How To Make An Ofuro
Making an ofuro tub is an art form that has been practiced for centuries. Learning how to make an ofuro is no easy task. Most traditional ofuro tubs are handmade out of different kinds of wood. Properly making one will mean that it is seemingly made out of one block of wood, even though multiple boards are used. When filled, the wood of the tub expands to fill in any cracks. Many Japanese know how to make an ofuro tub, simply because it is a part of their culture and history. The wood used is traditionally a Japan-only wood known as hinoki.
The main thing in learning how to make an ofuro is learning how to work with wood. Traditional ofuro tubs are made with wood, just like they were centuries ago. Hinoki wood is the most popular, even though it is a wood native to Japan only. After the ofuro tub is made, it must be kept filled with water. The reason is to not let the wood expand and contract, but rather stay swollen. The wood must be swollen to help fill in any cracks that a craftsman would have left in the tub.
Even though the process of making an ofuro tub uses multiple planks of wood, learning how to make an ofuro properly will make the tub seem like it is made with only one block of wood. They are usually quite small, yet deep, which allows a person to lay down or sit down in the tub and submerge in the water. They are not used for bathing, but rather for relaxation. A combination of warm water and salts is used to create a soothing experience for a person.
After learning how to make an ofuro tub, the Japanese had to keep the tubs filled with water. This is to keep the wood moist and not let it dry out. Dried out wood will contract or even break, destroying the ofuro tub. More recently, learning how to make an ofuro means learning how to coat the wood to keep it from rotting.
The Japanese have known how to make ofuro tubs for centuries. It is a part of their history, and many Japanese take the time to learn how to make them. The wood is put together in a box and the water is used to keep the wood expanded to seal any cracks. More recent ofuro tubs are treated to keep the wood from rotting away and people are more health conscious in this day and age, so they make sure the water is clean. Knowing how to make an ofuro tub is an important part of Japanese culture.