How to Install a Japanese-Style Toilet

It is a common sight in Japan to see a squatting toilet, especially in their public restrooms. It can be unnerving to enter a restroom, urgently needing to urinate or more, only to find this kind of toilet. There are those however, who vow that a Japanese-style toilet is healthier and more sanitary than sitting toilets, since there are no seats to sit on. If you are into building the muscles in your legs and Japanese culture, then you need to install a Japanese-style toilet.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Japanese-style toilet
• Skill Saw
• Caulk

1. Locate a Japanese-style toilet and purchase it. This might be hard to do, as there are not many, if any, of these toilets sold in America.

2. Cut a hole in your bathroom floor in the size and shape of your new squatting toilet.

3. Fit your new toilet into the space cut out. Most Japanese-style toilets are oblong in shape with a hood at the front. You might want to put some caulk all around the newly-fitted toilet.

4. Connect all the necessary pipes to the toilet, water tank and septic tank.

5. Install a bar on the wall in front of your toilet. Since you will be facing the wall, holding on to the bar will help you to keep your balance while in the squatting position. It will also help you get back up when your business is finished. You might be glad this bar is there for the first few times you use this toilet as you could be stiff from maintaining the squatting position.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are not sure about fitting the toilet level with the floor, you can always build a small platform and then fit the toilet in the platform. Put the garbage bin in an area that will be easy to reach but also not get in the way of your balancing act. In fact, you might consider hanging the garbage bin on your wall. You should also hang your toilet paper roll close by for easy access. If you are not used to squatting for minutes at a time, start practicing and build up your leg muscles. Another thing to do is have a camera ready for when your friends go into your bathroom for the first time, as the look on their face will be worth capturing.
• When using a Japanese-style toilet, you must remember that positioning is everything! If you do not position your feet just right, they might get splattered. They might anyways until you get used to squatting to do your business. If you don’t balance just right, you could fall backwards, which could be painful and somewhat embarrassing. You might also need to get permission for installing a squatting toilet from your local health department and plumbing inspectors.