The Original Squatty Potty

I am not making this up. Those who have visited Japan - and many other places in the world - know that there are two styles of toilet in common use. There's the traditional American/Western-style stool, with which we are all familiar. Then there's the squatty, which is essentially a porcelain hole in the ground over which you, well, squat to do your business. In this picture, you will notice below Mark a big hole lined with stones, over which are laid some widely-spaced boards. As you can see, Mark is hanging from a rope suspended from the ceiling in order to maintain his balance. And there you have it... the amazing origins of the squatty potty. A place where you really don't want to lose your balance.