The Loneliness Of The Toilet Diner

[Mulboyne]

Asahi: Terrified of being seen alone, students eat in toilets
While ghost stories and myths abound in schools, the one about a notice banning the consumption of food in university toilets is more sad than scary. A little research sheds light on a growing phenomenon: Some students are so lonely they shut themselves inside toilet cubicles to eat. The notice, with the same message, the same design and the same warning but with different school names, has been posted over the last few months in toilets at numerous universities. "The following activities are banned in toilet stalls," says the notice, citing smoking, graffiti and eating. All schools flatly deny putting up the warnings, raising the question of who did it and why. Some officials say the message is absurd, while others suspect it may be a student prank. The mystery of the notice aside, eating in public toilets is all too real, especially among students, according to Daisuke Tsuji, an associate professor of communication studies at Osaka University. The habit is called "benjo-meshi," literally toilet meal. Students who eat hiding in restroom stalls are isolated on campus, Tsuji said. Seeing other students happily chatting with friends increases their sense of isolation. For these students, it is better to eat in a toilet than to be perceived as friendless and spotted dining alone in the school cafeteria, he said...more...

[Doctor Stop]

I smell...bullshit.

[Taro Toporific]

Although this is being reported as “news” it has been a long-time phenomenon in Japan. Photos of this notice banning the consumption of food in university toilets have been posted for several years (see the photos below dated 2005 and 2007, respectively). I have noticed over many years that reclusive salarymen hiding in the toilets at lunchtime to eat and hide from coworkers.

Recently because of my mega-broken leg, I have come to curse these wacko hikikomori/social isolates because they tie up the few rare handicapped toilets that exist. Would love to put up such fake signs. I can guess that the reason for, “all schools flatly deny putting up the warnings,” is that students are making the fake signs to mock the crazy hikikomori/ behavior.

[tidbits]

I had waited before with my kid for these toilet for 20 minutes until I have to knock and call, only to find a very young teenage school girl came out in a hurry. I think she was chatting on the phone, I could hear some talking from outside.

[IkemenTommy]

As Taro suggests, this is certainly not "news." I am sure some Japanophile newbie news site will pick this up (i.e. the Butthead Bagelhead story) and claim that this is the latest and greatest "trend" in Japan.

[IkemenTommy]

[IkemenTommy]

And the most ridiculous one of all is below from Tokyo Univ., which says "surveillance camera is monitoring all activities at all times." Yeah, I smell bullshit too.

[ghostunit]

Well, that's gross, but I remember doing a similar thing,
having lunch in the deserted classrooms during lunchbreak.

Heh, now that I think about it maybe I was a little messed up?

[Iraira]

Notice that the signs saying nothing about having a lunchtime wank in the stalls....I suppose that would be "appropriate usage of the facilities" for some.

[IkemenTommy]

In case anyone wants to try it out, here are the basics of the toilet eatery art.