Photo/Illutration Japanese-style squat toilets in the Yamaguchi prefectural government building, where more than two-thirds of the toilets are of this type (Takuro Yamano)

YAMAGUCHI—People are tired of squatting, it turns out, as a heated debate over updating public toilets closed out the Yamaguchi prefectural assembly's regular session on Oct. 7.

Both the ruling and opposition parties voiced concerns about the aging and inadequate toilet facilities within the prefectural government buildings and schools.

During a general question session on Sept. 27, Machiko Arichika from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party urged prefectural officials to accelerate the modernization of toilets in the government office, arguing that the majority of toilets were still traditional Japanese-style squat toilets.

"Most people have Western-style sitting toilets in their homes, and these offer greater comfort, hygiene and accessibility," said Arichika.

Assembly members expressed their support for her proposal.

A government survey in 2008 showed that 86.9 percent of households in Yamaguchi Prefecture had Western-style toilets, roughly the same ratio as the national average.

However, the prefectural office has been slower to adopt modern facilities. As of October this year, only 26.9 percent of toilets in the government office were Western style.

Although the percentage has increased over the past four decades since the government building was completed, employees report that more modernization is needed.

In response, Shigemune Sato, the chief of the prefecture’s general affairs department, acknowledged the need for improvement and promised to explore renovation options.

The issue of aging toilets was not limited to the prefectural buildings.

Kiyo Kawai from the Japanese Communist Party highlighted the poor condition of toilets in schools, citing complaints from local high school students.

While the prefectural board of education acknowledged the need for improvements, it stated that it was not planning a comprehensive renovation plan for all schools, instead opting to address individual renovation requests from each school.

The debate over toilet replacements has also extended to the prefectural assembly building itself.

A cross-party committee has been formed to discuss the modernization and improved accessibility of toilet facilities in the legislative building.

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