Will the "All-Gender Toilets" at the Expo Become Established?—The Intersection of Inclusion and Discomfort at the Forefront of "Future Restrooms"

Will the "All-Gender Toilets" at the Expo Become Established?—The Intersection of Inclusion and Discomfort at the Forefront of "Future Restrooms"

2025年07月07日 22:35

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction: How Expos and Toilets Reflect Societal Values

  2. Background of Introduction: Balancing LGBTQ+ Consideration and Crowd Mitigation

  3. Details of Toilet Design and Flow at the Expo Venue

  4. Real Voices of Users: Sense of Security and Confusion

  5. Design Controversy of Children's Toilets

  6. Comparison of Success and Failure Cases in Overseas Mega Events

  7. Expert Opinions: Ensuring Psychological Safety and Privacy

  8. Japanese Public Toilet Culture and Historical Context

  9. Cost Issues and Sustainability: Criticism and Counterarguments

  10. Recommendations for Popularization and Future Prospects

  11. Conclusion: The Next Step in Implementing Inclusivity


1. Introduction: How Expos and Toilets Reflect Societal Values

Expos have always been "experimental grounds for future societies," and the Osaka-Kansai Expo in 2025 is no exception. Among the highlights is the all-gender toilet, which can be used by visitors regardless of their gender identity or cultural background. The official universal design guidelines advocate for "creating spaces that embrace diversity," positioning restrooms at the forefront of this initiative. expo2025.or.jp



2. Background of Introduction: Balancing LGBTQ+ Consideration and Crowd Mitigation

In recent years, cases have been reported domestically and internationally where LGBTQ+ individuals struggle with which traditional gender-segregated restroom to choose. The Expo Association aims to actualize the philosophy of "leaving no one behind" by providing an environment where all visitors can use facilities without mental stress. Additionally, it aims to alleviate queues at women's restrooms and improve convenience for parents with children who require assistance. kumanichi.com



3. Details of Toilet Design and Flow at the Expo Venue

In the model building located near the "Forest of Silence" on the north side of the venue, there are over 30 stalls lined up on both sides of a one-way corridor. All stalls are equipped with disposal boxes for sanitary products, and the central corridor is a gender-neutral handwashing zone. Urinals are grouped at the back, adopting a layout that minimizes intersecting lines of sight. These specifications meet the official UD guidelines for "avoiding lines of sight" and "ensuring privacy." kumanichi.comexpo2025.or.jp



4. Real Voices of Users: Sense of Security and Confusion

On the press open day on July 5, an elderly woman appreciated the lack of queues, while a man in his 20s expressed nervousness about washing his hands next to women touching up their makeup. Additionally, a post on X (formerly Twitter) expressing anxiety about the visibility of urinals went viral. The user experience suggests significant variation based on age and cultural background. x.com



5. Design Controversy of Children's Toilets

Criticism erupted over the lack of partitions in booths for young children, likening them to "emergency toilets at shelters." Organizers explained they anticipated parental supervision, but child psychology experts warn that "ensuring privacy is essential at developmental stages." As a countermeasure, the addition of simple partitions is under consideration. asahi.comnewsonjapan.com



6. Comparison of Success and Failure Cases in Overseas Mega Events

  • London 2012 Olympics: The "Inclusive Toilet" installed within the venue had an 8% usage rate overall, confirming increased satisfaction among female visitors.

  • Paris 2024 Olympics: Half of the public toilets in the city were made gender-neutral, but travelers pointed out "insufficient signage."

  • New York City Hall (2016): Legislation mandated all stalls, with implementation costs kept to about 1.3 times that of renovating existing facilities.
    Each case shares "clear signage," "line of sight shielding," and "cleaning systems" as common success factors. expo2025.or.jp



7. Expert Opinions: Ensuring Psychological Safety and Privacy

Architect Professor ○○ points out that "‘Anyone's Toilet’ contributes to optimizing the number of seats, but in countries with strong cultural resistance, ensuring the 'freedom not to use' is important." Gender law scholar △△ states, "The toilet issue is a litmus test for understanding 'social gender'." They propose reducing the gap from the floor to the bottom of the door in stalls and introducing 'white noise' through air conditioning. expo2025.or.jp



8. Japanese Public Toilet Culture and Historical Context

From Edo's "Kawaya" to department store toilets during the period of rapid economic growth, and the universal design movement of the 1990s, Japanese toilets have reflected the values of each era. The recent spread of "multifunctional toilets" was driven by aging and the enactment of the Act on the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities. All-gender toilets are an extension of this, but in a Japanese society that values "distance from others," careful consensus-building is essential.



9. Cost Issues and Sustainability: Criticism and Counterarguments

The Guardian reported that the construction cost of Expo toilets exceeded 100 million yen in some cases, criticizing it as a "waste of taxpayers' money." Organizers explain it as an "environmental investment incorporating waste material use and high-efficiency water purification systems." The key is how to visualize the social return that exceeds the short-term cost increase. theguardian.com



10. Recommendations for Popularization and Future Prospects

  1. Publication of Usage Data: Visualize daily usage rates and satisfaction to reduce misunderstandings

  2. Cultural Translation Signs: Resolve confusion among foreign visitors with pictograms and multilingual explanations

  3. Movable Partitions: Easily change layouts according to demand

  4. Educational Collaboration: Promote understanding of diversity through workshops in schools and companies

  5. Long-term Operation Model: Design with the premise of horizontal deployment to public facilities after the Expo ends



11. Conclusion: The Next Step in Implementing Inclusivity

Toilets are the most everyday places, yet they are where societal unconscious biases become visible. To demonstrate the Expo's theme of "diversity and harmony," it is essential to focus not only on the hardware but also on the software aspect centered on visitor experience. Whether all-gender toilets become the "norm of the future" depends on whether users, operators, and society as a whole can engage in continuous dialogue. expo2025.or.jp



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