Nippo Kako Recovers Japan's First Unit Bath 'Unit 2' After 60 Years, to be Preserved as Cultural Heritage

A 60-year-old bath has been found.

Nippo Kako Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Yamazoe-mura, Yamabe-gun, Nara; President: Shinjiro Nakatsuka) has successfully discovered and recovered an actual 'Unit 2' through a search campaign. This unit, Japan's first all-FRP (fiber-reinforced plastic) capsule-type portable unit bath with a washing area, had been carefully preserved in a household for about 60 years. Furthermore, during the search, the company also succeeded in recovering a renowned 'Bath House' model manufactured in 1975.

'A 60-Year-Old Bath' Passed Down to the Present Day Through Careful Living

Developed by Nippo Kako in the early 1960s when public bathhouses were mainstream, 'Unit 2' was Japan's first all-FRP capsule-type portable unit bath with a washing area, born from the desire to 'deliver a warm bath to homes across Japan'. Its revolutionary concept of being installable on balconies, in entryways, or closets without changing the existing floor plan was a turning point that drastically changed not only post-war Japan's bathing culture but also daily living habits. To preserve this 'cultural heritage of baths' for future generations, we launched a campaign using transport advertisements and SNS aimed at recovering and preserving Unit 2. We called for information from the general public starting in the autumn of 2025.

As the search continued, a single photograph arrived at our company in late 2025. It showed the sender's grandmother's family home, and the unique capsule-like silhouette standing in a corner of the house looked exactly like the original Unit 2.

Technicians immediately visited the site and found the portable unit bath Unit 2, which had quietly accompanied the family's daily life for about 60 long years, kept in exceptionally beautiful condition. With deep respect and gratitude to the owner who carefully preserved this trace of Nippo Kako's early challenges to this day, we acquired it as a historical starting point through a purchase.

A sticker indicating Nippo Kako manufacture was a clue to the discovery

Nippo Kako employees carefully carrying out the existing Unit 2 with its interior still in beautiful condition

Promotional movie released simultaneously

Another Miracle: A 50-Year-Old 'Bath House' Also Found

A 50-year-old bath has also been found.

During the journey to find the legendary Unit 2, we had another miraculous encounter. In Kashiba, Nara Prefecture—a place where our company once had its headquarters and factory, and where FRP unit baths greatly evolved—a 1975 'Bath House' was discovered. It had been carefully used as a bathroom for a factory dormitory (at the time) in that town.

This Bath House is a bathroom space constructed with FRP panels for the walls, floor, and ceiling—a technology that had just been successfully mass-produced—representing a natural evolution from the capsule type of Unit 2. Although it was an experimental model that could be installed outdoors simply by 'placing' it like a shed, it was a masterpiece that anticipated the future standard of bathrooms: lightweight, highly durable, and quick to deliver.

With respect for the owner who protected this unit bath for half a century, we recognize this Bath House as a valuable cultural heritage and will pass it down to the future, just like Unit 2.

Thank You for the Discovery: Transport Ads Expressing Gratitude for Cooperation Also Deployed

To date, we have received 20 pieces of information related to Unit 2 through this campaign. Thanks to everyone's warm cooperation and interest, we successfully recovered the cultural heritage of baths, 'Unit 2' and 'Bath House'.

The retrieved unit baths are scheduled to be exhibited sequentially at Nippo Kako's showrooms after careful restoration work at the headquarters factory. Nippo Kako will continue to take on the challenge of creating a new bath culture as a specialized bath manufacturer, keeping the DNA of 'exploration and prototyping' from its founding in its heart.

Hankyu Kandaimai Station, Kintetsu Yaenosato Station Front Bus Stop

Kintetsu Yaenosato Station, Kintetsu Fuse Station

About Nippo Kako Co., Ltd.

Founded in 1962, Nippo Kako Co., Ltd. is a specialized manufacturer that consistently handles everything from planning and designing to manufacturing and constructing water-related products, centered on baths. In 1964, the company quickly succeeded in developing and manufacturing the all-FRP portable unit bath with a washing area, and since then, has also handled numerous custom-made unit baths for luxury hotels and residences. Under the vision of 'Creating a New Bath Culture', the company pursues technological innovation and quality improvement, and is committed to proposing new lifestyles through bathing, going beyond merely providing baths. In the future, the company aims to realize a daily routine where soaking in a bathtub every night becomes standard as a maintenance dock for health.

Nippo Kako Co., Ltd.'s headquarters has its own factory in Nara covering an area equivalent to 2.5 Tokyo Domes (101,758 square meters, 30,835 tsubo).

126-4 Kirihata, Yamazoe-mura, Yamabe-gun, Nara 630-2234 https://nippo