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On April 14, a new landmark called Tokyu Kabukicho Tower opened in Kabukicho in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward. The 53-floor entertainment and hotel complex is home to restaurants, bars, game centers, cinemas and even a club and live entertainment venue, but ever since it opened there’s been one thing making headlines more than anything else — the building’s gender-neutral toilets.
Like many parts of the world, the topic of gender-neutral toilets has become a subject of debate in Japan, with people wondering where the balance should lie between respecting the rights of transgender people and protecting women’s spaces. In Japan, however, where panty theft, upskirt photography and covert recording in female toilets is all too common, the debate over these types of restrooms is particularly divisive, so although the tower has gender-segregated restrooms on three of its four basement levels, it didn’t take long for members of the public to voice concerns for the safety of women in the gender-neutral restroom.
▼ The tower’s gender-neutral restroom — the largest restroom in the facility — is on the second floor, where many of the izakaya-style tavern-like restaurants are located.
While many have praised the tower for its forward-thinking and inclusive approach to its new bathroom facilities, some people have commented that the public backlash could’ve been avoided if they’d set up three types of separate toilets instead — female, male and gender-neutral, or “genderless” as the term is known in Japan.
When the tower opened, however, the gender-neutral bathroom (pictured below) contained only two types of toilets — “men’s urinals” and “others” (aka “cubicles”), which caused ripples with members of the public.
After being inundated with complaints from the public, the tower made the surprising decision to backtrack on its original design.
For the past month, the usage information panel at the entrance to the gender-neutral restroom has a sign pasted on it that reads: “under adjustment.”
“Under adjustment” indicates that the toilets are being redesigned, with a temporary fix in place for the moment. And what is the temporary fix?
▼ Partitions.
The existing facility now has a series of partitions segregating the toilets between male and female. This means the men’s urinals remain in operation as they were previously, but now the cubicles have been separated into two types: “female-dedicated” toilets, and “men’s dedicated/all-gender."
The name “genderless restroom” is still being used, but the new setup means it’s essentially a gender-segregated facility. Aside from the problem of calling the restroom something it technically isn’t, the partitions make the state-of-the-art facility look undeniably cheap.
While the concept of gender-neutral facilities is an admirable one that fits in with desires for a more inclusive and understanding society, it looks like more thought needs to be given to how they’re implemented in Japan to avoid them being eliminated in the face of public controversy.
Here’s hoping Tokyu Kabukicho Tower is able to come to some sort of permanent arrangement that caters to all its customers without causing distress.
Related: Tokyu Kabukicho Tower
Images © SoraNews24
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© SoraNews24
59 Comments
divinda
A huge ball of ridiculousness that started rolling years ago during the architectural planning phase and now needs to be patched up with paper signs taped to the wall and hastily installed partitions.
Curious what the final plan will be and if they can somehow carve out space within this already fully occupied floor to make normal restrooms.
Antiquesaving
I don't understand the trans, every place has men's, women's and one toilet for men, women, parents and children, the disabled anyone needing it.
So they don't want the men's they don't want the women's then they can use the universal one.
But no that is to simple they cannot accept, because they must get us all to change and we most all accept we to are not what we know we are using logic.
The. Special people community wants to pretend that the rest are not 90+% heterosexual and the 2 genders male female biologically.
girl_in_tokyo
Here's the thing. It's not transgender women or men who are upskirting, taking pictures, peeping, molesting, groping or raping women: it's ordinary, run-of-the mill, straight MEN. It's a certain type of man who is a danger to women; and having gender-neutral toilets where all straight cisgender men are allowed aboslutly does put women in danger.
This has nothing to do with transpeople at all, since they can just use the restroom of their gender. No fuss.
I'm in favor of gender neutral toilets with single-seats since I do not want straight cisgender men in a toilet where women are present.
I wouldn't personally care if gay men were in womens' toilets. That wouldn't fuss me at all. I've been going to gay bars and using the mens' there for years and years, and have never once felt weird about it. It's just not an issue.
Again, the issue is cisgender straigtht men, and the fact that it is people from that population who commit sex crimes in toilets.
BigP
It all ridiculous.
Antiquesaving
Who are these "CIS" people?
You mean actual men and women?
See how amazing it has become, they the trans want to be called men and women, but created a label to call actual women and men "CIS" .
Did I accept being called "CIS" did they ask us?
Funny how that works, if we call them what they don't want they get upset but they now have the power to decide what we are and you fall for it.
No one is stopping them from using the universal 3rd toilet in every public location.
wallace
I can say, there is not always a disabled toilet or 3rd toilet in every location. Better than what it used to be.
Jacobo
Gimme a break
Garthgoyle
Err, you're wrong about that. Just because you're gay or transgender doesn't absolve you from being a sex offender. Trans are just as bad or good humans as any other.
Antiquesaving
If I disabled universal toilet isn't available then that is a bigger problem.
Because their are far more people with disabilities than transgender, so fix that first!
An able body transgender can walk, can see can move freely, the also jump up and down complaining far more freely than a disabled person to complain.
If there aren't enough disabled facilities then that is a bigger priority.
Antiquesaving
Really?
Well during a televised debate in Canada, a trans women )male to female) claimed he/she was a lesbian and that it was transphobic for lesbian women to refused to date he/she.
This has been repeated by numerous prominent high profile Transgender.
So the next "lesbian transgender woman" you mean ask yourself is this a man or a woman? Because you may get a nasty hard surprise and refusing is now "transphobic"
commanteer
Actually, it is - and this is one of the main points against these toilets. You might counter that those are mostly "CIS perverts pretending to be transgender," but who are you to question their self-proclaimed gender identity?
Sure, you have used men's toilets in gay bars, but I wouldn't dare step near a women's toilet in a lesbian bar unless I wanted serious trouble. This building, being in Kabukicho, would be the ideal place for gender fluid toilets, but even here it's not a good idea. Lots of alcohol-fueled pervs on the prowl here, and the women's restroom is one of the only places in the area where a woman can get away from all that.
Michael Machida
Im so happy to read toilet news.
Antiquesaving
Funny!
In the past decade the biggest scandals like that of the Catholic Church involved not "straight" men, the victims in 90% of the cases were boys, the same with most of these situations.
Funny how the "boy" victim and non straight man perpetrators is sort of glossed over.
Aly Rustom
I said this before and I'll say it again.
I'm for 2 signs on toilets- one with a penis and testicles and the other with breasts and a vagina.
Why? Because its no longer about how you identify yourself as but rather about what "equipment" you sport.
bass4funk
Sorry, I think you need to read the news more. That is definitely not true.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/transgender-wyoming-woman-convicted-of-sexually-assaulting-10-year-old-girl-in-bathroom
I see. All and only straight men?
I wish the transgender people would think the same when they try to push biological born women out of sports endangering the institution of womanhood altogether.
Use the toilet of the gender you were born with, not that hard makes things a lot easier
Demanding now are we?
For YOU it might not be an issue but for millions it is.
Not just straight men.
https://www.theblaze.com/news/transgender-therapist-accused-of-molesting-children-with-autism-report
Jonathan Prin
How to make a non-existing problem a big one !
Everyone agrees trans gender neutral...etc. people daily used toilet and no one ever complained, so why distinguish them to create an issue ?
And any offender remains an offender.
Beware of calling a single category of people the bad one. Respect of gender (man or woman, since men are from Mars and women from Venus), race, religion, etc. is essential. The more segregation, the worse it becomes.
Peter Neil
So, a transwoman is OK by you in a female bathroom, correct?
KariHaruka
Gender neutral toilets are ludicrous. If someone is legally a male or female (trans or not), then they should be using the toilets that they are legally classified as being.
What we shouldn't be doing, is making toilets an unsafe environment for women!
Even in the UK, they are going one step further and making toilets in schools 'gender neutral'. And, unsurprisingly, girls who are going through a sensitive time in their lives feel uncomfortable with going to the toilet whilst at school. And there's even been cases of boys breaking all the locks off of the toilet cubicles and violating a girl's privacy!
Dango bong
if you have something between your legs, use the men's room. it is not complicated
wallace
I have been in men's toilets when a woman would use it because she couldn't wait any longer or female cleaners in men's toilets.
Women's toilets are cubicles and private.
I would have no problem with a neutral-gender toilet.
Antiquesaving
It is good to see women fighting back on the invasion of their space.(and by women I mean actual women, born women).
This isn't limited to toilets.
A trans woman has again taken away the gold from actual women in cycling, the real women refuse to take the podium.
Second place wasn't even close!
The argument that their aren't many Trans gender in Sports is irrelevant, the few are taking everything they enter.
The next I know some here will ask, "why only point out men to women transgender in sports?" Simple because no woman to man transgender makes it even near top tier athletes the second they go up against the best men they lose dramatically.
This is 100% an issue of safety and equality for actual women, it is political when Riley Gaines succeeded in tying Lia Thomas only one trophy was available, Gaines was told it was going to be presented to Thomas and Gaines would get one later shipped to her.
Women are quitting sports, Champion cyclocross rider Hannah Arensman quit.
This is far bigger than these toilets.
This cannot be isolated into "Toilet" access, it goes far deeper, onsen, changing rooms, public baths/showers, sports.
Few men care if a woman gets naked in their space, honestly any woman doing that needs is taking a risk but she decided to enter the men's changing room.
A woman shouldn't have to be forced to be with men even less have to see male genitalia.
Now for the environment:
(First until we give you permission to call us CIS.....please stop using it)
We complain about the environment we need to conserve resources, but what you propose would increase water use and that increases energy use to clean and filter water.
Flush toilets in Japan use about 3.8L per flush, a Japanese urinal will use about half that this is still less than the "half flush" on a toilet
Then we add in the extra construction materials needed to create every single stall as opposed to a wall of urinals with little or no partitions.
Bob Fosse
CIS is a widely accepted scientific term which as I said is Latin.
The words you used are hate speech.
Incomparable.
If you want to complain about something it is always a good idea to be informed about it first.
Antiquesaving
My brother's company in Canada has a policy that prohibits men and women to be alone in a closed door office there must always be a third-party present to avoid "accusations" of inappropriate behaviour.
This is now policy in many companies.
But I am supposed to walk into a toilet where a woman is !
Yeah no thanks, a space where no cameras will be present, often at the end of a hall generally the more isolated area.
OK guys go for it, but in today's world of guilty by accusation!
I will hold it in and find a 7- eleven with individual restrooms
wallace
If a person with a penis goes into a women's toilet how would other women see it since all toilets are cubicles?
bass4funk
But we don’t have to use it.
Why?
I think most people are since it’s pushed in our faces.
Peter Neil
How do you know if someone is a woman, a transwoman, a transvestite or a man in women’s clothes looking for a thrill? Do they have a badge?
I’ve seen bathrooms decades ago in a couple of restaurants (not in Japan) that were all floor-to-ceiling stalls and were used by any and all without drama. But then again, that was before drama became a thing.
I’m a heterosexual, white male, making me automatically a villain, racist, homophobic, transphobic member of the toxic male patriarchy, so I know my opinion is worthless.
I should just go jump off a bridge, right?
Antiquesaving
CIS was never used to describe people until the trans agenda
Invented in the 90s by pro transgender.
Please don't put false information.
GBR48
Were the builders who revamped it wearing ten gallon hats and riding horses?
Personally, I've never been a fan of peeing in company. Just pepper buildings with single cubicle toilet facilities and make sure a good percentage of them have disability access/baby changing capabilities.
wallace
If a transwoman enters a female toilet how do any other women present even know she is? Not like you flash when entering.
Antiquesaving
Remember folks, this is not just about toilets, once the toilets are done this way, the Trans will push on to other spaces as the have done in Canada and the USA.
The high school girls didn't want to see a penis in the women's changing room, Riley Gaines and the other women didn't want to see List Thomas's Penis they were forced to!
My wife goes to the women's Onsen not the mixed for a reason, she is not interested in seeing male genitalia, but mark my words, once the transgender get their way on the toilet they will make the same demands on public baths, changing rooms and onsens.
This in not speculation it is what was and is going on in western countries as we speak.
FrenchFox
Exactly.
sir_bentley28
Why is it ok for these feminists to call us straight men "cis", but if we even exist around a member of the alphabet soup sandwich group we are in the wrong?
Also,
So....what's to stop a straight guy from dressing up and like the group, pretend to be a female so he can take advantage of a woman in the women's toilet? Would he need an ID card to prove his level or membership in the community?
So William or Stefan, a TOTAL chad from accounting can just slap on a wig, makeup and a dress and play make believe and enter the the restroom where you or other members of the community are and that's fine?
FrenchFox
But the vast majority of Japanese people don't like it. that is why there is so much backlash over it.
sir_bentley28
2 toilets : Mens and Womens
It has been this way since the dawn of toilets. You want your own toilets where you'd be safe in your safe space from all us "certain STRAIGHT men who are a danger to women"? Why not have a community meeting and get the funds to start building your own toilets?
bass4funk
Oh, I know that. I just wouldn’t feel comfortable in that kind of a setting.
PharaohChromium
Lol. I don't think anyone can take what you say seriously. Check out all your downvotes.
Antiquesaving
In today's age of guilty by accusation, are you men willing to risk going into gender mixed toilets?
Think about it.
Look at what is happening in public gyms today in the West.
It gets to the point of a clown show.
Now imagine you alone in a toilet and one of this women is there.
I blind man's experience
https://youtube.com/shorts/0c9tKlDa4Nw?feature=share
Antiquesaving
Sorry but incorrect.
Most arrests for indecent acts in public toilets are male on male,
Most sexual assaults committed in public toilets are men on boys.
But if what you believe is true, why would any woman want men in their toilet?
qazwsx
Calm down people! No matter what the reasoning for building these toilets, the problem was not with transgender people, it was with straight people, mainly due to prostitution.
Most of you wouldn't be able to recognize a transgender person in the first place. Many transgender people exist in our society and go to whichever toilet fits their identity without anyone knowing with no scene being made.
The main problem with these toilets from my own personal viewing experience, and from what I have read in Japanese media, was that straight women and men were mixing in the toilets. Because anyone can walk in, and there are so many stalls, it became a very convenient location for prostitutes to do their business. Men and women going into a stall for a quick one. Add to the fact that it's in Kabukicho and there you go
SDCA
Darn, now straight cis gender men will need to wait in a queue just to go number one.
Antiquesaving
Technically incorrect, not always, to be exact laws needed to be created to insure disabled access.
In North America all they did was add a bigger stall totally useless.
In Japan the created multi use toilets technically they are priority for the disabled but are for all, from pregnant women, to someone with a small child, uses range from breastfeeding, changing diapers, changing clothes (yes many have fold down platform to stand on without shoes while you change) to rinsing out urine or colostomy bags.
And if no one is using it then anyone is permitted to use it.
So problem solved, if the transgender doesn't want to use the men's or women's toilet they have a gender neutral alternative already.
wanderlust
@Aly Rustom
I'm for 2 signs on toilets- one with a penis and testicles and the other with breasts and a vagina.
And for the ladyboys, shemales and newhalfs who often possess combinations of these, they can choose!
Jeremiah
Actually, they rejigged them to match objective reality. “Gender neutral” and “gender neutrality” are fictions.
wallace
There have not always been disabled toilets in major locations. There are many more than 30 years ago but even so, there is only one disabled toilet, and a mother changing a diaper and then using the toilet can be in one for more than 30 minutes.
If you are not disabled or in one of the groups then please don't use it.
A transwoman with female clothing goes into a male toilet. A transman with men's clothing and maybe a beard goes into a female toilet.
jerry
the symbols are laughable.
Aly Rustom
LOL!! Pretty sure the first 2 still have to use the toilet with the penis though!
Good one mate!
Bob Fosse
”Keep these lgbabcq away from our kids”
Let them have their own toilet then.
“No! Use male or female”
Ok, let them use toilets with your kids.
“No! “
etc etc.
It’s equally odd hearing people getting upset about being called cis and hating labels insisting every human on earth is labeled male or female, but they hate labels.
I put these people on the same level as the ‘muslamic ray guns’ guy. Funny but not too bright.
sir_bentley28
We can't have our men's rooms or women's rooms invaded by these wannabes! We need our privacy just like the women do too! We also have rules to follow in the men's room! The 1 urinal space rule, the alloted time for a shake, where to look, talk time and most important secret as to why there is almost NEVER a line for the men's room must be protected! I know for a FACT I wouldn't want to be sitting outside the women's room waiting for my little daughter to come out only to see some hard leg dude in women's clothes entering the women's room! Its apalling to read the senseless commenter indicating that its ok for men dressed as women to enter a women's room where there would be little children in there. But a regular ol' dude who embraces his dudeship is a "danger to women".
Give the alphabet fans their own separate toilet in specific safe locations around the city to avoid and problems or bullying!
finally rich
Phobia: an extreme or irrational fear of or aversion to something.
I'm not "transphobic", "fatphobic" or anything.
I just don't care. My worst offense is having this peculiar interest only in things pleasant to the eyes.
I change channels whenever I see a commercial with some thing I find repulsive.
sir_bentley28
You said just what i was going to say! We all know how these alphabet members like to scream "blotty merdah" and film it just for some views.
kohakuebisu
This is "admirable" to use the word used in the story, but flies in the face of the age-old adage that "you cannot please all the people all the time". Whatever the building owners do, someone is not going to like it. Every time the building owners change their toilets, it will cost them time, effort, and money. These could all be used more productively.