Japanese Squat Toilet

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 20^th 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.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toilets_in_Japan

http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Japanese_toilet_-_History/id/1526320

http://www.ehow.com/about_7523039_traditional-japanese-toilet.html

image:

http://inventorspot.com/articles/japanese_toilets_toto_5847

thumbnails for poster

my blog: http://anpokas.blogspot.com/

journey to the john poster

this is a general idea of what we thought the poster could be like.

not too complicated but cute so people get the humor to it.

this is a simple design that incorporates the title of our exhibit.

we are going to keep editing it, but we just want people's opinions

on what we have so far.

support signage:

- we plan on using signage for circulation, labeling artifacts, information

throughout the exhibit, and introducing the exhibit.

description of other things we would like to include:

- using floor graphics to influence circulation: a wall near the entry way,

that has a roll of toilet paper, and on each sheet, there will be a map of

the exhibit to lead you through the space.

- poster

graphics group

Alex Pokas 

Kate Ewen

Kristy Stroud

signage ideas

my ideas for the poster design is something very simple, but something that still catches your attention.  I don't think it needs a lot of information, but enough to let the viewer know the basics about the exhibit and leave them curious.  I also think it should be humorous, since our topic is a funny subject to begin with.

the first poster has a lot of contrast in it, and has very clean lines.  it is easy to read and displays important information about the exhibit.  the second poster is very simple, with just an image of the artists work and a small section including the name of the artist and valuable information.  the last poster is more comical, but still simple and to the point.

for this project, I am working under the graphics group, and am also secretary for the group.  this entails making the poster for the exhibit, recording out time spent working on the project, and possibly making a timeline that is relevant to the contextualized information.

images:

http://www.theworkofdavidcaputo.com/print/bfa-exhibition-poster/

http://www.arcanabooks.com/INVENTORY_interface/ephemera_page.asp

http://magatha-may.blogspot.com/2010/10/dress-part.html

precedent study: the grammy museum: alex pokas

 

I chose this picture of an exhibit in the grammy museum because I thought that it was both successful and interactive.  the entire room immerses you in music culture and is very playful but also informational.  it is designed so the architecture, graphics, and materials are unified and balanced while still keeping the space interesting.  the lighting in the exhibit highlights the three images of people that are on the walls, and the informational touch screens lead you through the space.

 image1 

image2

3 artifacts

outhouse:  I chose an outhouse as my first image because it was one of the first structures that was used and shows the beginning development of the toilet.  in general, they were mainly made out of wood and had no plumbing system.  to use the outhouse, you had to travel outside in any weather, so it was very inconvenient.

asian toilet:  I chose this toilet because it shows something very different than what we are used to.  they are usually called squat toilets, and are regularly made out of porcelain.

modern toilet:  this toilet is decorative and unique in style and shape.  it has reflective qualities and is a different height than other toilets.  I chose this to show the advancement in toilets and how they are still continually changing.