As thousands had been displaced in the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake, the disaster revealed one of the flaws of the community: there were no public baths. Until now!

Motivated to not let history repeat itself, and to give back to the community, the owners decided that they would build their new home with a public bath. Kuwamizu Sento opened over the summer with the pubic bath on the ground floor and the private residence above it. The homeowners and their four kids use the public bath along with members of the local community.