Sunset serenade for Taiwan’s squatty pottiesBy Wu Po-hsuan / Staff reporterThe Ministry of Environment yesterday called for the public to abandon squat toilets and switch to seated toilet. Additionally, environmental and bacterial contamination in the bathroom from squat toilets is thousands of times greater than that of sitting toilets, he said. People look at a toilet-themed art installation at the main lobby of the Ministry of Environment in Taipei yesterday. Friends of Daan Forest Park Foundation managing director Tsai Chien-sheng (蔡建生) said that many countries generally use seated toilets, and some visitors from Europe or the US have never used squat toilets in their lives. “When they visit Taiwan and open the bathroom door, they may be shocked,” he said, adding Taiwan is the only country in Asia still adding squat toilets.

Source: Taipei Times January 05, 2026 16:43 UTC