Why Do Japanese People Sit on the Toilet Facing Forward?

For much of modern Japanese history, squat toilets were quite common. In fact, until the 1960s, traditional squat toilets were more prevalent; Western-style toilets only gradually gained popularity after that decade. A significant turning point came when public housing projects began installing seated toilets, making them a normal part of everyday life. What now seems old-fashioned was once the standard. The “forward-facing” posture wasn’t a curiosity—it was simply how most people used the bathroom.