Public Bath set up by Self-Defense Forces (Jiei-tai Buro)

Taking a hot bath is very important to Japanese. 
Not only to take the shower, we soak in tub with hot water (about 105°F - 109 °F).  At the end of the day, soaking in the hot tub rejuvenate the body and get ready for the next day.

At Ishinomaki-city, we were lucky to have an access to the Jiei-tai Buro, which is a public bath house set up by The Self-Defense Forces for local people since many can not have a bath still waiting for a new water heater, or they are still living at the evacuation centers.  Thanks to the Self-Defense Forces, we, volunteers, are also allowed to utilize the bath, too, along with local people. 

If you know about Japanese public bath house, the Jiei-tai Buro is just like that.   If you don't know about it, imagine the pool filled with hot water (shower temperature) and all naked people are soaking in the tub or washing the body around the pool.

example of real Japanese public bath, Sento

Of course, this public bath set up by the Self-Defense Forces is not fancy like the above picture..
Using metal pipes and blue tarp, they made a square tub, very sturdy one, and filled with hot water with perfect temperature !!  I wish I could take a picture of that tub....  It was amazingly well built.  They really know how to build a nice hot tub...

Each building, for men and women, they set up two tubs, and a changing room in front.  Also they had a waiting room in case they need to control the number of people in the tub area.  Around the tub, about 16 people can sit and wash their bodies.  Shampoos, conditioners, and body wash are available inside too.  You can click the pictures to expand.

Sign for business (?) hours - till 8:30 pm

Building for men, left, and relief supply room, right

building for women

These buildings are set up along the river, and they pump up the water from the river.  Then they filtered water two or three times before heat.  Hot water is constantly added to the tub to maintain the perfect temperature and the clean water.

It has been recognized that the contribution of the Self-Defense Forces in this disaster is huge. From the beginning, they are the one to go rescuing people and delivering the relief supplies to places that regular people can not reach.  Even now, we see their trucks and heavy machinery to clean up the city.  For setting up a bath house like this in the multiple places, I really think only the Self-Defense Forces knows how to organize things with this scale.  It is simply amazing, and I am very appreciative for the Self-Defense Forces.

Thank you for your help, Jiei-tai !!!