Japanese idol group sells leftover bathwater to fans

It sounds like one of those “wacky Japan” clickbait stories, but this one at least is true. And there’s a video to prove it.

The idol group The Banana Monkeys already has a strange enough name, though it now might have won itself an even stranger reputation by offering to sell fans the leftover bathwater used by two of its members.

In late January, idols Tenka no Chanyuki and Asuka Rei were filmed enjoying a bath together (sadly, with clothes on) to back up the authenticity of the water, which was then scooped out of the bath and bottled for the pleasure of any fans willing to fork out ¥100,000 (approx. $900!) for the privilege.

The item is no longer available online, however, so it either sold out or there was some legal or ethic issue that meant the sale was stopped. Or it was all just a promotional stunt to attract publicity for the group’s upcoming live concert in March. With this aim, at least, the idols seemed to have succeeded.

Of course, regular readers may well remember a similar-sounding item from the past: the Little Sister Imouto Leftover Bathwater Scented Bath Salts.