places and today play a central role in directing Japanese domestic tourism.
Source: Wikipedia
I went to the onsen with a friend today. It was a much needed time out from the stress of the day-to-day pressures and grind of modern "civilization." Funny that I find a place full of naked people soaking in hot water more civilized than the outside world, but that is kind of the whole point of this post.
Entering these places, you suddenly realize why all the inns from your favorite 8-bit RPGs looked the way they did.
What in the hell does a hot bath have to do with anarchism?
Well, let me explain. In Japan, onsen have long been viewed as a great social leveler. In a country where rank and file is placed on an insanely high pedestal, getting naked in the onsen with everybody else puts you right back at the level of "normal human."
First know that getting naked with total strangers is not, for most of us, the cultural norm, but shy gaijin (foreigners) should know that the Japanese perceive bathing as a great social leveler: company presidents rub naked shoulders with truck drivers, priests with publicans and all revel in the anonymity that nudity allows.
Source
A couple points. When I was in the onsen today, I was walking out to the pool stark naked, when one of the female staff walked in. While I am pretty sure male staff do not work on the women's side of the onsen, seeing a middle to older-aged woman in the dressing room is not uncommon. About 2 feet away, I walked right past her. Hey! Here I am! Just another day at the bath house.
I mention this because I daresay in "the states" this would be a problem. Someone would call the police, and there would be some kind of lawsuit and a whole lot of new regulations, rules, and coercion-backed policies would be put in place. The Japanese (if I can commit the sin of speaking of an abstract concept such as a collective as if it had a single mind) just don't really seem to give a fuck. I'm not sure how else to put it. Everyone knew no one was going to try anything funny or perverted with that woman in the onsen. (Amazingly, people don't all view each other as raving, rape-crazed lunatics here. I know. It's hard to imagine.)
We are here to bathe. She is here working. That's it. Feel uncomfortable? Feel free to stay at home. But, I digress. Back to the social leveling aspect.
There's nothing better than being clean on soft tatami.
Well, I mean, being clean on soft tatami and having a beer.
As an anarchist, natural law (law based on property rights which stem from and include self-ownership) is the foundation of all other legitimate theories, ideas, practices, institutions and initiatives.
When you are in the water, as the quote above mentioned, there is no silly title that allows you to feel special for no reason. All that you have a right to is yourself. No fancy clothes, no fucking flags, and no gaudy nametags or crowns telling people how "important" you are. "Oh, you are President George W. Bush? That's nice. Your ass is wrinkly." See what I mean?
In the onsen, all you have is yourself, and that really is enough. I'm looking forward to when we can convince enough minds that it is a good idea for all of society to abide by natural law, and "be naked," as it were. After all, what is the other option? Non-self-ownership? "Legitimized" violence based on badges and titles? Chaos? How's that working out for people now?
Nah, fuck y'all. I'll be in the bath.
~KafkA
Graham Smith is a Voluntaryist activist residing in Niigata, Japan.
