3 ms·
No, they stand because that part of the world is used to squatting when they go to the bathroom. The "toilet as throne" model is from the west. Over there, hist
by eob 14y ago
No, they stand because that part of the world is used to squatting when they go to the bathroom. The "toilet as throne" model is from the west. Over there, historically, toilets are built into the floor. The toilet bowl is a rounded-rectangle depression in the floor rather than something that sticks out of it. You stand with one foot on either side of the bowl and squat while you do your business.
I prefer Western toilets (I'm American), but think the squat-strategy has a lot of sense to it: you never touch anything, and the squat position angles your body "just right" if you know what I mean. It's just a bit awkward for us (Westerners) when you're not used to holding that body position, though.
There, now I can cross off "get into public internet discussion of pooping strategy" from my life goals list. :)
- aplusbi 14y agoWhen I first started using toilets on my own I stood to wipe. Eventually I figured out that I could remain seated. This was on a western toilet.
- meej 14y agoSquatting is the anatomically correct position for a bowel movement; it straightens out the kink in the colon and makes the whole process more efficient. It's also supposed to be better for bowel health -- leads to less straining and fewer hemorrhoids and such. To that end, there are several companies out there that sell stepstools designed to allow squatting with western toilets. The first one I saw was the Lilipad, made in New Zealand, and more recently a company called Squatty Potty has started making them in the US.
- dholowiski 14y agoThis has been discussed many times on Reddit, and there are many, many people in the USA who stand up to wipe.
- kleiba 14y agoI've never personally used a Japanese toilet, so I'm genuinely interested: if you say your feet are to either side of the bowl, where do your lowered pants end up? Won't they be in the way?
- LeonidasXIV 14y agoI've been using them for a year in Japan, so there: You don't sit squarely on them (I don't know where you got the notion that your feet are on either side of the bowl), your feet are in front of the bowl, with the lowered pants in between. The pants are obviously below the opening of the bowl, so they don't get in the way.
- kleiba 14y agoI don't know where you got the notion that your feet are on either side of the bowl From the parent. You stand with one foot on either side of the bowl and squat