Firewood and Japanese Ofuros!

[AKpilot]

Hey there,

I was wondering if anyone collects firewood. Not that I am planning on heating my house with it ( we do that here in Alaska!). I am thinking if getting a wood heated hot tub, also a little chiminea or something like that is always fun. Anyway, with all the Albizia trees and brush cleared, is there any way to get a bit of firewood (perhaps a half a cord or something) somewhere? Also does anyone know any places in Hilo that sell Japanese bathtubs? Anyone have one, use one? I loved mine when I lived in Japan! They are terrific.

Thanks so much!

We're all here, because we're not all there!

[oink]

I like the Ofuros too. My former father-in-law built his own in a detached shed. The Ofuro itself was based on a plate of iron or steel and was wood sided. I'm not sure if it was square or round or rectangular but I think it was square or rectangular. I wish I'd paid more attention to how it was constructed. It was in a corner of the shed and was wood fired from outside the shed, opposite the door. I don't recall ever having looked at the fire box but I think it was basically just a bricked off area under the plate iron/steel with a chimney of some sort. That was the only hot water on the property although he did have indoor plumbing for sewer and cold water. He was nisei and spoke pidgin but his pidgin was so heavily Japanese influenced he was hard to understand. I would like to find instructions on how to build a solid but simple ofuro. I'd put it in a shed also.

Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.

[punafish]

And if you do it right, you'll have a drain outside the ofuro as well, in other words you'd be putting the ofuro inside a big "shower room". This way you can wash/shower yourself (as the Japanese do) before getting in the tub. (AKpilot knows what I mean since he lived in Japan too.)

My friend's setup in Japan has a cool sliding shower-head attached to a vertical pole for easy height adjustment, as some folks prefer to stand while others like to sit on small plastic stools while they shower (not to mention that humans come in all sizes). I missed my ofuro so much we tore out our shower and built a deep tub using tile. It's nice, but not the same as having a traditional Japanese style "bathroom"--which means a room with a bath (and assumes a separate room for a toilet).

[AKpilot]

heya,

Right on Punafish, I know exactly what you mean. BTW, I am a "she," but have been called sir when wearing my uniform (we gals still make up only 5 percent of pilots). My little Ofuro house would have a drain and "midget shower" (short adjustable shower head). I'd have a wooden bucket, stool, long scrubby towel. The whole 9 yards. The Japanese sure do have bathing down to an art, don't they!?

AKpilot

We're all here, because we're not all there!

[Susan]

Ditto on the Ofuro. I would love to have one too. Covered would be great but I need some open air to be one with nature. Maybe sliding shoji type doors on the shed.

[punafish]

So sorry for making that gender assumption--my bad! (Moshiwake gozaimasen!) Wish I had a good excuse like, "You write like a dude." My only excuse is that I'm a flawed human being...but I mean well!

Funny, but my profession is the opposite: 95% females, 5% guys. So yeah we're outnumbered, but I don't mind being in the minority at all as I'm pro women all way.

When you get here hopefully we can talk story one day about good ol' Nippon. (My wife is Japanese so you can practice your nihongo too.)

The Japanese do indeed have bathing down to an art form, a great legacy of the Shinto value on purity & cleanliness. (Although this doesn't explain why Japanese monkeys also take baths, he he...( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txDR1y1drl0)

Best of luck on your ofuro, sounds like you've got a great plan.

[Susan]

Really cute video punafish!

[oink]

FIL's one didn't have a shower. You bathed with a big ladle type thing and then you could get in but usually only when you were the last person as everyone was using the same water and there were 6 sharing the water when I was there. It was the only bath. The used water went to the banana patch. Upcountry Maui in the early 70s was beautiful, very rural low density like parts of Puna, perfect weather.

Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.

[AKpilot]

Ha,
No worries, not offended at all! When I used to have short hair, lots of people assumed I was a guy form the back. Even now with my long hair I must bun it up so it still happens, it's not as if the airline pilot uniform is cut for the feminine form; anyways, I am also 6 ft tall and 125 lbs so i'm as curvy as a telephone pole, another thing that aded to the male mix up. I'm hoping to get a place pretty soon. I'm waiting for the perfect place in Waa Waa or Opihikao. There will be a Ofuro for sure. Perhaps an Onsen party will be called for when the big day arrives!

BTW, anyone know about the possibility of local firewood? Can you get some, buy some, yeah right what's firewood kind of thing?? Thanks guys, more snow tomorrow, boo, but it's what allows me to come your way come November!!!

Thanks again!!!!!

We're all here, because we're not all there!

[pahoated]

There is a huge pile of cut down albizia off kahakai right now. An albizia fell down across the road, helco came out to cut it up and left a big bunch by the side, too close to the road. Nobody seems interested in it.

Saw something to the effect that cutting albizia on a volunteer effort is encouraged. There is also some solar PV bills that are going through that actually makes the neighbor with blocking foliage liable for preventing a solar panel installation. A lot of stuff falls on the road during the winter (yes, there is winter here) storms. And there are plenty of people looking for their lots to be thinned of the junk trees. They are dangerous though, real top heavy so their falling direction can change with a gust of wind.