Chamberlain affirms that “cleanliness is one of the few original items of Japanese civilization.” Surely their practice of frequent bathing ought to have brought them to that stage which is considered “next to godliness.” A bathroom is commonly an important part of the house; but if a room is not available for that purpose, a bathtub outdoors will do, or the public bath-houses afford every facility at a very small charge. Necessary exposure of the person in connection with bathing is not considered immodest; but, in large cities at least, the two sexes are no longer permitted to bathe together promiscuously. The hot baths, with water at about 110° F., are generally unendurable by foreigners. The latter, however, after some experience, may become accustomed to such heat and find it quite healthy. “Sea-bathing was not formerly much practised; but since 1885 the upper classes have taken greatly to it, in imitation of European usage, and the coast is now dotted with bathing establishments.”[53] The Japanese also resort “to an almost incredible extreme” to the hot mineral springs, which are so numerous in Japan and generally possess excellent medicinal qualities. BIBLIOGRAPHY. Rein’s “Japan” is valuable on these topics; “Advance Japan” has a good chapter on “Diet, Dress, and Manners” (iv.); “A Japanese Interior,” by Miss Alice M. Bacon, gives most interesting glimpses of the inner life of the people; Murray’s “Story of Japan,” chap. ii.; Knapp’s “Feudal and Modern Japan,” vol. i. chap. v. and vol. ii. chap. iv.; and “Japan in History, Folklore, and Art” (Griffis), are useful; Finck in his “Lotos-Time in Japan,” also gives interesting glimpses of these topics; and Miss Bacon’s “Japanese Girls and Women” (revised and illustrated edition) is invaluable concerning family life. Miss Hartshorne’s “Japan and her People” is well worth reading on these subjects. “Japanese Life in Town and Country” (Knox), “Dai Nippon” (Dyer), and “Every Day Japan” (Lloyd) are also valuable. CHAPTER V MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OUTLINE OF TOPICS: Birth and birthdays; marriage; death and funeral; mourning.—Holidays (national, local, class, and religions); the “five festivals”; New Year’s holidays; the other four festivals; floral festivals; religious festivals.—Games; wrestling.—Theatre; scenery and wardrobes; chorus and pantomime; the _Nō_.—Music; dancing-girls.—Occidentalization.—Folk-lore; superstitions about lucky and unlucky days, hours, ages, years, etc.—Bibliography.