This photo taken on August 13, 2022 shows a customer relaxing in a hot bath at Kom-pal, which is a "sento" or public bath, in the Shinagawa district of Tokyo. - Once ubiquitous in crowded urban areas, sento or traditional public baths are closing fast -- but some have been given a new lease on life through renovations, while others are reinventing themselves as trendy hangouts or using data analysis to revive business. - TO GO WITH AFP STORY JAPAN-LIFESTYLE-CULTURE-BUSINESS-SENTO,FEATURE BY KATIE FORSTER AND ATSIH PATEL (Photo by Richard A. Brooks / AFP) / TO GO WITH AFP STORY JAPAN-LIFESTYLE-CULTURE-BUSINESS-SENTO,FEATURE BY KATIE FORSTER AND ATSIH PATEL (Photo by RICHARD A. BROOKS/AFP via Getty Images)
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AFP RICHARD A. BROOKS