Explore everyday life in Japan
The toiliet paper debate in Japan ended some time ago.
Who made the final decision? I don’t know. But whoever it was, whether an individual or a group with vested interests, did it with clarity. A toilet paper dispenser was made that only works properly, meaning that it only tears the paper neatly along its perforated line, when the toilet paper roll is inserted the correct way.
And what is the correct way?
Well, here in Japan, inserting the toilet paper roll so that the loose end of the toilet paper curls over the top of the roll and hangs down in front of the dispenser, not at the back near the wall, is without a doubt the absolute correct way.
I would venture to guess that you could travel this entire country through and through and you would not find a single roll of toilet paper inserted with the loose end hanging at the back of the toilet paper roll near the wall (with possible exceptions being made for those found on U.S. military bases).
The Benefits of this Toilet Paper Dispenser
As you can see by looking at these pictures, when the toilet paper is inserted correctly, one can easily unroll the desired amount of paper, gently press down with one hand on the metal or plastic flap that rests on top of the toilet paper and, with the other hand, lift the toilet paper up so that it tears neatly along the edge of this covering.
With this toilet paper dispenser, gone are the days of hurried vertical tears and accidental over-pulls, when thirty centimeters of toilet paper or more suddenly releases and one is left with toilet paper trailing from one’s hand, across one’s knees, and down onto the floor.
In addition, as an added bonus, one can also fold the torn edge of the toilet paper up so that it forms a nice triangle at the edge of the dispenser's lid. This can be used, and often is in Japan, as a sign to signal that the restroom has recently been cleaned, which is something that I find nice.
This is an ongoing series that will explore various aspects of daily life in Japan. My hope is that this series will not only reveal to its followers, image by image, what Japan looks like, but that it will also inform its followers about unique Japanese items and various cultural and societal practices. If you are interested in getting regular updates about life in Japan, please consider following me at @boxcarblue. If you have any questions about life in Japan, please don’t hesitate to ask. I will do my best to answer all of your questions.