The Scene of Tragedy: What Happened on December 15, 2025
Just after noon on December 15, 2025, a devastating fire at the luxury private sauna "SAUNATIGER" in Akasaka, Tokyo, claimed the lives of a couple in their 30s. The victims were Masaya Matsuda (36) and his wife Yoko (37), who left behind a young child.
The incident occurred at an ultra-luxury private sauna facility charging up to ¥390,000 per month. Operating on an all-inclusive model with unlimited food and alcohol, the establishment was popular among celebrities and influencers. However, beneath its luxurious facade lurked fatal safety deficiencies.
Double Safety Failures That Led to Tragedy
The Metropolitan Police investigation revealed shocking safety management failures behind this accident.
When discovered, the sauna room's door handle was detached and lying on the floor—both the inside and outside handles had fallen off. The couple was completely trapped inside the sauna room. Even more alarming: evidence showed they had pressed the emergency button inside the room, but the receiver in the office had its power turned off, meaning their desperate calls for help never reached anyone.
The fire was believed to have been caused by a towel touching the sauna stones. What should have been a minor incident became fatal because the couple had no means of escape. The husband was found covering his wife protectively, and traces at the scene revealed their desperate struggle for survival.
Japan's Third Sauna Boom
This tragedy unfolded against the backdrop of Japan's rapid sauna boom expansion.
Looking back at Japan's sauna history: the first boom arrived with the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, the second with the rise of super bathhouses in the 1990s. Now we're in the midst of the "Third Sauna Boom." Triggered by the 2019 drama series "Sadou," the term "totonou" (achieving the perfect relaxed state) gained such popularity it was nominated for Japan's Word of the Year Award in 2021, with sauna culture explosively popular especially among younger generations.
The pace of facility expansion is particularly noteworthy. From 1968 to 2022, covering 54 years, there were almost no recorded major sauna fires. Yet from 2022 to 2024, just three years, five fires occurred. This clearly correlates with the rapid increase in sauna facilities driven by the boom.
Private room saunas, a new business model, present safety management challenges different from traditional public bathhouses. Many facilities lack permanent staff, with inadequate emergency response systems.
Finland vs. Japan: Different Sauna Cultures
In Finland, the home of sauna culture, saunas have been recognized as cultural heritage with over 2,000 years of history, inscribed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2020. For Finland's population of 5.5 million, there are over 3 million saunas—nearly every household has one.
Finnish-style saunas feature relatively moderate temperatures of 80-90°C with humidity controlled through "löyly" (steam created by throwing water on hot stones). Users can adjust the steam themselves, and saunas serve as social spaces for families and friends.
In terms of safety, the prevalence of electric heating saunas allows for safe temperature management with the flip of a switch. Finnish public saunas minimize posted prohibitions, emphasizing user autonomy and cooperation.
In contrast, Japanese saunas typically feature high temperatures (90-100°C+) in low-humidity environments. The "endurance" element is emphasized, with the style of pursuing the "totonou" sensation through extreme temperature differences with cold water baths well-established. While these extreme temperature changes offer health benefits, they make facility safety management even more critical.
Global Sauna Safety Standards and Japan's Challenges
The International Sauna Association established in 1999 that official saunas should maintain a minimum temperature of 80°C, primarily to define what constitutes a sauna. There are no unified international safety standards, with regulations left to each country's building codes and public bathhouse laws.
In Finland, where home saunas are common, product safety standards are emphasized. In Europe, CE mark safety certification is required, with temperature control devices and overheating prevention features as standard equipment.
In Japan, Public Bathhouse Law and Fire Service Law apply, but the new business model of private room saunas wasn't anticipated by conventional regulations. This accident highlighted several issues:
- Inadequate door handle durability and maintenance systems
- Lack of regular emergency button system inspections
- Insufficient emergency response protocols when staff absent
- Inadequate safety review standards when opening facilities
Safety Checks Users Can Perform
Lessons from this tragedy include safety checks users themselves can conduct:
Pre-Use Facility Checks
- Verify door opens and closes normally
- Confirm emergency button location and operation (when possible)
- Check evacuation routes
- Confirm staff presence status
During Sauna Use
- Keep towels and flammable items away from sauna stones
- Exit immediately if feeling unwell
- Avoid prolonged enclosed space use
- Use facilities with others when possible
The Future of Japan's Sauna Culture
The sauna boom emerged from rising health consciousness and needs for healing in a stressful society. New ways to enjoy saunas are expanding, including tent saunas and glamping facility saunas.
However, the Akasaka fire revealed that safety management was neglected amid rapid facility expansion. Industry-wide safety standard reviews, mandatory regular inspections, and thorough staff training are urgently needed.
Saunas offer wonderful benefits for mental and physical refreshment. Precisely because of this, the culture can only be sustainable when built on a foundation of safety.
Tell Us About Sauna Culture in Your Country
In Japan, this tragic accident occurred during the Third Sauna Boom. Does your country have sauna culture? What are the safety standards like? Whether you're from a culture where home saunas are common like Finland, or from regions with different sauna traditions like the Americas or Asia, we'd love to hear your perspectives and experiences.
Reactions in Japan
The door handle came off...and they were charging ¥390,000? A luxury facility should have top-level safety management. This sounds like criminal negligence.
I used to frequent private saunas but now I'm scared. Imagining pressing the emergency button and no one comes is terrifying. I'll only go to major spa facilities from now on.
A typical case where regulations haven't caught up with the new business model of private saunas. Not anticipated by Public Bathhouse Law. Without industry self-regulation, we'll see more accidents.
Too many facilities prioritizing quantity over quality in the sauna boom. Old-school bathhouse saunas actually have better safety management. Those counter attendants are invaluable.
The emergency button power was off - meaning they didn't inspect it? Regular equipment checks are mandatory. I bet this facility had other deficiencies too.
They left behind a young child...my heart aches. To lose your life coming to relax at a sauna. My deepest condolences.
My sauna is also private-room type, so this hits close to home. Starting tomorrow, checking all doors and emergency buttons. We must remember we're entrusted with customers' lives.
Reports say the operating company's other business received a suspension order. That kind of corporate culture probably led to lax safety management. They should investigate thoroughly.
I thought it was lovely that the couple went to the sauna together...hearing the husband was found covering his wife made me cry. How terrified they must have been.
With IoT technology, abnormal sauna temperatures or emergency button presses could instantly notify staff smartphones. This is what happens when you cut corners on safety to save costs.
The sauna boom itself is healthy and positive, but safety must come first. The problem is operators casually opening businesses just to ride the trend.
That area has seen lots of trendy shops open recently, but many are all style with no substance. I hope this accident becomes a catalyst for the whole industry to reform.
Saunas do have health benefits, but enclosed high-temperature environments always carry risks. Users need to develop the habit of checking 'Can I escape if something happens?'
There's a trend of prioritizing design while neglecting functionality and safety, especially common in private saunas. Being stylish alone isn't enough.
We do rounds of all rooms every 15 minutes. It costs labor, but I thought that was standard. Unmanned operation is too scary.
Differentiation through luxury positioning is fine, but if you can't manage basic safety, you've missed the point. There are things to do before branding.
Like Finland, balancing user self-responsibility with minimum facility safety assurance is important. Japan tends toward extremes of either overprotection or neglect.
A lawyer said compensation could exceed ¥200 million for this accident. With a young child left behind, damages will be high. Even with insurance, it's business-ending level.
Saunas are supposed to be places to restore mind and body, yet lives were lost this way - it's too tragic. I want the whole industry to rebuild safety standards.
Deaths occurred despite a small fire because escape was impossible. Private facilities absolutely need multiple escape routes. This must be a lesson.
As a Finn, this is truly heartbreaking news. Saunas should be safe spaces. In Finland, even home saunas are designed with emergency escape in mind - doors must always open from inside. I can't believe the emergency button power was off.
Private saunas aren't as common in the US, but spas and gym saunas have strict safety regulations. Regular inspections are mandatory, especially for door mechanisms with multiple checks. This accident shows how important regulations are.
Saunas are popular in Sweden too, but I've never seen facilities this expensive. ¥390,000 per month is shocking. At that price, top-level safety management should be guaranteed, yet even basic safety measures were inadequate.
In Korean jjimjilbangs (sauna facilities), staff are present 24/7 doing regular rounds. The concept of unmanned private saunas itself seems dangerous. Imagine no one can help in an emergency.
In France, saunas mainly exist as part of spas with attendants always present. Japan's private sauna trend is interesting, but it's a business model that cannot work without safety measures.
In Germany, sauna facilities require strict safety certification from TÜV (Technical Inspection Association). Door systems, ventilation, emergency systems - all regularly inspected. Perhaps this accident could have been prevented with such third-party certification in Japan.
Private saunas are trending in some Chinese cities too, and this accident news worries me. It's a reminder that rapidly expanding new businesses always need safety regulations.
Saunas aren't common in Spain, but we have temazcal, traditional steam baths. For any bathing facility, the basic principle should be 'you can always exit.' A facility where you could be trapped is terrifying.
In Dubai's luxury spas, cutting-edge safety systems are standard - temperature sensors, CO2 monitors, remote surveillance cameras. If you claim to be a luxury facility, you shouldn't skimp on safety investment.
Saunas are popular in Poland too, but I've never heard of such a tragedy. Due to EU regulations, public facility safety standards are very strict. Japan should reference international standards.
In Canada, public baths have strict regulations, especially ensuring emergency evacuation routes. Reading about this accident reminded me that regulations aren't obstacles but exist to protect lives.
In Italian spa culture, both terme (hot springs) and saunas are always within staff sight. Balancing privacy and safety is difficult, but life should always be the priority.
I'm a Japanese living in Australia. Sauna facilities here are relatively simple, but safety management is thorough. Japan's sauna boom is wonderful, but safety must not be sacrificed.
In Norway, saunas are a winter pleasure. But even on the coldest days, being able to exit is fundamental. Being trapped would cause panic. My heart aches thinking of this couple's terror.
In Israel, modern wellness facilities are increasing, but there's much to learn from traditional hammams (Turkish baths). Centuries-old facilities have accumulated safety wisdom. Precisely because it's a new business model, we should learn from tradition.
In Brazil, saunas are typically in fitness clubs with instructors always present. A private room situation with no one around is unthinkable. Human life is more important than business efficiency.
In Belgium's spa facilities (the word 'spa' originates from a Belgian town name), safety management know-how goes back centuries. I think newer facilities should learn from history.
In Singapore, public facility safety regulations are very strict - violations mean immediate closure. A facility like this probably wouldn't get operating permission in the first place. Regulations may be strict, but they protect lives.
In Austrian sauna culture, even private rooms have glass windows for external visibility. Complete enclosure is too dangerous. Finding a compromise between privacy and safety is important.
Saunas aren't very common in Ireland, but they're increasing recently. We must learn from this Japanese accident and not repeat the same mistakes. New trends always need appropriate regulation.