Nice explanation of Japanese bathing customs. Even after living here for years, I still find myself intimidated by the bathtub control panel. It looks like a gizmo that belongs more on a spaceship with all those buttons and status indicators. I managed to figure out the basic temperature and water level controls, but an icy lance of fear goes through me whenever it starts randomly beeping or flashing some indecipherable error number. There is such a thing as overengineering what should be a simple daily ritual...
The call button it has cracks me up. My wife likes to set up shop in the bath and often uses the iPad-like cover as a desk to keep her ice cream and her ever-present phone resting on. When she needs something, she doesn't hesitate to push that button. I'll be in another room and suddenly hear this, Be-beep, Be-beep, Be-beep, and I'll know that something is needed.
Now that's the way to get some service! Eating ice cream in the bath though... wouldn't it melt too fast and dribble all over everything?
I think the ice cream just reaches that sweet soft spot faster. Plus, the portion sizes over here are small enough that I think the ice cream can be eaten before it drips all over everything. I'm not sure, though. I'm not much of a bathtub ice cream eater. I've used the call button to get a beer before, though, and that was pretty nice.
This is Japan...