Photo Credit: Steven-L-Johnson/ Wikimedia Commons
The traditional toilet at the center of this myth is called a “washiki,” or Japanese-style toilet. It is set into the floor rather than built like a chair. Instead of lowering yourself onto a seat, you squat over it, facing the front or the hooded end. Travel guides explaining how to use one are very clear on this point: you face the front, lower yourself into a squat, and keep close to the front end of the fixture. That is where the whole “facing forward” idea comes from.
To someone who grew up only with seated toilets, that position can look confusing at first. But the logic of the design makes sense. The toilet was made to work with a squatting posture and not a sitting one. The user simply uses the fixture in the direction it was designed for, so that they are positioned over the deepest part of the bowl. Travel sources aimed at visitors even warn people not to face the wrong way, a common beginner’s mistake, which can make the cleaning afterward more tedious.
There is also a practical side to why some people long preferred this style. When used properly, a squat toilet can feel more hygienic to some because the body does not touch any part of the toilet. That does not mean everyone prefers it now, but it helps explain why the design lasted for so long.
To understand why this toilet is no longer as popular, read on!