Benny loves an April Fools prank

Editor's note: My co-worker wrote this item for last year. I thought it was so entertaining, I had to share it.

Omaru No Hi
Japan is known for many things—elegant sakura, delectable sushi, futuristic electronics—but to some foreigners who have either traveled through or lived in the country, there’s another infamous aspect of the Land of the Rising Sun. Walk into any public restroom and you’re likely to find something surprising: a row of low in-ground toilets. And yet, while these washiki commodes (sometimes referred to as “squatty potties”) seem a little strange to visitors, they are so culturally important that they even have their own holiday, Omaru No Hi.

Omaru No Hi translates somewhat awkwardly to “Day of the Toilet.” The holiday commemorates the invention of washiki toilets as well as the life of their inventor and Japan’s great unifier, Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Hideyoshi ruled with a strict iron fist throughout the late 1500’s, but his beginnings were humble. As a youth, he worked his way up through the ranks of Oda clan as a lowly servant, a sandal bearer, and a castle repairman. His superiors took notice of him as a skillful negotiator, ultimately honoring him with a position as one of many Oda generals. By 1583, Hideyoshi had risen above all other generals and heirs to become the Oda clan’s leader; in the next 15 years, he methodically conquered provinces through Japan, effectively ending the rule of multiple clans.

Though Hideyoshi’s cultural influence manifests in many ways in modern Japan, perhaps his most formidable legacy is the washiki toilet. Beyond unifying Japan, Hideyoshi longed to conquer other lands, from China to Korea. But he did not believe in his countrymen—he thought that the Japanese people had grown collectively weak, unable to toil away in neither the rice field nor the battle field. His great homeland’s honor was at stake. And so he imposed a unique yet logical law: all traditional sitting toilets would be removed and replaced with washiki toilets, forcing anyone using a bathroom to squat and exercise their muscles. He believed that by strengthening the legs of the people, their hearts, souls, and honor would also be strengthened. And therefore, they would conquer.

Though Hideyoshi wasn’t successful in conquering Korea or China, he is still strengthening the legs of bathroom-users throughout Japan. Omaru No Hi is celebrated annually on the first day of April. There are no parades or large festivals for this day; rather, the event is celebrated quietly in public restrooms and private homes. Special wreaths woven from bamboo reeds are placed above each toilet and incense lit (the smoke is believed to cleanse the air). At the end of the day, a bit of salt is flushed to rid the toilet of bad spirits.

So on April 1, if you happen to find yourself in a public restroom, be sure to partake in this small bit of culture—pause and pay respect to the noble washiki.