In article  Cynewulf <s669330@aix2.uottawa.ca> writes:

       I was just wondering, about something that keeps popping up in 
Ranma.  Why, before they go to take a shower or bath, do they keep 
dumping a bucket of cold water on themselves?  I mean, when I clean, I 
just step into a hot shower... why freeze first?

I'm just guessing, but I don't think that you only use the hot water fixture.  
You adjust the water to a comfortable temperature before you step in.  The 
soaking temperature of a furo is typically on the hot side; using that water 
would probably be like using water from the hot-water kettle.

Typically there's a basin to one side where the bather can combine the furo 
water with cold water to get it to a comfortable temperature to actually bathe 
with.  So its not necessarily cold water they're using.

It may be that some characters prefer to use cold water - but I would regard 
this as akin to the west where some people end their showers by using the cold 
water only.

       Also... in the Cooking Competition OAV, why does Soun go outside 
and start dowsing himself in cold water?  You see him freezing, snot 
dripping from his nose, praying for Akane's sake... what, some kinda 
endurance test or something?

That is a Shinto (?) purification ritual.  I've also seen examples where monks 
and laymen enter a waterfall in the middle of winter.

Of course, I haven't done research on these two points, since I'm responding 
off the top of my head, so some formal library research couldn't hurt.

JK