Oil cost surge sinking Japan's public bathhouses

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The cost of running Japan's

public baths is rising

owing to surging oil prices

This bathhouse has been in

Tokuji Ito's family for generations

(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) DAINITAKARAYU OWNER, TOKUJI ITO, SAYING:

"Dealer prices for heavy oil which we use to heat the bathwater have risen about 10 to 15 percent."

"We have to pay about 50 percent more for fuel compared to last year, but I think that will probably double."

Bath prices are fixed by

the Tokyo government

But Ito says he wouldn't

raise prices anyway

for fear of losing customers

(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) DAINITAKARAYU OWNER, TOKUJI ITO, SAYING:

"Just after the global health crisis, we were hoping to get customers back. So it's very tough that fuel costs will rise this winter."

"I'm preparing to shoulder (the expenses)so that we can get through winter."

Some people still show up

multiple times a week

(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 70-YEAR-OLD RETIREE AND BATHHOUSE CUSTOMER, SHUJI YAMAZAKI, SAYING:

"(The bathhouses) are gradually closing. I live far away but I come here out of necessity. I hope they will keep operating. I don't mind if they raise the price."