Photo/Illutration Yuki Kuroiwa (Photo by Hisanori Fujimoto)

KUMAMOTO--Architect Yuki Kuroiwa, a specialist in structural design whose main job is to calculate the quake-resistance strength of buildings, has another life after his work day is over.

That is when the 40-year-old city resident can be found seated at the reception counter of a public bathhouse inside his residence, taking turns with his wife and parents.

In the evening of any given day, older neighborhood residents, senior high school students who have finished their after-school club activities and other members of the community pass through the white “noren” curtain to enter.

"When customers say thanks for a good bath, I just feel happy that I started this business," he said.

Kuroiwa joined an architectural office in Tokyo after he graduated from college. He eventually decided to go independent and returned to his hometown of Kumamoto. Nine years later, a series of major earthquakes struck the city, including a magnitude-7.3 main jolt, in 2016.

Cracks appeared in the pillars of the apartment building where he was living.

He vividly recalled that public bathing facilities in the city were flooded with people made homeless in the quakes that claimed more than 200 lives. On one occasion, he found the water was up to his ankles outside the main bathing area of one facility because it couldn't drain fast enough.

When it was decided to tear down the apartment building three years ago, Kuroiwa decided to make the first floor of a two-story house he was planning to build into a bathhouse.

With ceiling beams fit together in a multi-tiered manner and quake-resistance walls used for the structure, the bathing facility can withstand an earthquake with an intensity of upper 6 on the Japanese seismic scale of 7, even if it is followed by another quake of similar intensity.

Featuring an arched roof and large windows, the building resembles an elegant cafe, especially when people are seen sitting in a bench at the entrance with a drink in their hands.

The public bathhouse opened in August last year in a residential area of the city and operates four days a week.

After all the customers have left, the family take turns using the bath. Kuroiwa's four daughters, ranging from a third-grader to the youngest aged 2, also love the large bathtub.

After the 2016 earthquakes, the family used to drive one hour each way to go to an "onsen" hot spring facility in a suburban area to get clean. That went on for two months.

Kuroiwa reckons he only breaks even from the business, but nevertheless intends to continue.

"I think people can rest assured when there is a bathhouse in their neighborhood in case of an emergency," Kuroiwa said.

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