Japan Travelogue: Tokyo Toilet Project
Japan is a country that takes pride in cleanliness. This stems from the two major religions that are practiced in Japan, Shinto and Buddhism. Shinto (“The Way of The Gods”), Japan’s own indigenous religion. Cleanliness was the core of Shinto religion, with the saying “cleanliness is godliness”. Cleanliness is also an integral part of Buddhism with Zen Buddhism teaching that all daily life activities such as cleaning, cooking, having meals are considered spiritual exercises, no different from meditating which reinforces what the Japanese were already practicing.
Public facilities in Japan are considered to be impeccable, including public toilets. The Nippon Foundation launched ‘The Tokyo Toilet’ project that aims to renovate public toilets at 17 locations. 16 creators will be awarded the Pritzker Prize with their ideas to be used around Shibuya, Tokyo, as a way to embrace diversity.
The project aims to change the perceptions that public toilets are dirty, unhygienic, and should be a last resort to relieve oneself. The Nippon Foundation in cooperation with the Shibuya City government will make use of the restroom designs in the chosen locations and are made available for everyone to use regardless of gender, age, or disability, to demonstrate the possibilities of an inclusive society. Aside from constructing the toilet facilities, ongoing maintenance will also be shouldered by the foundation to ensure that people who use the restrooms will always be comfortable and keep it clean for the next user.
Tokyo Toilet Project toilets
Haru-no-Ogawa Community Park; designed by Shigeru Ban
Yoyogi Fukamachi Mini Park; designed by Shigeru Ban
Yoyogi-Hachiman; Toyo Ito
Ebisu East Park; Fumihiko Maki
Ebisu Park; Masamichi Katayama Wonderwall
Ebisu Station, West Exit; Kashiwa Sato
Higashi Sanchome; Nao Tamura
Nishihara Itchome Park; Takenosuke Sakakura
Jingu-Dori Park; Tadao Ando
Hiroo East Park; Tomohito Ushiro
Nabeshima Shoto Park; Kengo Kuma
Sasazuka Greenway; Junko Kobayashi Gondola Architects
Nanago Dori Park; Kazoo Sato
Jingumae; NIGO®
Urasando; Marc Newson
Nishisando; Sou Fujimoto
Hatagaya; UTokyo DLX Design Lab Miles Pennington
Join Michelle and Niclas as they show us some of the already finished ‘Tokyo Toilets’!
