An unsettling trend in Japan has students, parents, and educators in a spin – the absence of doors in some middle school restrooms. A drive for safety and monitoring led to the removal of individual stalls in favor of communal spaces, sparking discomfort and privacy concerns among pupils. Criticism is being voiced nationwide about these changes, as they have been implemented without prior student or parent consultation.

School safety is paramount in Japanese society, and design decisions often prioritize visibility and supervision. However, the move towards doorless toilets aims to curb potential misconduct but infringes on students' comfort and privacy. This issue emphasizes the need for dialogue between school administrators, students, and parents in addressing safety while preserving students' rights.

In the US or EU, toilet doors in schools are standard. There is an ongoing debate about gender-neutral toilets, but individual privacy remains a major concern, and doorless toilets would likely be met with resistance. Thus, the issues at stake are somewhat different, considering the cultural and social differences between the regions.