K-DOCS

Synopsis

Ayako manages one of Tokyo’s oldest bathhouses. Here everyone is naked and relaxed. Except her. She chops wood and scrapes the floor. This is her home and she’s fighting to keep it alive. In the 1960s, a wealthy family hired Ayako’s parents to run the bathhouse-a low-status job akin to live-in servants. They spent their lives there, working without a break. Two years ago, Ayako reopened it, trusting the new owner’s promise of support. Yet, the business loses money and support never comes. Ayako is exhausted. But if she quits, the bathhouse, its community, and her father’s home will be lost.

Director's Statement

In the 20th century, Tokyo became the world’s most populous city. Working-class apartments were small and had no baths, making public bathhouses vital for local communities. Bathhouses were not just necessary for hygiene, but also as social hubs. But as modern apartments with private bathrooms became the norm, bathhouses have faded into obscurity. As cities gentrify, in post-industrialized societies, working-class cultures and traditions are vanishing. Spaces like Ayako’s bathhouse, spaces that value connection over profit, make our lives richer. Our film documents Ayako’s fight to save it, inviting viewers to pause, reflect, and appreciate these irreplaceable places before they vanish.