Do You Know Why Japanese Drink Milk After Bathing? Click To Read

Japan is known for its rich culture and some never-heard culinary rituals that often leave people intrigued and diving deeper into the depths of the internet to understand them. Many households still follow a cultural tradition that dates back to the post-war era.

Tied to public bathhouses (sento) or hot spring baths (onsen), Japanese drink milk after bathing. What might have started as an accidental practice is now a tradition in the ‘Land of the Rising Sun’. Does it shake the curious George inside you? Scroll down to read the explanation.

History Of Japanese Drinking Milk After Bathing

In the 1920s, coffee milk used to be sold in the bathhouses or near hot spring baths. Tajiro Sumida, the first president of Sumida Shokai, and Ken Moriyama, founder of the Moriyama Dairy Company, wanted to expand and commercialise the business of milk and coffee in Japan. 

They combined the two products to make coffee milk and started selling it near public bathhouses, making it among the most popular drinks in the country by 1943.

Another legend points to an unknown milk producer who launched this beverage around the same time when the number of public bathing spaces in the country was on the rise. Not many Japanese households had refrigerators, but all sento had. 

The producer commercialised the product by stuffing it in these accessible fridges. People would gather around the space after their bath, and purchase the drink while chatting. Hence, it became a tradition.

Also Read: Here Is Why Japanese Eat In Small Portions

Hydration

When you take a hot bath, contrary to popular opinion, your body dehydrates because of overheating. A cold glass of milk or coffee drink provides much-needed hydration and has a calming effect. Thus, many Japanese follow it as a healthy practice to replenish lost moisture from the body.

Digestive Comfort

Unless you are lactose intolerant, you will notice that milk is lightweight yet fulfilling to drink. Many Indians practice drinking milk at night so they can sleep better. Similarly, the Japanese consume milk as a comforting post-bath beverage. It provides relaxation and aids digestion without making a person feel heavy.

Nutrition Powerhouse

In the 20th century, milk was promoted as a nutritious beverage, not just in Japan but across India as well. In the post-war era, the Japanese considered it a powerhouse of essential nutrients, like calcium and protein. Hence, many still continue with the tradition of its consumption after a relaxing bath session.

Social Obligation

When society seems to be following a practice, people get obliged to follow it. For so many years, many people have been indulging in coffee milk or milk after their bath that it has become a ritual. Many Japanese consider drinking the beverage as a part of completing a relaxing bathing ritual. Also, if you like the milk, it gives you an excuse to indulge in it and go to bed with a satiated stomach.