Who designed the public Tokyo toilets in Wim Wenders’ “Perfect Days?”
German filmmaker Wim Wenders directed “Perfect Days” in 2023, starring Japanese actor Koji Yakusho.
The movie was produced for the Tokyo Toilet, a project by Japan Foundation. 16 architects and designers re-imagined the value and potential of public restrooms in parks. Here are the 16 architects, designers and creators who participated:
- 安藤忠雄 Tadao Ando (Architect)
- 伊東豊雄 Toyo Ito (Architect)
- 後智仁 Tomohito Ushiro (Art Director)
- 片山正通 Masamichi Katayama (Industrial designer)
- 隈研吾 Kengo Kuma (Architect)
- 小林純子 Junko Kobayashi (Architect)
- 坂倉竹之助 Takenosuke Sakakura (Architect)
- 佐藤可士和 Kashiwa Sato (Graphic designer)
- 佐藤カズー Kazoo Sato (Creative officer)
- 田村奈穂 Nao Tamura (Industrial designer)
- NIGO® NIGO (Designer)
- 坂 茂 Shigeru Ban (architect)
- 藤本壮介 Sou Fujimoto (architect)
- Mark Newson (Industrial designer)
- Miles Pennington (Designer)
- 槇文彦 Fumihiko Maki (Architect)
Perfect Days Official Trailer
List of the toilets in “Perfect Days”
This list follows the order they appeared in “Perfect Days.” You can find the addresses of each toilet on the location map by the Japan Foundation. You may be able to kind of guess where Hirayama lived by finding the locations of these toilets, and the relative location of his room to the Sky Tree, one of Tokyo’s newest landmarks. Although the movie never tells audience to find the exact answer on anything, having some idea as to where he chose to live can make your watching experience a little richer.
Click on the name of the designers to read more about each toilet.
Fumihiko Maki is the 1993 Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate. He has been instrumental helping shape modernist architecture from the late 60’s. In 2013, he designed the 4 world trade center in NYC.
Kengo Kuma is one of the most sought architects today. His projects are everywhere in the world from small to large, including ”The Great Bamboo Wall” in China, “V&A Dundee” in England, “Yusuhara Wooden Bridge Museum” in Japan.
Toyo Ito won the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2013. He has been known for his philosophical approach to elevate the meaning of modern architecture to the next level. His major projects include “Sendai Mediatheque” in Japan and “Taichung Metropolitan Opera House” in Taiwan.
Shigeru Ban won the Pritzker Prize in 2014 in part due to his efforts to build temporary shelters for victims of conflicts and natural disasters around the world. He is also known for his creativity to use paper tubes for construction.
Ban’s toilet is probably the most intriguing among the Tokyo Toilet projects. When it’s not in use, the glass that covers each booth looks transparent. However, when it’s locked from inside for use, it turns opaque. (read more about Shigeru Ban’s Tokyo Toilet)
Masamichi Katayama is interior designer involved in projects worldwide. He designed the interiors of many retail stores including UNIQLO, DEAN & DELUCA and Pierre Hermet chocolatier.
Shigeru Ban installed two toilets based on the same design with different colors. As was with the one above, the glass that covers each booth is transparent when not in use, but turns opaque when in use.
Tadao Ando is probably the most well known contemporary Japanese architect in the world. He is known for his use of exposed concrete. His works include “Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth” in Texas, US and “Museum San” in Korea. In addition, he has been the main architect for the art project in Naoshima, which is a small island in Japan that became a popular tourist destination for its dedication to art.
Nao Tamura is a designer based on NYC and Tokyo with an uncanny ability to find that emotional connection with the audience.