Onsen Rebels - Motoko Ishibashi Makes The Bathhouse Her Playground

Art & Design

Sep 30

motoko ishibashi onsen assholes — courtesy of Motoko Ishibashi

Bathhouses are a staple of Japanese culture. Whether you’re fortunate enough to live near an onsen in Tokyo, or need to visit a sento, both experiences follow a strict set of customs. Regardless of the type of bathhouse, there are essential rules to observe: no shoes inside the building, no clothing near the baths, and a thorough wash with soap and water is mandatory before entering any of the hot pools.

These bathhouses are havens of peace and tranquility—places where stress melts away, and calm takes over. So when something disrupts that serene atmosphere, it feels jarring and out of place.

That’s exactly what artist Motoko Ishibashi explored with her series Assholes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Collaborating with artist Urara Tsuchiya and fashion photographer Yuto Kudo, Ishibashi flipped the peaceful ambiance of the Japanese bathhouse on its head. Imagine playing a game of badminton with the iconic wall of faucets as the net, or checking work emails while lounging in a hot bath.

This series portrays the Japanese bathhouse like never before, turning it into a place of playfulness, creativity, and perhaps even a hint of recklessness.