The first and most surprising thing I learned about massage in Japan is that virtually everywhere you go, you are asked to wear these tiny “paper shorts.” There seem to be a couple words for them in Japanese, one is “ペーパーショーツ” which is literally the Japanese pronunciation of the English words “paper shorts.” I’ve also heard “紙ショーツ” which swaps out the English word “paper” with the native Japanese word for paper, “kami.”
So, what are these paper shorts exactly? Well, they are basically a disposable pair of underwear. They generally don’t seem to have different front and back sides, which contributes to the fact that they are just not at all comfortable. I’d guess they are uncomfortable for everyone, but I’m 6 feet tall and they just feel tiny and awkward on me. They’re also quite flimsy. I’ve torn through a couple pairs trying to put them on, once so badly I had to ask for a new pair.
What is most surprising to me is that wearing paper shorts is standard practice for massages in Japan. I am from the United States where the industry standard is to undress “to one’s level of comfort.” I’d guess for people in the US who get massages regularly, being “comfortable” means being fully nude. Massage therapists know how to properly drape your body with towels to keep you covered, and being free of any constriction leads to a much better massage experience.
This cultural difference is especially surprising given the differences in our views on nudity in general. The US has a very puritanical history and is still very influenced by conservative religion. As a culture we seem to think nudity is somehow bad or wrong and that nudity is inextricably linked to sex. Japan seems the opposite to me, where nudity is simply thought of as a natural state, not something to be judged or shied away from. Japan, in fact, has a long history of communal nudity, such as in hot springs and public baths. I would have thought being nude for a massage would be no big deal in Japan.
In addition to their bad fit, another difficulty with paper shorts is that they may need to be adjusted. For example, they may need to be moved by the therapist for access to the glutes. If it were a towel covering, no problem. But with small, tight fitting paper shorts it isn’t easy. My reaction has been to slightly lift my hips to facilitate the move but that makes me worry it could be interpreted as a signal that I want something more… and I’d really rather not be thinking, much less worrying, during a massage.
Additionally, as male readers will know quite well, underwear sometimes needs to be adjusted for proper support and “containment.” Paper shorts are almost impossible to adjust for coverage and support so it ends up being a no-win situation for the customer because you just can’t get it right. Adjustments during the session could also lead to awkward feelings for the therapist as well, i.e. thinking why is he reaching his hand down there?
All of the above downsides of paper shorts really make me wonder why they are standard in Japan, a country that is known for high levels of service, doing everything the best way possible, and genuinely caring about the customer experience. Perhaps the answer is that paper shorts are not about the nudity but about setting expectations for new foreign massage customers in Japan. I have yet to find out if women are also required to wear papers shorts (or Japanese men for that matter). Perhaps I’ll be able to update this post as I learn more about the reasoning.
In the end, Japanese paper massage shorts are not the worst thing in the world. Once you have them on for a while you kind of forget they’re there, especially after you’re on the table. You can always still feel their presence however, both physically and mentally, so it is a little disappointing to not be fully free and relaxed… which is the whole point of the massage in the first place.
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