Japanese squat toilets : unknown : early periods to present : wood/ceramic : Japan
The traditional Japanese squat toilet, also know as the Asian toilet, is very different than most Western toilets. Most of these toilets are made of porcelain, although other materials can be used such as wood and stainless steel. Rather than having a large bowl like Western toilets have, the squat toilet is very shallow, however they both flush very similarly. There are two variations of the squat toilet: one is where the toilet is sitting on the ground and the other is when it is raised up about one foot.
While the creator and exact time the squat toilet is unknown, there is evidence that there was a drainage system created in the capital of Nara around 710-784, which consisted of a ten to fifteen centimeter wide stream where the natives would squat while putting their feet on either side of the stream. The earliest toilets were also created around this time that were similar to outhouses. Later, pit toilets were more common, which were very easy simple to create and would also help fertilize the land. This practice, however, became much less common after World War II. Throughout history, Japan has been much more hygienic than Europe and other Western countries, where sewage was often dumped on the streets. Western-style toilets and urinals became more apparent in Japan towards the beginning of the 20th century, but became even more common after World War II. In 1977, the sale of Western-style toilets exceeded the sale of the traditional Japan squat toilet.
The squat toilet, included with plumbing, did not appear until after the Tokyo earthquake in 1923, when the Japanese realized hygiene and a more efficient and clean sewage system would reduce diseases. It is still largely used in Japan, however Western-style toilets have become more prevalent.
The Japanese squat toilet is almost like a urinal that has been placed on the ground. The color is usually white porcelain, which is very similar to Western toilets. It is a smooth texture, and the size is also about that of a Western urinal. It is very symmetrical, having both side of it look very similar to one another. Since it can be raised on a one-foot platform, this does at some depth to the toilet and creates a different experience for the user. For the most part, it is in the shape of a rectangle that has a shallow, smaller oval-like hole that is cut out of it. Some may include a curved, raised front or some other sort of embellishment. There will occasionally be some texture, but if it is apparent it is very minimal. For the most part, they are very smooth and lack value and contrast.
This toilet is important to our “Journey to the John” exhibit because it not only shows a different style of toilet that is produced from a different history than many other toilets, but is also from an Eastern country, rather than a Western. Since our exhibit deals with toilets throughout time as well as places, the Japanese squat toilet is a good representation of both of these things. Even thought it is somewhat similar to Western toilets in terms of texture and color, it is still uses a very different method.
image:
http://inventorspot.com/articles/japanese_toilets_toto_5847
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