[Experience] A must-see for sauna lovers, held for the first time in Western Japan! I took the much talked about Sauna Master Certification B!!

Hello, this is Morita from the Beyond Sauna Club . Our company started a club activity system in January 2022 ( Goto-kun will probably post the details on the blog soon). The first club to be established under this system is the Sauna Club .

Putting that aside, these days I spend my time thinking about how I can help as many people as possible improve their Quality of Life (QOL) through saunas . By the way, I've been talking about saunas so much that I've been getting more and more comments like, "Mr. Morita, we've had enough of you talking about saunas~ lol," so I thought I'd vent on my blog.

This time, I'd like to share the details of the " Heat Wave Master Certification B " course I took last year at Biken SPA Yuzakura, which was the first time it was held in the Kansai region

Many people are probably wondering what a "heat wave master" and the Heat Wave Master Certification B are, but I 've become so captivated by the intense heat waves created by human effort, and the way the heat wave masters add an element of entertainment to the experience, that I now find saunas without heat wave masters incomplete.

This Sauna Heatwave Master Certification B allows even general users to experience the appeal of saunas and heatwave masters from the perspective of those providing them , and it also serves as an introduction for those who aspire to become heatwave masters in the future !

If you've recently discovered the charm of saunas butstill know very little about sauna masters,then this is a must-read for you! If this sounds like you, please read on to the end!

Sauna lovers should definitely know this! What is a "Netsubashi"?

I've been using the term "heatwave master" as if everyone knew what it meant, but do you all know what a "heatwave master" is? I looked it up on Wikipedia, but there's no page , and the average monthly search volume on Keyword Planner is only around 1,000 to 10,000, so I've only just realized it's a much than I thoughtmore obscure term . My Twitter timeline is almost entirely filled with things related to saunas and heatwaves, so I mistakenly thought it was a term everyone knew...

To get started, please take a look at the video below

What do you think?

Thisa heat wave master.

(The above is a performance by Nishiguchi-san of Beauty and Health SPA Yuzakura, who will be introduced later.)

A sauna master's job is not just about delivering hot air in a sauna; it's also an entertaining one, and each master's individuality really shines through

Now, below I will explain in detail about Saenami-shi

Now, what is a "heat wave master" ?

This profession involves using towels, fans, and blowers (collectively referred to as "tools") to send hot air and heat waves inside a sauna.
At facilities hosting heat wave events, a heat wave master enters the sauna room at the scheduled time, gives an opening speech, pours aromatic water onto the sauna stones to generate steam, and then uses tools to circulate the steam and increase the humidity inside the room. After that, they use the tools to blow air onto the participants inside the room, utilizing not only the sauna's temperature but also the humidity and airflow to enhance the participants' perceived temperature. While most are staff members of the facility, the number of people who travel to other facilities or work independently without being affiliated with a facility is increasing.

(I wrote the explanation, so please let me know if there are any errors.)

Heatwave events have a strong entertainment element and have become increasingly diverse in recent years. Popular heatwave masters have enthusiastic fans , and some even appear at events and on television

I am one of those people who are completely hooked. I encourage everyone to try it out!

Not satisfied with automatic heat waves? The charm of a heat wave master

The main appeal of a heat wave is the overwhelmingly high temperature you feel, which you can't get in a regular sauna. For this reason, some sauna facilities use machines to deliver heat waves (auto-loyly)

The services mentioned above are of course wonderful, but there are some experiences that can only be had with heat waves delivered by a sauna master

For example, the following points:

• The art of greetings, including introductions of the facility and oneself, and how to grab the audience's attention
  
• There are various ways to handle towels , and the nuances of these variations and the force of the airflow are important
  
• , whose spirit and determination
  are surely hotter than anyone else's, endures the heat and offers this hospitality.

Based on the above, I believe that the greatest appeal of receiving a heat wave from a heat wave master is not only the comfort it provides that automatic heat waves lack, but also the entertainment value it offers

To give you an analogy, it's like the difference between listening to music on high-end audio equipment and listening to live music performed right in front of you

Music also has an emotional impact and a sense of realism that can only be experienced through live performance

If you're interested, be sure to try out the heat waves from a sauna master!

I think you'll realize that sauna and bathing facilities are no longer just about hardware (equipment), but are also entering an era where software (people) is becoming increasingly important

What is the Satana Master Certification B?

With the sauna boom, the demand for heat wave events has increased, and so has the demand for heat wave masters. Against this backdrop, the Heat WaveMaster Certification B. The organization that administers it isthe Japan Sauna Heat Wave Aufguss Association (JSNA). Heat Wave Master Certification B is for learning the basics, and for those who want to become professionals, there are higher-level certifications available, including the Step-Up Seminar, Heat Wave Master Certification A, and Heat Wave Master Certification S.

According to the official website , the training course is

• Lecture: Approximately 50 minutes
• Practical: Approximately 90 minutes

So, including breaks,two and a half hours.

You can learn the basics of saunas and the fundamentals of heat wave transmission

is¥18,700 (tax included).

This includes the course fee, textbook costs, JSNA official training bath towel, and certificate . Whether you consider this expensive or cheap is up to individual judgment.

For me,direct instruction from a renowned heat wave masterwas very appealing, so I immediately decided to participate, thinking of it as a reward for my hard work.

By the way, this is the official JSNA training bath towel. It is quite large, measuring 100cm long and 95cm short

Satana Master Certification B Lecture Contents

This time, the first ever Heatwave Master Certification B in Western Japan was held at Biken SPA Yuzakura in Kawanishi City, Hyogo Prefecture . Biken SPA Yuzakura opened on August 8, 2019. Despite being hit by the COVID-19 pandemic just six months after opening, the tireless efforts of the staff quickly made it a popular facility. Their dedication to saunas, in particular, is exceptional , and in a short period of time it became one of the most popular sauna facilities in the Kansai region. The 1st-floor entrance displays artwork by King Kong Nishino , who is from Kawanishi City, and the background music contributes to a majestic atmosphere. (I really love this facility, so if you're in the area, please go check it out!!)

Go to Beauty and Health SPA Yuzakura official website 》

There were just under 20 participants. They came from a wide range of fields, including people working in the hot spring industry , those aspiring to start their own sauna facilities , and comedians . I was the only one from the server industry.

■Instructor for Satanabeshi Certification B

It's no exaggeration to say that Katsumasa Inoue , who built Japan's heat wave industry, was in charge of the lesson!! (You can't tell who it is with his face so hidden, but it's Mr. Inoue!) He traveled all the way from Yokohama to Kawanishi. As someone who regularly reads interviews and articles by Katsumasa Inoue, this was a special opportunity to have the legend teach me right in front of me

Inoue Katsumasa's Twitter is here

■ Facility staff

The people who normally run the Biken SPA Yuzakura facility provided support for the training

●Manager Kusumoto (aka: Suit Heat Wave Master): The only person in Japan who appears in a suit in the sauna and delivers heat waves. He is good at confusing shop staff at men's clothing stores with the nonsensical sentence, "Please give me a suit that I can use in the sauna."

Manager Kusumoto's Twitter is here

● Mr. Nishiguchi (nicknamed: The Black Devil of Kawanishi or The Raging Bull of Kawanishi)His intimidating appearance matches the violently intense heat he delivers (Note: As a professional, he adjusts the intensity while observing the other person's reaction). Ipersonally call his incredibly fast towel handling a "sonic boom."

Nishiguchi's Twitter is here

● Mr. Nonaka (nicknamed: Heatwave Prince)is a power fighter type. His towel handling when stirring the löylyis so powerful thatyou often hear people gasping in surprise when they see it for the first time. But then he'll fan you with a gentle breeze, and his ability to switch between fast and slow is impressive.

Nonaka's Twitter is here

■ Support staff

Nan-chan (aka "Sauna Evangelist Nan-chan") - Idon't know his background. However,he's a professional sauna enthusiast who appears unexpectedly at sauna facilities all over Japan. He's also made his debut as a sauna master and is expanding the scope of his activities. He looks tough when he's wearing sunglasses, but when he takes them off, he's a nice guy with kind eyes.

Nanchan's Twitter is here

The venue was vibrant, with each member's unique personality shining through

■Classroom lectures

The class was held in this lovely space in the bedrock bath area. It was also fascinating to study in a space where we usually relax

As for the content of the study, the text was briefly explained, but more importantly, the living encyclopedia of the heat wave world, Katsumasa Inoue,

• The origin and evolution of heat waves (≒ Aufguss) in Japan
• What is loyly?
• The secrets of a Satāwa master (≒ Aufgīsa)
• Aufgisser around the world

There was a lot of content, such as:

There was also ample time for questions and answers, which made for a truly enjoyable experience

■ Practical

The practical training is broadly divided into two parts

• Basic Skills Learning Lumberjack (※) Basics

*Swinging a towel down like a lumberjack. This is a common fan movement at heatwave events

• Practice in the sauna room

This was another enjoyable time. In the basic skills training , under the guidance of Katsumasa Inoue , the participants performed lumberjack with each other and exchanged their impressions of the wind. This was done for about 30 minutes, with partners changing in turn.

Afterward, the practical training began in the sauna room of Yuzakura's famous "Kagaribi," which boasts one of the largest amounts of sauna stones in western Japan . Divided into teams of four, the training progressed with participants taking turns as senders and receivers of the heat waves.

Incidentally, I was fortunate enough to be the first to perform, the very first in the first group!
I received a lot of guidance from Mr. Katsumasa Inoue,

- Opening remarks - Lumberjack (
　Gentle Wind) 10 times x 4 people (Moderate Wind) 10 times x 4 people (Strong Wind) 10 times x 4 people

We carried out the following

The situation is like this

Huh? I only have photos of myself receiving the heat wave, not sending it.
"We forgot to take a photo of Morita-san, who was the first one to receive it," said Manager Kusumoto.

The training proceeded with five groups of four people rotating through the room. What was surprising was that for the entire hour and a half, Katsumasa Inoue calmly instructed the participants without ever leaving the sauna room . That's typical of Paneppa .

Impressions and summary of the Satana Master Examination B

It was a really fun class, and the two and a half hours flew by

I received this certificate about two weeks later

It's very moving

Come to think of it,why did I take the heat wave master certification exam?

I believe that in order to truly understand a service you've become passionate about, it's important not only to enjoy it but also to try to understand even a glimpse of the intentions of those who provide it . This is also true when you receive excellent service in a business context. As a service provider ourselves at Beyond, we hope to provide as many people as possible with an experience that is equal to or even greater than the impression I received from the heat wave master

And I would be happy if even one more person becomes interested in our company.
That's how I forcefully wrapped it up.

I would like to write another blog about saunas next time

Astara Vista!!