Squat toilets’ popularity fading as parents call for them to be abolished in Japanese schools (2023)

Squatting is more natural for defecation, but in the modern era it was no place, really. Have you ever gone into one of those squatters with a lot of clothing on? You're not just in danger of literally soiling yourself, but you have to keep all your clothes from touching the porcelain and the floor around it, since that may well be covered in one spray or another.

OssanAmerica: "Walk into a McDonalds anywhere in the world and then into one in Japan to appreciate the near fixation Japanese have on cleanliness."

Hogwash. I've only ever seen dirtier floors in truck stops than I do at even some of the nicer places in Japan -- in the men's room, anyway. People here honestly don't seem to know where the urinals are, and as for kids cleaning at school, more BS; it's called "play time" and "who can hit each other with brooms".

And as to the morons quoted in the article as saying people would be "uncomfortable with Western-style toilets" I want them to answer what kind of toilets they have in their homes, and what they prefer to use personally. I guarantee you'll never see a bakugai rush to Toto to buy Japanese squatters. The economy of Japan was literally boosted this year thanks to people coming and buying Japanese washlets -- which DON'T sit atop squatters.

Agh, this old chestnut. I know I have written about this multiple times before.....I searched my comments and found the post it was in an article titled

https://www.japantoday.com/category/opinions/view/japanese-style-toilets-can-be-challenge-for-visitors#comment_1606046

my comments were a cut and paste of a previous story where I commented on the pros of squatting.

Here we go! Third time to post my thought on squatting!..............Sadly modern ignorance is rife. Squatting is the the best way for you health, it's the way we evolved to go over millions of years. sitting to go, is a mere blip in the human timeline and its causes a host of problems - 'piles' for starters anyone? Humans are so far removed from nature now, most of us don't know how to go naturally, what a truly sad indictment of our species.Seven Advantages of Squatting (from this linked site)http://www.naturesplatform.com/health_benefits.htmlMakes elimination faster, easier and more complete. This helps prevent "fecal stagnation," a prime factor in colon cancer,appendicitis and inflammatory bowel disease.2.Protects the nerves that control the prostate, bladder and uterus from becoming stretched and damaged.3.Securely seals the ileocecal valve, between the colon and the small intestine. In the conventional sitting position, this valve is unsupported and often leaks during evacuation, contaminating the small intestine.4.Relaxes the puborectalis muscle which normally chokes the rectum in order to maintain continence.5.Uses the thighs to support the colon and prevent straining. Chronic straining on the toilet can cause hernias, diverticulosis, and pelvic organ prolapse.6.A highly effective, non-invasive treatment for hemorrhoids, as shown by published clinical research.7.For pregnant women, squatting avoids pressure on the uterus when using the toilet. Daily squatting helps prepare one for a more natural delivery.

Someone asked: "how in the heck do you arrange the pants so that nothing goes haywire ... ?? "before I came to Japan, I was told to remove one leg from your trousers, move the whole lot to one side and then squat. Slip on shoes makes this a lot easier, I can do it in a few seconds. If you have any balance and flexibility, (sadly I have met many, inflexible, out of shape and overweight foreigners in my time in Japan - the very ones who hate squatting...) it should be easy to perform. People with knee issues and genuine orthopedic issues etc I can fully understand the dislike of the squatter however.

My school has modern CLEAN squat toilets, in addition, to sit down toilets, I always go for the squat toilets. I care about my health - all aspects: nutrition, exercise sleep and this - minimise your risk of troubles later on down the line -squat - you'll build normal leg strength too.

Train stations can be nasty, (I wish station staff pride in their job/station extended to the bathroom) but at least no body parts are in contact with the seat, no dreaded "porcelain kiss" for the man parts either which Japan is shocking for - horribly un-ergonomically shallow shaped bowls - far too little "swing space" for blokes.Though I do like washlets - the only positive benefit from sitting to go.

Aly: Those wash-lets are fine for your personal home, but not in public. Things that get sprayed on fall with gravity and land on the metal rod with the spray. Next person that uses it gets stuff from the person(s) before sprayed on their bottom. Yuckers.

Actually, that's only in the third world. The japanese washlet's spray nozzel is retractable, therefore perfectly hygenic. Washlets for all, I say! Let them use washlets!

Give me a nice clean western toilet adorned with a nice heated full featured washlet.

It doesn't get better than that.

David: I totally disagree, but understand that you have never probably been in America due to the comment and most definitely do not understand the dignity involved in using clean and silent stalls in Japan.

US Citizen, actually. Try harder, try again.

claiming some people are more accustomed to a squat toilet isn't a mere "excuse", some people really are so accustomed to them that they do not know how to use a western toilet properly. i think anyone who has spent a good amount of time around southeast asia would have noticed shoe prints on western style toilet seats at some point. I've seen this in Japan too and in places where I'm pretty sure they didn't come from Asian tourists. In Japan it's probably mostly the elderly doing it, but as they mentioned, kids from poor areas living in old, low-income housing have a much higher chance of having one of these at home.

i do support increasing the number of western style toilets dramatically though because on the flip side, some people clearly do not know how to use old-school squat toilets and end up getting pee, poop, and even period blood (yep, have seen this is the old guesthouse I used to live in where the toilets were shared and unisex) all over not just the place for your feet but also the surrounding floors. it's not hard to learn to use those toilets and even less hard to learn common decency to clean up after yourself, but, pardon my pun, it seems that a lot of people just don't give a sh*t.

Difference must be the unique Japanese rectal muscles

Oh hell, what's next......

EVERYONE POOPS! No one is special.

Regular toilets healthy enough for me; never had a problem from it, lol

Difference must be the unique Japanese rectal muscles

David: I totally disagree, but understand that you have never probably been in America due to the comment and most definitely do not understand the dignity involved in using clean and silent stalls in Japan.

Have never seen a video on toilets in Japan. It is not something I ever thought about searching for on the net.

At least in Japan, one can mostly do number two with dignity. Doors and walls from floor to tight on the ceiling. America is horrible in public toilets. Everyone can see your shoes, panties and skirts, and hear you blazing saddles away.

I see someone's been watching too many stupid propaganda videos. You know perfectly well that this isn't true, stalls are not floor to ceiling with tight seals, etc. Nor are all American public toilets as bad as the videos make them out to be.

everywhere you go, you see women and men squatting on the streets while they wait for something, or for making a lengthy phone call, or...

japanese anatomy allows for staying in that position (squat) for very long time. if i try to squat, i most of the time loose balance and almost fall. if i finally manage it, after 1 min i get horrible cramps.

on the other hand, japan is super-champion-king of the toilette that warms your buttocks and washes you and entertains you with music while you're at it, and finally air-dries you. and yet in all public places you have a squatter-lover-toilette and a high-tech rocket-science toilette.

Tbe Japanese squat "toilet" is without a doubt the worst Japanese invention.

I don't know. Have you been to these rural outhouses on a windy day? It sounds like a jug band.

Back as a kid in school we had a real proper outhouse. The 'urinal' was a painted black wall with blue cubes of disinfectant strategically placed in an overflowing gutter. The can itself had saloon doors that let the cold winter wind freeze your jacksie in no time at all. Urine froze in an arc, and any solid matter shattered like glass on contact with the bowl. Suspended from the overhead cistern was a long chain, which, as kids we would swing on like Tarzan while we 'bog washed' the snotty kids we didn't like. Then there was the Izal paper: half Teflon, half coarse grain sand paper which either smeared or sanded according to preference.

Kids these days never had it so good!

And just where did you get this little tidbit of information? I've encountered it too ... the first time probably 15 or more years ago.

I've actually known about it for years, and it has been an issue for numerous BOE's and PTA's as well. I know of a few young boys who were hospitalized for problems related to the issue. It's getting worse from what I have been led to believe, but schools do little to change attitudes about this totally normal bodily function.

There is a book, I used to read with my kids, "Everybody Poops" which would be appropriate here.

" It turns out that one of those pies is school toilets (apologies for the disgusting metaphor)."

I cannot excuse that one, lol.

Tbe Japanese squat "toilet" is without a doubt the worst Japanese invention.

It wasn't so long ago that the Shinkansen western-style toilets had pictograms showing people how to use them.

I think western-style toilets are favoured by the outcasts who like to eat their lunches in there. It's not so easy to eat your benjo bento standing up, trying not avoid treading in the hole of the French/Japanese-style toilet.

Just a personal observation, but I reckon squat toilets smell more when someone does a number two. Longer exposure to air perhaps.

As for the "won't do a poo at school because of squat toilets", my ex told me once that anyone who did a poo at school would thereafter earn the nickname "unko-man", so everyone in her class would avoid it. Changing the type of toilet will not solve this problem, unless my "western toilets smell less" theory is true and the incriminating smell does not linger as long.

I have problems doing a low squat with my trousers down but not touching the floor, so yeah, I avoid them.

While traveling in Eastern Europe, I was surprised to find places where the only thing available was a hole in the floor. A squat toilet would have been better. Even the Romans, at Ephesus, had sit-down toilets.

On a different subject, I was surprised to find out the bronze-age Minoans had hot and cold running water in some of their homes, where naturally occurring hot water was available. Excavations at Akrotiri since the 1960s found homes so equipped, buried and preserved in volcanic ash.

"That said I prefer a sitting toilet myself. But I've used squat toilets a lot. If you're able to squat, they're not so bad, and not actually having to really touch anything is nice."

Agree with stranger. Give me a filthy squat toilet over a smelly, disgusting western one any day of the week in 3rd world countries outback.

As an aside the french call squat toilets 'turkish toilets', why, i have no idea.

Perhaps this is an alternative? (Don't watch if you like soft-served ice cream.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbYWhdLO43Q

Anyway there are probably both pro's and cons to either toilet

There probably are. But the studies, as well as human anatomy, seem to point at squat toilets being better overall.

Where has it been debunked?

TV. Can't remember which show it was. Anyway there are probably both pro's and cons to either toilet so I'm not going into discussion. Either group will have something to say. Anyway I avoid them like the plague. Give me the royal western style toilet with seat warmer.

Thank you, Strangerland, for the research. I shall give that a good old read when I have the time - not in the toilet, I won't have time then, 'cos with my squatty potty I'm in and out in the wink of an eye. smirks

I had never assumed that the squatty pot was better than actual squatting, but it certainly (anecdotally) is better - ie more effective, than sitting.

I just spent some time fact checking whether squat toilets really are better or not. This was probably the most comprehensive counter argument: https://skeptoid.com/blog/2015/09/26/squatty-potty/, however it was more a counter argument against the squatty potty than against squatting in general. It did say this:

The first is a Japanese study, “The Influence of Body Position on Defecation in Humans.” It is a small-scale, six-person, uncontrolled study. Sure, I buy it as research, but it is a index study. It limits include tiny non-heterogenous (one male, five female) cohort, with no controls and without blinding. Interestingly, full squat is considered the best, which is not the Squatty Potty position. It doesn’t support the claim that Squatty Potty’s squat is better than a full squat.

The next study has my favorite title of the the group: “Impact of Ethnic Habits on Defecographic Measurements.” (As an aside, I think I need to add “defecographic measurements,” which means “poop X-ray study,” to my medical lexicon… but I digress.) This was a small study that used barium enemas and radiography to evaluate the anorectic opening in defecation.Imaging revealed that the rectal opening was measurable larger in a squatting position. But this study has two major issues. If you use a population that squats to move their bowels and then place them on a first-world toilet bowl, as was done here, you are disrupting their accustomed maneuver. You would need a control group of Europeans to do the same tests to realistically support superior evacuation. Plus moving your bowels is an activity that has deep social and cultural taboos associated with it. Making major changes may cause the participants to rush or change their normal structure. Imaging revealed that the rectal opening was measurable larger in a squatting position. Any of these factors can have a major impact upon on bowel evacuation.

The third research paper posted was “Comparison of Straining During Defecation in Three Positions.” It’s a larger study than the first, but it’s still very small. Researchers used a subjective questionnaire to have subjects rate straining. The findings were similar to the other studies: full squat results in the lowest straining.

Overall the research is flawed and not very compelling. It does have the upside of replications of results. Interestingly, the results do not support the website’s assertion that the Squatty Potty is superior to squatting fully. So I’m not really sure why the website lists this research as scientific evidence for their modified toilet stool.

So it doesn't debunk the idea that squatting is better, but it does call into question studies that claim it is.

I couldn't find anything that said sitting is better than squatting, or anything that specifically debunked the idea that squatting is better.

David Varnes: ... I've gone into toilets and found boys literally standing around doing nothing but leaning against the walls and joking, confident in the fact that since sensei is busy down the hall, in the classroom, wherever, that they won't be called on their lack of actual cleaning. ...

Sounds like the school administrations are failing to delegate cleanliness inspections and student training. And should buy lots of long handled brushes.

Do they get advance warning of governmental inspections? Nursing homes in some states in the USA do, occasioning hectic pre-inspection attention to details left scant other times of the year.

Good Badsensei258NOV. 16, 2016 - 08:27AM JSTthere is an ever increasing number of Japanese elementary school BOYS that literally makes themselves sick, because they can not use a toilet outside of their home, to take a crap.

And just where did you get this little tidbit of information?

I've encountered it too ... the first time probably 15 or more years ago.

This has been debunked. Squatting is not healthy for the intestines.

Where has it been debunked?

Squat toilets are actually better for you than sitting toilets

This has been debunked. Squatting is not healthy for the intestines.

You've obviously never been to a Japanese public school.

Actually, most of us have probably been to many. I've watched as I go into a toilet 5 minutes after the music plays that signifies the end of cleaning time, only to find toilet paper, urine, and fecal matter on and around the toilets.

I've gone into toilets and found boys literally standing around doing nothing but leaning against the walls and joking, confident in the fact that since sensei is busy down the hall, in the classroom, wherever, that they won't be called on their lack of actual cleaning.

I've gone into toilets where the toilets are disgusting messes, but the sinks are spotless, since you can clean a sink with a simple cloth wipe while actually cleaning a toilet requires both brushes that the school doesn't have, but the children refuse to get themselves near the mess, so they let it sit.

The widely pushed image of all Japanese schools being these paragons of cleanliness because of "soji-no-jikan" is as erroneous as a lot of the other overly simplistic images of Japan, both positive and negative, pushed around the world.

Evidence of this in documented studies please?

Here's a study, with a significant number of attached references: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1023%2FA%3A1024180319005

Squatting to defecate is much better for you, health-wise - the position encourages smooth passage. For this reason I prefer squatting.

Evidence of this in documented studies please?

I can assure you I have no issues whatsoever with "smooth passage" as you so eloquently put it regardless of facility used.

Squatting to defecate is much better for you, health-wise - the position encourages smooth passage. For this reason I prefer squatting.

I have found that public toilets are, overall, much cleaner and better kitted out than they were five-ten-twenty years ago, even park and beach loos are cleaner, and have paper. not all, but many. Keep the squat loos, I say. Or get a squatty potty!

http://www.squattypotty.com/

there is an ever increasing number of Japanese elementary school BOYS that literally makes themselves sick, because they can not use a toilet outside of their home, to take a crap.

And just where did you get this little tidbit of information?

Squat toilets are actually better for you than sitting toilets: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/06/01/benefits-squats.aspx

That said I prefer a sitting toilet myself. But I've used squat toilets a lot. If you're able to squat, they're not so bad, and not actually having to really touch anything is nice.

DisillusionedNov. 16, 2016 - 07:23AM JST"requires sitting on the same toilet seat that other users do."There's a marvelous way of preventing this feeling. It's called, cleaning! Something that seems to escape the Japanese >public schools.

You've obviously never been to a Japanese public school. They even make the students do the cleaning, along with other rooms, in some places. Walk into a McDonalds anywhere in the world and then into one in Japan to appreciate the nearfixation Japanese have on cleanliness.

why schools make children experience an inconvenience that most Japanese adults… don’t have to put up with anymore.

Like be driven to school instead of walking? Like sitting in a cold room with one heater near the teacher? Like being forced to wear a uniform?

Benefits of the squat toilet include the bare hindquarters not touching anything; the daily (hopefully) exercise of bending your knees, hips, etc; the pressure on the lower body as you bend might (might, I say) encourage fecal evacuation.

Cons include how disgustingly dirty some of them can be. Nothing like finding fecal matter on the edge or urine near the flush handle; anyone with legs - knees, hips, back - problems or carrying a baby can't use them.

If, however, in an earthquake emergency Japanese people are refusing or reluctant to use one, I guess their days are limited.

Personally, if I had to use a toilet and the squat one was free while the western one had a long line, I'd head for the squat one. I think the people in Kumamoto were avoiding the squat one not out of some preference but I suspect the squat one was filthy.

"There is however a bigger problem and it has NOTHING to do with the type of toilet that the schools have installed, and is conveniently not being talked about. The problem is that there is an ever increasing number of Japanese elementary school BOYS that literally makes themselves sick, because they can not use a toilet outside of their home, to take a crap. They literally hold on, until they get home, some have accidents, and there are issues of bullying associated with this as well.

MEXT, is deflecting the underlying issue here by making it seem as part of the problem is with the toilets themselves."

Very well said Yubaru.

They have used and by this time are as comfortable with a Western style toilet as a squat toilet. In fact, they're probably more comfortable, since as mentioned, every restaurant, train station, conbini, and even most public parks now have Western style toilets.

Not to mention that I have yet to come across a squat toilet that is heated, has a massage function, bidet function, and dryer as well.

There is however a bigger problem and it has NOTHING to do with the type of toilet that the schools have installed, and is conveniently not being talked about. The problem is that there is an ever increasing number of Japanese elementary school BOYS that literally makes themselves sick, because they can not use a toilet outside of their home, to take a crap. They literally hold on, until they get home, some have accidents, and there are issues of bullying associated with this as well.

MEXT, is deflecting the underlying issue here by making it seem as part of the problem is with the toilets themselves.

requires sitting on the same toilet seat that other users do.

There's a marvelous way of preventing this feeling. It's called, cleaning! Something that seems to escape the Japanese public schools.

pupils who’re accustomed to them may feel uncomfortable using a Western-style toilet,

Can people please stop using this tired, worn out, yet oh so easy excuse? I've heard it a thousand times for a thousand different reasons, always used as a way to basically say "We don't want to change."

I don't care if a pupil comes from the poorest hovel in town to the highest, richest family. They have used and by this time are as comfortable with a Western style toilet as a squat toilet. In fact, they're probably more comfortable, since as mentioned, every restaurant, train station, conbini, and even most public parks now have Western style toilets.

(apologies for the disgusting metaphor).

Why apologize for stating the obvious?