Even toilets are making an appeal.

Let's say you are a toilet.

The toilet here refers not to the place where the bowls are lined up, but to the toilet bowl itself.

It is a toilet that finds joy in providing the relief of excretion to those suffering from a bladder or rectum on the verge of their limit.

It is a kind toilet that doesn't mind if you don't use it, but hopes that those holding back their urge to urinate or defecate will find release.

Is it really enough for you to just wait behind the door?

I am here,
shouldn't you be telling people that?

tree-san introduced the support mark.

This support mark can be bought cheaply on Amazon.
Since shipping costs a little even for one or two, if you are going to order, it is also good to buy a few and give them as gifts to someone.

There is also a Support Mark® that you can get by donating to the Japan Support Mark Promotion Association, but it is a bit small and the meaning seems hard to convey, so personally, I recommend the cheap one on Amazon.

* It seems that she, familiar from cream soda and tengu, also wears one.

The meaning of the support mark,
I think you can understand it somewhat from the explanation above,
but I will dare to express it in my own words.

A support mark is like a toilet pictogram.
It is like a toilet pictogram.

"Oh, no. I'm about to have an accident."

When our rectum or bladder screams that out,
as we look around frantically,
we are not actually looking for the toilet itself.

We are looking for the toilet pictogram.

This is because the toilet is not sitting right there in plain sight,
but is tucked away quietly behind a door.

Without a toilet pictogram,
we wouldn't know which way to walk to find the toilet,
and we wouldn't know which door to open to find it.

It is the same for people who need support.

"Oh, no. I need someone's help."

When you think that, there are several people around you.

Who should you ask for help?

If it were toilet doors, you might be able to find the toilet by opening them one by one.

This is a meeting room,
this is a pantry,
this one is locked,
and here is the toilet. Saved.

The one you need support from is not a toilet, but another person.
It is worse than a toilet without a pictogram.
Even if you try to ask each person,
you have no idea who is what kind of person.

They might ignore you.
They might be in a hurry with plans.
They might actually be someone who is physically weak due to illness.
They might help you, but click their tongue at you.
They might help you, but annoyingly ask all sorts of questions about your condition.

Even though there are signs for people who need a toilet,
signs for people who need support are rare.

I think it should become more of a given.
To the point where we forget to be grateful for restroom pictograms,
I think it should become a standard part of the landscape.

Some might argue that if support marks become widespread,
it might become harder to ask people without them for help.
That is a possible opinion.

Some might also argue that
we should aim for a society where you can ask anyone for help,
even without such a mark.

However,
just as it is difficult for every door to lead to a restroom,
it is difficult to be able to ask just anyone for help.

In reality, there are people who cannot provide support even if asked.
Due to time constraints, physical reasons, or otherwise.
Having to refuse when you want to help is painful.
It is truly painful for both the person asking and the person refusing.

Relying on this mark
might not be ideal,
but I think it is realistic.

It would be good if it reached the point where "there are always a few people wearing support marks wherever you go."

Just as there are restrooms conveniently located everywhere,
and pictograms subtly point the way.

To aim for a world where this is taken for granted,
there is no need for the trouble of going around building restrooms.

All you need is the desire to support someone.
All you need to do is buy one for 300 yen and wear it.
All you need to do is explain it to a friend who asks, "What is that?"