NHK's documentary program "Document 72 Hours" (NHK General) will air "Kagawa: The Mysterious 'Ancient Sauna' - Beyond the Scorching Heat" on June 26th at 10 PM. The setting is a mysterious steam bath in Sanuki City, Kagawa Prefecture, that has been passed down for 1300 years. What kind of state of mind lies beyond the scorching heat...?
In Sanuki City, Kagawa Prefecture, lies a mysterious steam bath known as the "ancient sauna." This "Kara-buro" (empty bath) is said to have been built 1300 years ago by the Nara period monk Gyoki. The stone chamber is astonishingly hot; even with blankets covering the body, some people succumb within seconds. Yet, despite the harsh conditions, many people visit this place.
Sauna enthusiasts come from all over the country. A local farmer says, "If you come here, your coldness will be cured," and a foreigner sweats it out at the end of their pilgrimage. What do people see beyond the scorching heat? The program's narration was provided by Asuka Saito.
The program is a documentary that places a camera in one location each time and observes the various human dramas that unfold there for 72 hours. It listens to the stories of people who meet by chance and captures a glimpse of "the present."
