Hi Wood Grain,
Although the following comment does not answer your question, it
might put your concern/paranoia to rest.
"Voyeurism and related Problems
Whenever there are naked people, there is a risk of Voyeurism.
However, most customers at a public bath are regular customers, and
anything out of the ordinary gets noticed immedeately. Furthermore,
the bathouse owners do their utmost to prohibit voyerism to protect
their business, and subsequently there are rarely problems.
The attendant sitting on top of the bandai has a good view of both the
men and the women side, which is necessary to supervise the business.
Yet attendants usually watch TV or read a book and do not look at
their customers, again to protect their business and to make their
customers feel at ease. Most of the time the attendant is female, and
very few male customers have any problems with a female attendant.
Male attendants are less frequent, but may embarrass some female
customers by their mere presence.
Children before puberty can join their parent of the opposite sex.
However, some female customers, and occasionally male customers, feel
that some children may take too much interest in the anatomy of the
member of the other sex.
The above cases probably can not be considered voyeurism. True cases
of voyeurism are rare. Reported cases usually have a male voyeur and a
female victim. For example in 2001, a tall non-Japanese was able to
see over the separating wall between the men and the women side. Even
though the women splashed water on him he did not stop watching. He
was subsequently arrested by the police.
In another freakish case in 2003, a Japanese male with a female
complexity was dressing up as a woman, including make up, and entering
the women side of the bath. While naked he was holding his towel in
front of his pubic area so he was able to pass as a woman. However,
after pulling this stunt for a few times a woman noticed that he was
walking odd, and he subsequently was arrested.
Nowadays there is also an increased risk from video surveillance
equipment. But as public baths are privately owned and operated, it
will be difficult for a perpetrator to install a camera. The risk is
higher at a larger business or an open air bath.
There is also the possibility that someone derives pleasure from
watching a member of the same sex. Yet these cases are probably
difficult to determine, and usually go unnoticed."
http://www.japan-101.com/travel/sento.htm
-ddhara |
