Researchers have been studying linguistic landscapes in cities around the globe for over 20 years. In Japan studies in Tokyo, Fukuoka and other cities have found increasing multilingualism going hand in hand with Japanese globalization. Our study, however, focuses on what may be an ideal microcosm of rapid change and ensuing globalization—the public ladies’ room in Japan. With the introduction of the Washlet in 1980, the “Sound Princess” in 1988, and the JIS standard for emergency buttons for disabled and older people in 2007, making sense of the “lavatory dashboard” has become ever more challenging, especially for international visitors and residents. This presentation will introduce the problems posed and judge the appropriateness of the some of the burgeoning ad hoc responses, with the goal of proposing practical and acceptable solutions from an EIL point of view.

JIS　S　0026：2007　高齢者・障害者配慮設計指針―公共トイレにおける便房内操作部の形状、色、配置及び器具の配置

Globalizing Linguistic Landscape in the Japanese Public Ladies’ Room

Researchers have been studying linguistic landscapes in cities around the globe ever since the term was defined by Landry and Bourhis in 1997—and even before that. This study, however, focuses on what may be an ideal microcosm of rapid change and ensuing globalization—the public ladies’ room in Japan. With the introduction of the Washlet in 1980, the “Sound Princess” in 1988, and the JIS standard for emergency buttons for disabled and older people in 2007, making sense of the “lavatory dashboard” has become ever more challenging, especially for international visitors and residents. This presentation will introduce the problems posed and judge the appropriateness of the some of the burgeoning ad hoc responses, with the goal of proposing practical and acceptable solutions from an EIL point of view.

http://item.rakuten.co.jp/cross-web/4571341440542/

http://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/qa/question_detail/q1178203691

http://oshiete.goo.ne.jp/qa/5794432.html

http://portal.nifty.com/kiji/141010165363_1.htm

http://inax.lixil.co.jp/ud/public/jis/

そこで、視覚に障がいをもった方からお年寄りまで、安心して外出できるように、操作部（便器洗浄ボタン、呼出しボタン）、紙巻器について共通のルールをつくるための検証（産学協同）を実施しました。これには、目の不自由な方を含め、さまざまな障がいをもった方にご協力をいただき、操作部の使いやすい位置について検証を行いました。 この結果をもとに、2007年3月、公共トイレにおける腰掛便器の横壁面の便器洗浄ボタン、呼出しボタン、紙巻器の配置について規定したJIS S 0026が制定されました。

JIS名称 JIS　S　0026：2007　高齢者・障害者配慮設計指針―公共トイレにおける便房内操作部の形状、色、配置及び器具の配置