Photo/Illutration The toilet facility, designed by architect Kengo Kuma, is shown at Nabeshima Shoto Park in the Shoto 2-chome district of Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward on June 24. (Katsuhisa Saito)

An endeavor by Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward to flush away the negative stereotypes of public restrooms has entered the next stage.

Four new toilet facilities have been introduced this year under “The Tokyo Toilet” project to render public bathrooms, typically considered as “dark, dirty and scary,” comfortable for anyone to use.

Installed at Nabeshima Shoto Park in the Shoto 2-chome district in late June was one designed by architect Kengo Kuma.

The “toilet village” in the park’s rich natural surroundings is comprised of five restrooms covered by randomly angled Japanese cedar louvers and connected with each other via “paths in a forest.”

“Conventional public restrooms boast a uniform design but this facility symbolizes the era of diversity,” said Kuma. “All the five bathrooms have their own different ways of use, such as those for parents with children and changing clothes for various events in Shibuya.”

Kuma continued, “I also would like people to enjoy taking a stroll between the restrooms.”

Kuma is one of the world’s renowned 16 creators, including architect Tadao Ando, who are working to make toilets the symbol of Japan’s “hospitality culture” by setting up restrooms in 17 parks and other places in Shibuya from 2020 through spring 2022.

The Nippon Foundation is responsible for the program with the assistance of the ward’s government and other parties.

Last year, seven of the restrooms, including one by architect Shigeru Ban at Yoyogi Fukamachi Mini Park in the Tomigaya 1-chome district, were completed.

The walls of Ban’s creation become transparent with no one using it, so people can see how safe and clean it is inside. The walls become opaque when someone is in it, drawing considerable attention.

Construction of the remaining six facilities is scheduled to finish by spring next year.

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