Go beyond labels. Japan’s all-gender restrooms dilemma

A groundbreaking all-gender restroom was removed from Tokyu Kabukicho Tower, an entertainment complex in Shinjuku, Tokyo, in July 2023, only four months after the opening, in the wake of criticism. Has Tokyo moved one step away from queer urbanism?

Here’s how the restrooms were renovated

The discussed all-gender restrooms were located on the second floor of the tower on the same floor as the 24-hour-izakaya-style food court. There were two bathroom stalls for men, two for women and eight for all-gender with a common area to wash hands. My first impression of the restrooms on social media was that they were clean, sophisticated, organized and inviting.

However, in reality, people who used them felt insecure and thought the restroom could be a hotbed of sexual crime soon. I must note that cases like sexual violence in public toilets and hidden cameras in women’s restrooms have been serious issues in this country. The Tokyu Tower responded quickly by improving security such as instating security guards to patrol the restroom and installing temporary partitions to direct users toward separate gender-designated stalls. Finally, on August 4, the restroom renovation was completed, and there are no longer gender-free restrooms in the Tokyu Tower.

All-gender restroom known by the name “multi-purpose toilet” in Japan

There have been gender-free restrooms in Japan under the name of “multi-purpose toilets” referring to a restroom that can be used by visitors with disabilities, caretakers and parents with their young children. However, many individuals without physical disabilities hesitate to use a multi-purpose toilet because it is primarily designed for those with disabilities. Furthermore, the fact that there is typically only one such facility in an area, while there are five or six stalls designated for women and men, contributes to this hesitation.

In response to this situation, toilet manufacturers such as TOTO and LIXIL, as well as facilities popular with tourists such as the Japan National Stadium and Narita Airport (the largest international airport in Japan), are cooperating to install and promote all-gender restrooms that are designed to be easily accessible to people who have concerns about using the toilet due to their gender identity.

What should be done to update society?

While all their efforts are commendable and should be encouraged, gender-neutral restrooms continue to distinguish themselves from conventional facilities. Given the concept of queer urbanism, which involves incorporating LGBTQ perspectives into urban design, I wonder if these perspectives are fully integrated into all gender-neutral restrooms.

While visiting a casual restaurant during my stay in Chicago, I noticed they had three types of restrooms designated for “gents,” “ladies” and “anyone.” All of them had the same appearance except for their signs. I believe that all restroom options should have a similar and inclusive design, just like the one in that restaurant. This experience has strengthened my belief in the importance of updating society by actively listening to the voices of those involved.