Today’s Solutions: March 30, 2026

Japan is quite famous for its elaborate toilets, which can exhibit features such as bidet washing, drying, seat warming, and even deodorization. Now Japan is adding to its reputation for unique toilets after installing public toilet cubicles around Tokyo that are transparent.

What? Transparent toilet cubicles? Wouldn’t it be a nightmare to have an audience while you find relief?

While the cubicles are indeed transparent, they are actually made from colored “smart glass” that turns opaque when the cubicles are occupied. The idea behind the toilets, which were created by the Pritzker prize-winning architect Shigeru Ban, is that prospective users can survey the interior of the bathroom before entering it.

Beyond this, the transparent bathrooms allow people to enter the toilet without having to worry that someone is hiding inside it. It also provides added motivation to leave the toilet as clean as when you first entered it.

Well, it seems Japan has once again raised the bar when it comes to toilets. Want to read about these clever public toilets in Tokyo? Look no further.

Solutions News Source Print this article
More of Today's Solutions

How Mexico’s conservation work brought monarchs back from the brink

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Every fall, tens of millions of monarch butterflies travel nearly 3,000 miles from Canada, through the United States, ...

Read More

The high school student whose filter uses magnetic oil to trap microplastics

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM The story starts with a newspaper article and a neighborhood that wasn't getting help. A few years ago, ...

Read More

Brown bear population in the Pyrenees makes a bear-y impressive comeback

Back in 1996, the addition of three bears from Slovenia launched a conservation plan to reintroduce the near-extinct brown bears in the Pyrenees. The ...

Read More

Why venting makes anger worse – and what actually helps

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM When anger flares up, many of us turn to venting—whether it is ranting to a friend, punching a ...

Read More