Ofuro-bu, a bathing initiative that promotes the appeal of baths, has added Noritz, Kwansei Gakuin University, and local governments to Nishinomiya City's programme, aiming to establish regular bathing habits. The industry-academia-government initiative began in 2016 and will mark its 10th anniversary this year.
To promote the benefits of bathing, Nishinomiya City decided in October to join “Ofuro-bu,” a bathing initiative run by leading water-heater manufacturer Noritz, and established a framework with Kwansei Gakuin University to broadly communicate the benefits of soaking in a bathtub. The initiative aims to establish regular bathing habits and promote health.
Ofuro-bu has operated through industry-academia-government collaboration since February 2016, with students from 7 local governments and 14 universities nationwide involved. Its dedicated website carries articles on bath salts, beauty treatments in the bath, and other topics, reaching approximately 1.5 million people annually on average over the past 5 years through social media and other channels.