Japanese parents typically begin toilet training their children before the age of 3. For parents who wish to complete the process early or for their children to enter a kindergarten or daycare at a young age, training may start around one-and-a-half years. Parents expect to see the seven signs of toilet training when their child approaches one-and-a-half.
In Japan, there are seven commonly accepted signs that a child is ready to begin toilet training. They are:
1) The child imitates his parents around the house.
2) The child is capable of saying "no!" to express determination.
3) The child can put things back in their usual place.
4) The child is able to walk and sit down on his own.
5) The child is able to take off his pants and underwear on his own.
6) The child expresses an interest in using the toilet.
7) The child expresses verbally or physically a need to urinate or defecate.
Discussion of common body functions, especially excretion, is relatively common in Japan. Having regular stools is widely regarded as essential to maintaining one's health. Illustrations of different types of stools and explanations of their significance for one's health are found in most daycares. Cartoons show children overcoming their nervousness about using the "scary" toilet. Popular children's programs, such as "okasan-to-isho," shown in the morning hours when only the youngest children are not in school, and the video series "Shimajiro," often contain these cartoons.
Moreover, there are a many children's books on the subject. Many of them are humorous, and most show the child bravely overcoming their fear of the toilet. These books are available in every book store and can be found in many public buildings such as doctor's offices and the post office.
Japanese parents view toilet training as a social responsibility. In an effort to minimize, as much as possible, any inconvenience their children might cause for others, parents in Japan begin toilet training as soon as the child shows most of the seven signs. This is especially true for parents putting their children into a kindergarten or daycare, many of which require children to be able to do this (and other tasks) on their own.
Parents purchase a toilet training potty, called "omaru," for the child to use. The "omaru" is a child-sized, plastic toilet that can be placed anywhere in the house. The omaru is small enough for the child to sit on with her feet on the floor, and has two raised handles at the front for the child to hold on to. The purpose of the omaru is to accustom the child to using a toilet, but to also provide the child a sense of security, knowing the "toilet" is within easy access. After the child uses the omaru, the parents empty and clean its container. Training pants, diapers that can be slid on and off by the child, are available in almost any supermarket or drug store, and are used quite widely to develop a sense of independence and responsibility in the child.
