Sansuke
Sansuke is a term referring to the male working staff who provide specific services at the Sento in Japan. They were usually hired for both men and women to assist in bathing and provide massage services.
Etymology of male bathhouse attendant
Various theories exist to explain the derivation of Sansuke. In Japanese, Sansuke originally meant three types of services: kamataki, yukagen wo miru, and bandai . Occasionally, the Sansuke would provide the services of scrubbing and grooming the customer. After the role took on greater prevalence, the image of the Sansuke was generalized to mean service to the visitor in the bathhouse.Another theory suggests that when smallpox was rampant in Japan around the Nara era, the Empress Kohmyo built a bathhouse dedicated to the treatment of patients. It still exists today in the temple at Hokke-ji. Legend says that she even sucked the pus from the boils herself. The attendants who helped the Empress during that time were called Sansuke .
During the Edo era, a Genan, or Komono was widely described as Sansuke as well.
At work, the Sansuke wore Sarumata ; in earlier days, the Sansuke wore Fundoshi.
''Sansuke'' in premodern times
Until the early Edo era, the services rendered by the Sansuke were provided by Yuna girls, who were attendants in the bathhouses called yunafuro. The Okami banned these bathhouses due to their growing reputation for sexual acts and other forms of lax behavior. The hairstyles during this period were such that it was difficult to do one's hair without the help of an attendant. Hence, male bathhouse attendants began to offer the services previously provided by the yuna for a small fee.Sansuke was the highest class of male servants who served a master at the sento. In the process to become a Sansuke, there were several precursor roles: collector of firewood, boiler man, and Yuban, checker of the bath temperature, and so on. It was impossible to become a Sansuke without learning these important skills.
Later, based on historical accounts, the Sansuke also started providing sexual services. This development is attributed to the nature of the public bathhouses as a convenient site for discreet sexual encounters.
''Nagashi''
The service of washing off the dirt and brushing done by a Sansuke is called Nagashi. When announced by Bandai that there are customers, a Sansuke pours hot water into Oke and calls the customers in. If there are many customers waiting, the Sansuke must wash his customers quickly. The Sansuke offered service for both men and women; he may be required to work in crowds of naked women, whereby he must use his mental training to prevent himself from having an erection. It is said that women were not ashamed to be seen by his eyes.When the washing service is complete he receives a tag from the customer; his percentage of pay was based according to the number on the tag. The Sansuke belonged to a higher economic bracket in Sento and were considered to be gentlemen.