Peeing in Japan

So, maybe you do not know this, but in Japan, it's considered rude to make the pee noise. So for you unenlightened or men, Japan is full of what I call squatie potties. They are basically porcelain holes in the ground. When you use them to pee, you squat and well noise is made when pee hits water. In Japan women just do not make this noise, when in the presences of other females, they flush the toilet. The swirling of the noise masks the unpleasantness.

I knew about this little cultural quirk from before I came to Japan. I was informed by one of my zanier high school teachers, what bought that on and why we spent class time talking about it is beyond me but whatever.

I generally abide by the rules and try my best not to make the pee noise. I often thought of it like being from a country where its socially acceptable to fart. You've been there for a short time and noticed "Wow, no one else seems to be doing it" but you let one rip one day, and everyone stares....with those eyes, with the eyes!

Anyhow, I did not want that happening to me. But unlike holding in your farts, which can create some gas problems, it harms only you. And in fact it prevents other people from having to deal with stinkyness. Sadly flushing the toilet to mask pee noise wastes a lot of water. I sometimes hear women flushing up to 3 times for one bathroom break!

I never flush, or resist unless in dire straits! I often wait for the other person to flush then let it go, or wait for the other person to leave. I always thought it be weird to pee. But another friend who also finds it weird but doesn't abide by the rules went" Dude, its cultural exchange, just make the pee noise!"

I debated and debated, and sometimes I made the noise, and other times I did not... but today in the toilet I was kinda holding it in waiting for the other person to flush (again) and I thought damn it, HUMANS MAKE THE PEE NOISE! And I let it rip. I felt quite liberates and I hope from my influence less women will flush the toilet and accept that we make the pee noise.

I'm going to pretend that my previous example of farting does not exist, because I know its really analogous, and really I kinda realize they are judging my pee noise makingness. OH WELL! So other foreign women in Japan, do not be afraid of a little pee noise, were here for grass roots internationalization, and making the pee noise is one damn good example.