Japanese Toilets
Created | Updated Jan 21, 2005
Japanese Toilets
History
Toilets have been used in Japan since the start of civilization, although the exact construction and use is unknown. The earliest sewer systems are from the Yayoi period (300 BC to A.D. 250). These systems were used in larger settlements, probably in combination with toilets. During the Nara period (710 to 784), a drainage system was created in the capital in Nara. The earliest known toilets in Japan also date back to that time, being constructed over an open pit similar to an outhouse. In earlier days seaweed was used for cleaning, but by the Edo period, these were instead replaced by toilet paper that used washi. In the mountainous regions, wooden scrapers and large leaves were used as well. Often, toilets were also constructed over a running stream of water. However, historically, pit toilets were more common, as they were easier to build and also allowed the reuse of the feces as fertilizer — very important in a country where Buddhism and its associated vegetarianism generally prevented livestock raising. In fact, the waste products of rich people were sold at higher prices because their diet was better. This practice stopped after World War II for sanitary reasons and with the proliferation of chemical fertilizers.
In Okinawa, the toilet was often attached to the pig pen, and the pigs were fed with the human waste product. This practice was stopped after World War II.
During the Azuchi-Momoyama period (1568 to 1600), the "Taiko Sewerage" was built around Osaka Castle, and it is still existing and functioning today. The use of modern sewage systems began in 1884, with the installation of the first brick and ceramic sewer in Kanda in Tokyo. More plumbing and sewage systems were installed after the Great Kanto earthquake to avoid diseases after future earthquakes. However, the construction of sewers increased only after World War II to cope with the waste products of larger and larger population centers. In the year 2000, 60% of the population was connected to a sewer system.
Western-style toilets and urinals started to appear in Japan at the beginning of the 20th century, but only after World War II did their use become more widespread due to the influence of the American occupation. In 1977, the sale of Western-style toilets exceeded the sale of traditional squat toilets in Japan. Based on toilets with a built-in bidet from Switzerland and the U.S., the world's largest bathroom fixtures company Toto introduced the Washlet in 1980. Japanese companies currently produce some of the most advanced high tech toilets worldwide.
Terminology
Toilets and the rooms that contain them are known by various names in Japanese. The most common word is toire. Toire is an abbreviation of toiretto, which was borrowed in the early 20th century from the English word "toilet". Today, toire and toiretto are used both for the toilet itself and for the room where it is located.
Among the many words for rooms or other structures that contain toilets, the most common are benjo, literally "place of excrement", and otearai, literally "hand-washing". Strictly speaking, otearai refers to the sink and thus has an origin similar to that of the English "lavatory". As a euphemism, this is similar to the English usage of "bathroom", which literally refers to a room with a bathtub. It is also common to see keshōshitsu, literally "powder room", on signs in department stores and supermarkets as well as accompanying the public toilet pictogram. Another modern word for the toilet room, also taken from English, is resutorum("restroom"). Japanese has many other words for places reserved for excretory functions, including kawaya and habakari, but most are rare or archaic.
The toilet itself—that is, the bowl or in-floor receptacle, the water tank, et cetera—is called benki, literally "excrement device". The toilet seat is benza ("excrement seat"). A potty, either for small children or for the elderly or infirm, is called omaru.
Types of toilets
Squat toilet
The traditional Japanese-style (washiki) toilet is a squat toilet, also known as the Asian toilet, as it is common all over Asia. A squat toilet differs from a western toilet in both construction and method of employment. A squat toilet essentially looks like a miniature urinal rotated 90 degrees and set into the floor. Most squat toilets in Japan are made of porcelain, though in rare instances stainless steel is also used. Instead of sitting, the user squats over the toilet, facing the hemispherical hood, i.e. the wall in the back of the toilet in the picture seen on the right. A shallow trough collects the waste, instead of a large water-filled bowl as in a western toilet. All the other fixtures such as the water tank, piping, and flushing mechanism may be identical to those of a western toilet. Flushing causes water to push the waste matter from the trough into a collecting reservoir which is then emptied and carried off into the sewer system. The flush is often operated by the foot or by pulling the handle on the water tank or the piping fixture in the same manner as a western toilet.
Two variations are common, one where the toilet is level with the ground, and the other where the toilet is raised on a platform approximately 30 cm (1 foot) high. The latter is easier to use for men to urinate while standing, but both types can be used for this purpose. There is also no difference for defecation or squatting urination. The user stands over the squat toilet facing the hood and pulls down (up in the case of skirts) his pants and underwear to the knees. The user then squats over the hole, as closely to the front as possible. During defecation it is important to keep balanced. Beginners and foreigners often hold on to the piping at the front, which therefore has earned the nickname grunt bar from the sounds made while holding on to this pipe. If the plumbing is hidden or not strong enough, a separate handle may be installed specially to aid the user in keeping his balance. Another common strategy employed by foreigners to avoid any potentially embarrassing accidents while defecating is to strip completely from the waist down and hang the garments on a hook before assuming the position.
The advantages of this type of toilet are that they are easy to clean. Because of its simple construction, a squat toilet can be cleaned with just a bucket and a mop, or by simply hosing down the inside with water. Squat toilets are cheaper to make and consume less water per flush than western toilets.
The use of both the traditional squat and the modern high-tech toilet is often a source of confusion for foreigners. Additionally, some claim that squat toilets are more sanitary than western toilets because no parts of the toilet actually come into contact with human skin. The waterless trough also minimizes the risk of splash back during defecation. In addition, a number of medical benefits are attributed to the squat toilet. It is said that the squatting strengthens the pelvic muscles of females, reducing the likelihood of incontinence. It is also said that this toilet builds up strength in the hips, and improves breathing and concentration, and that the upright squatting position allows more solid waste to be eliminated from the colon. However, there has been no study concerning the accuracy of any of these claims.
The Japanese bathroom fixtures company Toto produces a Japanese squat toilet with a built-in bidet, where a nozzle cleans the anus. However, this product is not very popular, partly due to splashing caused by the water jet washing the anus. A frontal washing option is currently not available.
Western-style flush toilets
The standard flush toilet used worldwide is known in Japan as a Western-style toilet. Western-style toilets, including high tech toilets, are now more common in Japanese homes than the traditional squat toilets. While most public facilities such as schools, temples, and train stations are often equipped with only squat toilets, in their own homes, Japanese people prefer being able to sit, especially older individuals for whom prolonged squatting is physically demanding or uncomfortable. Many western toilets also include a water-saving device, where the user has the option to wash his hands with the water that goes into the tank for flushing.
High tech Japanese bidets
The modern toilet in Japan, commonly known in Japanese as Washlet or as warm-water cleaning toilet seat(onsuisenjoubenza) is probably the most advanced type of toilet worldwide, showing a dazzling array of features. The idea for the washlet came from abroad, and the first toilet seat with integrated bidet was produced outside of Japan in 1964, called wash-air-seat. The age of the high tech toilet in Japan started in 1980 with the introduction of the washlet G series by Toto, and since then the product name washlet is used as slang to refer to all types of Japanese high-tech toilets. Before it was introduced, it was believed that only a few would want such technology for more money when it can be done manually. It caught on when people realized that it actually worked—often surprisingly well. As of 2002, almost half of private homes in Japan have such a toilet, exceeding the number of households with a personal computer. While the toilet looks like a western style toilet at first glance, there are a number of additional features—such as blow dryer, seat heating, massage options, water jet adjustments, automatic lid opening, flushing after use, wireless control panels, heating and air conditioning for the room, et cetera—included either as part of the toilet or in a toilet seat. These features can be accessed by a control panel that is either attached to one side of the seat or on a wall nearby, often transmitting the commands wirelessly to the toilet seat.
The most basic feature is the integrated bidet, a nozzle the size of a pencil that comes out from underneath the toilet seat and squirts water on either the anus or the vulva. This is known as feminine cleaning or feminine wash and posterior wash, general use, or family cleaning. At no point does the nozzle actually touch the body of the person. The nozzle is also self-cleaning and cleans itself before and after operation. The user can select to wash their anus or vulva by pressing the corresponding button on the control panel. Usually the same nozzle is used for both operations, but at a different position of the nozzle head, and using different openings in the nozzle to squirt water at a different angle to aim for the correct spot. Occasionally, two nozzles are used, each dedicated for one area. The control logic is also attached to a pressure switch in the toilet seat, and operates only if there is pressure on the seat, indicating that the seat is occupied. The very first models did not include this automatic switch-off. A number of curious users pressed the button while watching the toilet to see its mode of operation, and promptly received a jet of warm water in their face. The pressure switch was added to avoid accidental use without a user sitting on the toilet.
The Apricot washer, an advertisement by Toto for their productsMost high-tech toilets also provide the option to select the water pressure to adjust to the preferences of the user. By default, the vulva receives less pressure than the anus. Usually, the temperature of the water can also be adjusted. Researchers in Japan have found that a water temperature slightly higher than the body temperature is preferred by most customers, and 38°C is considered best. The exact nozzle position can also often be adjusted forward or aft manually. High-end washlets also provide options for a vibrating and pulsating jet of water. The manufacturers claim that this helps against constipation or hemorrhoids. The most advanced washlets can even mix the water jet with soap for an improved cleaning process.
The washlet can replace toilet paper completely, but many users opt to improve the hygiene in combination with the mechanical action of the toilet paper. This also depends on the cleaned region, and the cleaning of the vulva may not need toilet paper. Some users use the toilet paper before the washing, some after the washing, some use only the washing and others use no washing at all and prefer to use only toilet paper.
A second commonly found feature is a blow drier, often adjustable between 40°C and 60°C to dry the private regions after cleaning with the integrated bidet. Other features may include a seat heating which may be adjustable from 30°C to 40°C, an automatic opening and closing of the toilet lid based on a proximity sensor, automatic flushing of the toilet, automatic air deodorizer, and a germ resistant surface. Some models specially designed for the elderly may include arm rests and devices that help the user to stand up after use. A soft close feature slows the toilet lid down while closing so the lid does not slam onto the seat, or in some models the toilet lid will close automatically a certain time after flushing. The most recent introduction is the ozone deodorant system that can quickly eliminate the smell of the waste. Also, the latest models store the times of the use of the toilet, and have a power saving mode that heats up the toilet seat only during times when the toilet is likely to be used based on the collected usage data. Some toilets also glow in the dark or may even have air conditioning for hot summer days.
Recently, researchers have added medical sensors into these toilets, which can measure the blood sugar based on the urine, and also measure the pulse, blood pressure, and the body fat content of the user. Other measurements are currently being researched. This data may automatically be sent to a doctor through a built in internet-capable cellular telephone. However, these devices are still very rare in Japan, and their future commercial success is difficult to predict. Producers currently also develop a voice-operated toilet that understands verbal commands. Toto, NAIS, and other companies also produce portable battery operated travel washlets which must be filled with warm water before use.
It is possible and occasionally done to use the water jet on a high pressure setting for an enema. There are also reports of females using the water jet as a masturbation aid. It is not known, however, how common these practices are.
Male and female urinals
Urinals in Japan are very similar to the urinals in the rest of the world, and mainly used for public male toilets or male toilets with a large number of users.
Before and during the Meiji Era, urinals were commonly used by both males and females. Traditionally, a kimono is worn without underwear, and the females merely pulled up their kimono and with an upward pull on their vulva were able to direct the urine forward into the urinal. This practice disappeared in the 20th century, when the female clothing changed to the western style, and nowadays even kimono are almost always worn with underwear. The female urinal had a small revival between 1951 and 1968, when Toto was producing female urinals. This device was shaped like a cone and placed on the floor. However, those were never very popular, and only a few of them are left, as for example underneath the Japan National Stadium from the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo
Japan-specific accessories
Toilets in Japan have very similar accessories as most toilets worldwide, including toilet paper, a toilet brush, a sink, etc. However, there are some Japan-specific accessories that are rarely found outside of Japan.
The Sound Princess
Many Japanese women are embarrassed at the thought that someone else can hear them while they are doing their business on the toilet. To cover the sound of bodily functions, many females flushed public toilets continuously while using them, wasting a large amount of water in the process. As education campaigns did not stop this practice, a device was introduced in the 1980s or earlier that after activation produces the sound of flushing water without the need for actual flushing. One brand name commonly found is the Otohime, which literally means Sound Princess, and is named after the Japanese goddess Otohime, the beautiful daughter of the sea-king Ryujin (the goddess's name, though, is written with different kanji that mean "younger princess"). This device is now routinely placed in most new public female toilets, and many older public female toilets have been upgraded. The Otohime may be either a separate battery-operated device attached to the wall of the toilet, or included in an existing washlet. The device is activated by pressing a button or by the wave of a hand in front of a motion sensor. After activation, the device creates a loud flushing sound similar to a toilet being flushed. This sound either stops after a preset time or can be halted through a second press on the button. It is estimated that this saves up to 20 liters of water per use. So far there appears to be no demand for these devices for men's public toilets, and the devices are almost never installed in men's restrooms.
Bathroom slippers
In Japanese life, there is a tendency to separate areas into clean and unclean, and the contact between these areas is minimized. For example, the inside of the house is considered a clean area, whereas the outside of the house is considered unclean. To keep the two areas separated, shoes are taken off before entering the house so that the unclean shoes do not touch the clean area inside of the house. Historically, toilets were located outside of the house, and shoes were worn for a trip to the toilet. Nowadays, the toilet is almost always inside the home and hygienic conditions have improved significantly, but the toilet is still considered an unclean area. To minimize contact between the unclean toilet floor and the clean floor in the rest of the house, many private homes and also some public toilets have toilet slippers in front of the toilet door that should be used when in the toilet and removed right after leaving the toilet. This also indicates if the toilet is in use. These toilet slippers are therefore a leftover custom from days when shoes were worn for a visit to the toilet. They can be as simple as a pair of rubber slippers, decorated slippers with prints of anime characters for small children, or even animal fur slippers for those with money to spend. A frequent faux pas of foreigners is to use these toilet slippers in the non-toilet areas, hence mixing the clean and unclean areas.
Public toilets
Public toilets are easy to find in Japan and one seldom needs to look very hard when nature calls. Restrooms can be found in department stores, supermarkets, book stores, CD shops, parks, most convenience stores, and in all but the most rural train stations. Beginning in the 1990s, there has been a movement to make public toilets cleaner and more hospitable than they had been in the past. The rooms were made brighter and larger, while the toilets were updated to more technologically advanced ones. Large mirrors were fitted over sinks. Even buildings themselves were redesigned to be more welcoming than previous dull looking ones. This may come as a thought of relief to tourists and Japanese alike. The open access to toilets in Japan can be contrasted with places like Europe where pay toilets are the standard, or the US where finding a public toilet in times of need is often an ordeal. It is, however, not uncommon to see Japanese men urinating in public, inebriated or not.
Many public restrooms nowadays have both types of toilets, but just as many do not. Most train stations in the Tokyo area and public schools throughout Japan, for example, only have squat toilets. In addition, trains, parks, temples, traditional Japanese restaurants, and older buildings typically only have squat toilets. Users not accustomed to squat toilets may either look for the stall(s) with the western toilet, indicated by the kanji characters youshiki, the English words "Western-style", a symbol for the type of toilet, or any combination of the three. Alternatively, users can seek a handicapped bathroom if available.
Toilet paper is usually but not always available. Often, Japanese carry small sheets of paper thin soap and a handkerchief with them for such occasions, or they keep the small packets of tissue passed out to pedestrians as advertisements. Coin-operated toilet paper vending machines are also sometimes installed outside bathrooms as a last resort for the desperate or ill-prepared.
Many public toilets do not have soap for washing hands, or towels for drying hands. Some public toilets are fitted with powerful air-blown hand dryers to reduce the volume of waste generated from paper towels. Hand dryers and faucets are usually installed with motion-sensors as an additional resource saving measure. Some people simply do not wash their hands, but this is considered a major faux pas in Japan as it is in other cultures.
Conditions inside a Japanese restroom vary from appallingly filthy to pristine depending on the venue. If one wants to find a clean toilet with all the amenities, it is often best to try an upscale department store such as ISETAN or SEIYU, or a large discount store like Ito-Yokado. These restrooms are often well-lit, spacious, equipped with soap dispensers, anti-bacterial spray wipes, paper seat covers, and hand dryers, and are routinely cleaned several times a day. Some even have washlets installed. Large book stores often offer clean toilets as well as they tend to be less heavily trafficked and maintained more vigorously. At the bottom of the cleanliness spectrum are restrooms in train stations and public parks. In recent years, many public restrooms the bottom of the spectrum have been found to be hiding pinhole cameras, for voyeuristic pornography. Also, restrooms in public parks, especially after dusk, are frequent places for rape.
Cultural aspects
In Japan, being clean is a very important factor, and some Japanese words for clean can be used to describe beauty. The word kirei is often used to describe when something or someone is beautiful, but it may be used to describe a number of other statuses such as clean water, an orderly marching, and pure feeling. This may explain both the continuing success of the squat toilets without any physical contact, and also the success of the high tech toilet with an included shower. Occasionally, even a western style toilet is used as a squat toilet by a self-conscious user that squats by standing on the toilet seat. This, of course, is rather unhygienic for the next user that sits on the same seat. There is also a large market for deodorants and air fresheners that add a pleasant smell to the area.
In the often crowded living conditions of Japanese cities and the lack of rooms that can be locked from inside in a traditional Japanese house, the toilet is one of the few rooms in the house that allows for privacy. Some toilet rooms are equipped with a bookshelf, in others people may enter with a newspaper, and some are even filled with character goods and posters. Even with such obstacles, these toilets are, whenever possible, made into a separate room from a room for bathing. This is due to the ethic of separating clean from unclean and this fact is listed for properties for rent. According to another source, Dr. Hiroshi Ojima, the high tech toilets are popular due to the low fiber intake and the high constipation rates in Japan.
Both the traditional squat toilet and the high tech toilet are a source of confusion for foreigners unaccustomed to these devices. There are numerous reports of foreigners using a toilet, and randomly pressing buttons on the control panel either out of curiosity or in search for the flushing control, and suddenly to their horror receiving a jet of water directed at their private parts. As the water jet continued for a few seconds after they jumped up, they also got themselves and/or the bathroom wet. Many Japanese toilets now feature a brief manual in English attached near the control panel or have the buttons written in English to reduce the culture shock.
Economics
Toto is the largest producer of toilets, including washlets worldwide. Washlets and other toilet related products are also produced by Inax, NAIS, and Panasonic.
The total market worldwide for high tech toilets was about US$800 million in 1997. The largest producer is Toto, with 50% of the market share, while the second largest is Inax at 25%. The main market for washlets is still in Japan, and Toto reports that overseas sales account for just 5% of their revenue. The primary foreign market is China, where Toto sells over one million washlets each year. In the U.S. for example, sales are well below Japanese levels, even though the sales improved from 600 units per month in 2001 to 1000 units per month in 2003. In Europe, Toto sells only 5000 washlets annually. While most Europeans would probably regard the Japanese washlets as quite a curiosity, the number of such toilets being installed in Europe is actually on the rise. This is mainly for the special purpose of toilets for the handicapped. Depending on the type of disability, a handicapped person may have difficulties reaching his anus region in order to clean himself or herself after toilet use. Hence, the introduction of toilets with water jet cleaner and blow dryer saves these persons from the embarrassing need to ask somebody else for assistance with an inherently private procedure.
There are a number of reasons for the low sales outside of Japan. One main reason is that it needs some time for the customers to get used to the idea of a washlet. Sales in Japan were also slow when the device was introduced in 1980, but after some acclimatization sales improved significantly starting in 1985. Around 1990, 10% of the Japanese households had a washlet, and this number increased greatly to over 50% in 2002. Toto expects a corresponding improvement in foreign sales within the next few years. Another reason is the lack of a power supply near the toilet. While virtually all Japanese washrooms have a plug behind the toilet, many foreign bathrooms do not have a nearby outlet. Finally, in Europe, there is the competition of the traditional western bidet; conversely, North Americans are not accustomed to any sort of bidet.
Switzerland actually has its own producer of shower toilets, with a history predating the washlet in Japan. Trade names are Geberit-O-Mat and Geberella, produced by Balena. These toilets are sold primarily for hospitals, private homes, and a few high-level restaurants, and may include similar features as the Japanese products. However, the most common type of flush toilet is still the "normal" one without either of these features.
Miscellaneous facts
Sewage day in Japan is on September 10. The unofficial Toilet Day of the Japan Toilet Association is November 10, because in Japan the numbers 11/10 (for the month and the day) can be read as ii-to(ire), which also means "Good Toilet".
Hideo Nishioka, chairman of the Japan Toilet Association, has a collection of over 400 different types of toilet paper collected worldwide.
Many public squat toilets have a sign reading "Please take one step closer", as excrement tends to fall onto the rear edge of the in-floor receptacle if the user squats too far back.
Some older apartments have a sticker in the bathroom illustrating the proper way to use a western toilet for urination and defecation.
