Originally Posted by
hailstorm
You do realize that Dave Barry's Japan book was written based on his visit in 1991? That was also a time when cigarette commercials still graced the television airwaves.
We're two eras removed from Showa. Times and norms change (though perhaps Pickles does not)
Have you been to a sento or onsen recently? I think you need to go and look for yourself, not once or twice but many times. I can attest that little has changed in this respect since 1974, though the number of mixed bathing establishments has decreased.