From The Tokyo Toilet to Perfect Days

April 5, 2024

A recording of this event is now available.

In 2020, the public toilet renovation project, “The Tokyo Toilet” commenced in Shibuya, Tokyo. Representing Japan and featuring 16 internationally renowned creators, including architects at the forefront, this project brought the world’s highest level of creativity and design to the often-overlooked realm of urban architecture – the public toilet. It successfully introduced new value.

In a public talk on Thursday, November 9 at 4:30pm in Dodds Auditorium, founder of the project Koji Yanai will explain why he embarked on the toilet project and what insights he gained. Respondents (Eldar Shafir, Founding Director, Kahneman-Treisman Center and Class of 1987 Professor in Behavioral Science and Public Policy; Jessica Metcalf, Associate Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Public Affairs, Princeton School of Public and International Affairs and Co-Director, Program in Global Health and Health Policy; and Megumi Muto *93, Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will talk about how this project illustrates behavioral design, novel takes on addressing global health and sustainability, and how public-private partnerships can be successful. The event will be moderated by Chukwuemeka V. Chukwuemeka, Sugarman Practitioner in Residence at the Kahneman-Treisman Center.

A reception will follow the talk and panel in Dodds Atrium, Robertson Hall.

Note: Mr. Yanai also initiated a new film project to address the challenges of The Tokyo Toilet project and his debut production, Perfect Days, earned the Best Actor award at the 2023 Cannes International Film Festival. Perfect Days will be screened, for free, to the University community on November 10 at 6:30 pm, well prior to widespread North American release.