[Big Booger]

Why don't they simply get rid of the squatters? I mean they are not handicap friendly, they promote splatter, spewage, etc.. more so than western style "sitters".

Squatters also can leave large "logs" at the front, if the person uses the wrong end.. then when you come in, the "log" is there to greet you. hehehe with a western toliet, that is usually impossible, though there are extreme cases where someone decides to throne the seat with a seal of poop.. very nasty indeed..

The only downside to "sitters" that I see is that there is actually contact between a public surface and your buttocks, but with recycled paper seat covers, it shouldn't be an issue.

Why do Japanese hold on to the squatter? That's the 20,000 dollar question.
BB

[Taro Toporific]

Why do Japanese hold on to the squatter?

The standard Japanese "argument" is that they are:
1. Squatters are cleaner (no contact, simple to clean).
2. Squatting is more "natural" (it provides more pressure which is very important because Japanese greatly value Speed Shitting, just ask any oji-san).

Alexander Kira(specialist in industrial design) laments in his book, The Bathroom that many toilets are poorly designed from the perspective of facilitating hygenic elimination. Not only is the diameter of the bowl cavity inadequate for sanitary `wiping' purposes, but the pedestal causes poor displacement of the sitter's weight, cutting off circulation in the lower limbs.

How might design be improved?
Kira calls for a larger cavity between the rim of the plastic seat, and suggests the flush handle be placed on the floor, so the flush can be activated while seated. He also champions toilets which encourage the squat vs. sit position, since the squat is the most physically-logical position to assume when answering nature's call.

[ramchop]

Toto is urging schools to impart to children the importance of being able to freely use school toilets.

"Holding off from using the toilets could lead to problems such as chronic constipation," a Toto spokesman said.

Public toilets are disgusting things. Especially those found in high schools. I don't think I ever shat at my school on more than a couple of occassions. Holding off never did me any harm. Just look at any filthy adolescent male, would you want to sit where they sit? Glad I'm not a female.... oh no wait... adolescent females don't quite provoke the same feelings of disgust (wonder why?)

Japan department store remote control thrones are cool though. Spent a good 20 minutes dispensing with a particularly bad sushi and alcohol session there.

[GomiGirl]

Japan department store remote control thrones are cool though. Spent a good 20 minutes dispensing with a particularly bad sushi and alcohol session there.

Auntie Mame[/i]]Oh... How Vivid!!!"

But I remember that no-one liked to poop at my school.. it is an adolescent thing...

[Andocrates]

[American Oyaji]

I used to go to the library or bookstore and get a few books and magazines in english.

Then I'd go to macdonalds...do the do and then order some food.

[groovewonder]

elementary schools are horrible. i teach english at five different ones every week and NONE of them have a western style toilet. some of the teachers seem to believe there's a sitter shitter somewhere on campus, but there's not. i looked. twice. usually i do pretty good since my day ends at three and i can rush home or run to a family mart or lawson if i can't bear it any longer, but i broke down twice and tried the squatter. been in japan 19 years but it still feels like i'm going to shit on the floor, fall in, or take a crap on my pants.

most of my schools are close to a family mart or lawson though since i teach close to kokusai dori in naha city.

i agree that mcdonald's toilets are the best. department stores are pretty good too. even family mart and lawson's on okinawa aren't bad. i hate squatters though. nothing worse in the world.

[ramchop]

i agree that mcdonald's toilets are the best. department stores are pretty good too. even family mart and lawson's on okinawa aren't bad. i hate squatters though. nothing worse in the world.

Top floor Virgin Megastore Shinjuku. That's the best. Love the red red red decor.

I've so far managed to completely avoid eating at McDonalds in Japan (apart from the FG 2yr old's persistent requests for "chippies"). Somehow seems appropriate to be discussing McDs on a thread about toilets.

[groovewonder]

are you kidding? japanese mcdonalds' are far superior to the ones in the states. much better service, and cleaner too.

[ramchop]

are you kidding? japanese mcdonalds' are far superior to the ones in the states. much better service, and cleaner too.

And Japanese dogshit may taste better than American dogshit, doesn't mean it's desirable to eat it.

[Taro Toporific]

are you kidding? japanese mcdonalds' are far superior to the ones in the states. much better service, and cleaner too.

I'll grant J-donalds has "better service and cleaner" but the food smells like tofu or soyacrap. Then again, I don't eat there if I can help it. I only walk by McDonalds everyday---I only go in to take a dump when the Ronald McDonald smell so "inspires" me.

[groovewonder]

And Japanese dogshit may taste better than American dogshit, doesn't mean it's desirable to eat it.

What the hell!

So, where do you guys go for good fast food? kentucky? hopefully not mos burger. A&W's pretty good. still can't see what you all find wrong with mcdonald's. oh well.

[kamome]

McDonald's is crap the world over. There is nothing about "Makku" food that is better than Mickey-D's. I've never had the nerve to use a J-Donald's toilet. I figured they would be awful.

I like the public toilets in my office building. New, cleaned everyday by janitors, and electronically heated.

[Gaisaradatsuraku!]

If you really want scanky Mickey D food go to Korea. They really screw it up over there. Actually, the J Mickey D food is pretty good. The biggest difference is the preparation. They seem to stack the burger and toppings a little more neatly than the average US McD.

[GomiGirl]

So, where do you guys go for good fast food? kentucky? hopefully not mos burger. A&W's pretty good. still can't see what you all find wrong with mcdonald's. oh well.

I prefer Yoshi-gyu or a street-side soba or even okonomiyaki but my fave snack would have to be combini niku-man or pizza-man yummy .. Fast food was practically invented here and it is a heap tastier (and probably healthier) than plastic hamburgers and deep fried chicken!! :P

[kamome]

If you really want scanky Mickey D food go to Korea. They really screw it up over there. Actually, the J Mickey D food is pretty good. The biggest difference is the preparation. They seem to stack the burger and toppings a little more neatly than the average US McD.

Never had K-Donald's, but it sounds interesting. You're right that the burgers are stacked more neatly here. They actually prepare them to look like the "image photo".

Anyway, although I said Mickey-D's is crap the world over, I still eat it. Sometimes I just get that craving that only a McBurger will satiate.

[groovewonder]

Anyway, although I said Mickey-D's is crap the world over, I still eat it. Sometimes I just get that craving that only a McBurger will satiate.

Hell yeah! Plus, the fries are always hot here, unlike the twenty-minute-old ones you get from the gloveless wonders in the states. And nothing beats the seasonal chiken katsu sando. the one with wasabi.

[groovewonder]

by the way, whatever happened to "shaka shaka po-te-to". man, those were the best fries in the world. everyone i knew (who liked eating at mc-d's) loved em, but mc-donald's still took them out of circulation.

you can get shaka shaka at a few mc-d's still--i've got 'em pin-pointed in my map-book--but it's a shame they decided to discontinue the best fries anywhere. the only thing better than shaka shaka fries are curry and cheese fries. the kind you get at bowling alleys in the states.

[kamome]

I prefer Yoshi-gyu or a street-side soba or even okonomiyaki but my fave snack would have to be combini niku-man or pizza-man yummy .. Fast food was practically invented here and it is a heap tastier (and probably healthier) than plastic hamburgers and deep fried chicken!! :P

Uh, I beg to differ. Fast food in Japan is not healthier. Just try to stay in shape living off of conbini bento and other prepackaged foods.

(Still, I didn't say they tasted bad, though.....mmmmmm, niku-man).

[GomiGirl]

kombini bentos are full of fat and have high calorie count and hot plastic leaches some nasty stuff.. but soba and other komibini items - like the ones you add hot water to - are not that bad.. just check the labels..

but nikuman..yummy.. my faves are from the 7-11. What are your faves?

[Big Booger]

I like 7-11 burritos. They kick ass. Hamu Chizu is me choice.
BB

[Kent Brockmann]

Speed metal? Speed skating? No. "Japanese greatly value Speed Shitting" hahaha, that`s hilarious.

Now THAT`S a cultural insight. I`m plagiarising it for tonight`s installment of "My Two Cents".

[Taro Toporific]

Speed metal? Speed skating? No. "Japanese greatly value Speed Shitting" hahaha, that`s hilarious.

Now THAT`S a cultural insight.

Think about it. If you're in a squatter, good reading material is NOT an issue.

That is the reason why here in Maybe-the-largest Inc, there are only squat toilets --- to prevent employees from sleeping on the can.

In one of Maybe-the-largest Inc's rented office buildings, I was called to aid in a funny situation (since I have an EMT certificate)....
One of the western toilets was locked from the inside with an eigyo/salesman tied up and unconscious in it. It seems he had taken to sleeping most of his workday in the toilet by tying his torso to his knees with his necktie. While he was sleeping he fell forward hit himself on the head and was knocked unconscious with a concussion.
He collected workman's comp.

[kamome]

kombini bentos are full of fat and have high calorie count and hot plastic leaches some nasty stuff.. but soba and other komibini items - like the ones you add hot water to - are not that bad.. just check the labels..

but nikuman..yummy.. my faves are from the 7-11. What are your faves?

Don't have much frame for comparison. I've had AM-PM's and Circle-K's nikuman. Both are lousy compared to the stuff you get at Yokohama Chinatown. But they make for an OK snack.

[GomiGirl]

Don't have much frame for comparison. I've had AM-PM's and Circle-K's nikuman. Both are lousy compared to the stuff you get at Yokohama Chinatown. But they make for an OK snack.

The 'hama ones are sensational!!

I know this is the REALLY WRONG forum to ask this question - but does anyone know how to make nikuman at home?

Oh I just realised I haven't had lunch yet (and it is 7:30pm) - I might pop out for a snack of niku-man from the AM-PM.

[GuyJean]

but does anyone know how to make nikuman at home?

http://www.recipelink.com/ch/2002/november/chinesekitchen1.html

Sounds like too much work to me!

GJ

[Jack]

Generally any kind of food that I eat in Japan it is usually better than the fare we get in North America. Better prepared and almost always tastes good. What I like best, though, is how clean everything is in Japan. At McDonald's in the US if you eat in they give you those dirty trays slap on a paper nap and put the fries on it and of course the fires fall off and touch the sides of the dirty tray. In japan, they put your meal neatly on the tray so that your fries do not touch the "clean" tray. Yes, even the trays are cleaner in Japan.

[Taro Toporific]

Hamburgers are best from independent operators. Fish'n'chip shops are a good source in NZ. They should be greasy...Anywhere in Tokyo you can find such a beast?

Kama'aina's
As much as hate all things from the Island of Stupid, Kama'aina's is Tokyo's best.

For shitty Japanese directions see "Former Makuuchi Sumo Wrestler Yamato brings you a taste of Hawaii" with locations in Roppongi, Shibuya, and just outside Disneyland and USJ.
http://home.att.ne.jp/red/sumo/kama.htm
http://gourmet.zubapita.com/item/400/i2687552/

[kamome]

Generally any kind of food that I eat in Japan it is usually better than the fare we get in North America. Better prepared and almost always tastes good. What I like best, though, is how clean everything is in Japan.

Hamburgers are best from independent operators. Fish'n'chip shops are a good source in NZ. They should be greasy. Cleanliness is not an issue, you're not eating this for your health. What's important is the taste. Fat tastes good and is a required element of a great burger. Sure McDs contains fat but it's hidden, nicely packaged within the dry and tasteless pattie. The bread should not taste like cardboard. The product doesn't need to be nicely packaged. It should make a mess when you eat it. Plenty of paper napkins are required. Beef and cheese are essential. Bacon is desirable. Enjoy.

Anywhere in Tokyo you can find such a beast?

You should also try Homework's, which is located in Hiroo, Kyobashi, and a couple of other places around Tokyo. Best damn fries and onion rings, AND you can get a huge 1/2 pound burger with various toppings. Unfortunately, though, as with all things in Japan, they nickel and dime you to death. Asking for a tomato adds an additional 200 yen to the price.