CULTURE-JAPAN: Flushing Away Toilet Taboos
Suvendrini Kakuchi
TOKYO, Sep 12 2007 (IPS) – The evolution of the toilet in Japan, from the humble squat latrines of a few decades ago to today s hi-tech, cockpit-like contraptions, parallels the dramatic rise of this country from post-war ruination to global technological leadership.
Controls on the armrest of a hi-tech toilet for warming, shower, drier and vibrator. Credit: Suvendrini Kakuchi
Taboo-ridden attitudes towards bodily functions which have determined that the toilet must be tucked away in a discrete corner or outhouse survive even in luxury hotels where it may be difficult for foreign guests to discover the location of the john in Japanese-style suites.
The Japanese have realised that the old-fashioned custom of avoiding the discussion on toilets and bathrooms only resulted in dirty outhouses. Today, in Japanese homes, the toilet takes pride of place, says Koo Ue, spokesman for the Japan Toilet Association (JTA).
According to Ue, modern bathroom trends reflect the high respect that the Japanese have for clean, healthy lifestyles.
The catching up has been swift. Ue and others like him who promote flush toilets supported by sewage systems report impressive and rapid gains. Flush toilet usage in the country now stands at a respectable 88 percent, much higher than the pathetic figure of 50 percent just a decade ago, according to the Japan Sewage Association.
Alongside the flush toilet has itself undergone a transformation and may be equipped with warm seats, bidet functions, and a bewildering array of gizmos that pamper the user with water squirters and blow-driers that make the use of toilet paper obsolete.
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A major toilet maker, Toto Ltd, is a front runner in the industry. The latest designs of smart toilets called the Z series combine the now standard bidet-toilet with new technology that can electronically deliver health-related data such as for blood pressure urine analyses.
The latest Toto toilet, that makes available a health record, is extremely popular with new home owners and luxury hotels, says Chino, spokesperson for Daiwa Homes, a leading housing company.
Hi-tech toilets, though priced between 3,500 and 5,000 US dollars plus hefty installation charges, do not deter new home owners. Chino contends that the trend shows just how far the toilet has gained in respectability.
But such a change in public attitude has not come about without hard work. Atsushi Kato, an expert in sanitation who has long promoted better toilet standards in the country, says the rapid development of flush bathrooms began with the rise of the economy in the 1970 s and 1980 s.
The Japanese economy was growing at that time and people were able to buy better household goods such as refrigerators and washing machines. This was the time when we also worked to convince the government to improve sanitation facilities such increasing drainage outlets and provide access to water for more flush toilets in rural areas. Educating the public about this need was a big part of our success, he explained.
The JTA continues to run seminars and workshops linking clean latrines to high health standards. The use of water for cleaning up after using the toilet was not part of Japanese culture, says Kato, but once people learnt of the advantages they were eager to change.
An important part of this ongoing education programme was the establishment of Japan Toilet Day that falls on Nov. 10.
Various aspects such as conservation of water, sanitation, washing hands after each use and the environmental costs of toilet paper are given an airing on that day. Ue points out that such programmes helped ease the embarrassment that Japanese have in talking about toilets and contributed to public awareness of sanitation.
For example, toilet education in schools includes lessons on the working of the sewage system as a means of safely disposing latrine waste. This year s Toilet Day will focus on the theme of building more flush toilets in tourist spots.
Yet, despite the progress and hoopla over high-tech, some 30 percent of Japanese people live in homes that do not have flush toilets connected to sewage systems, according to the ministry of construction.
One of the barriers to achieving 100 percent coverage, says Kato, is convincing the government to spend more on sanitation facilities in rural areas where the population is small and made up of older civilians who prefer the outmoded outhouses. Data show that flush toilet usage in rural area is still an abysmal 54 percent.
However, the overall success of the flush toilet in Japan has encouraged the JTA to begin work on promoting the concept to developing countries.
According to Ue, JTA programmes in countries such as Zambia and Sri Lanka, concentrate on raising awareness in local communities and encouraging people to build their own toilets. The involvement of Japanese volunteers is a highlight of these programmes.
Ue says that, like the Japanese before their flush toilet revolution, people in many developing countries harbour a lack of respect for the toilet which, once changed, could contribute greatly to higher sanitation standards.