Why Do Japanese People Sit on the Toilet Facing Forward?

The traditional toilet at the heart of this myth is known as a “washiki,” or Japanese-style toilet. Unlike a Western-style chair, it is embedded in the floor. Instead of sitting down, you squat over it, facing the front or the hooded end. Travel guides that explain how to use one are unambiguous: you face the front, squat down, and position yourself close to the front of the fixture. This is where the entire notion of “facing forward” originates.