Chinese-Japanese question

[the_reda]

Just something that I have noticed and that so far none of my Japanese Study friends could answer. Come on, let's show them Chinese Studies knows more :P

Take a look at the picture under the cut from Spirited Away (I have seen it in other anime, too).

What is the connection between oil 油 and bathhouse? Is it a homophone? An in-joke? A meaning

Comments

[poubelle]

The picture isn't loading for me for some reason, but it could be that 汤屋 = yuya (public bathhouse), and 油 can also be read as yu (though alone it's read simply as abura). Does it say 油屋 (technically read as aburaya -- oil seller) or simply 油?

[the_reda]

Does this work: http://www.allmoviephoto.com/photo/spirited_away_006.html

It says 油屋 and 油 on separate flags/signs.

[poubelle]

Hm, seems to be a pun on the lines of the pronunciation of 油. See here.

[the_reda]

So no bathing in oil :P
I figured it had to be some kind of joke.

[miss_scarlet007]

Isn't the bath house supposed to be called Aburaya 油屋 (seller of oil)? And it could well be a pun as the curtains in bath houses often have the hiragana ゆ written on them, which could be read either way.

[then]