I Hate Japanese Toilets

99% of you will probably never have to use one of the toilets pictured above, but look closely anyway. This is a Japanese toilet. It also goes by the names washiki toilet (meaning Japanese-style), Asian toilet, and squat toilet. They are made of porcelain or stainless steel and resemble a urinal, set into the floor. Foreigners (like myself) are not accustomed to using this kind of toilet, and it proves to be quite a hassle in execution.

Some Japanese doctors say that using a squat toilet provides all manner of medical benefit. Still, in this scenario I would gladly sacrifice any medical benefit in exchange for convenience. A Japanese toilet can be frustrating to use, especially for beginners and foreigners. While all of my elementary schools have wisely made the switch to Western toilets, my junior high schools still use squat toilets. Also, you will usually find this type of toilet in train stations, usually the older ones.

In conclusion, I hate Japanese toilets.