Wells Step or Squatty Potty

Which era are you talking about Japanese toilet? Actually still there are a few squat style in public places. But the current typical toilets in Japan are so-called western style which is not squat style. Furthermore, most of those are equipped with anus cleaning showers like bidet. Once you get used to it, you cannot live without it. In fact, it was really inconvenient for me while living abroad where the system was not popular.

I still try it sometimes, but I'm not going to spend $20 on a step - I'll keep using the stool.

If you have a coupon from Bed Bath and Beyond, it's cheaper.. 😉

Another study out there seems to find being in a simulated squat for defecation is beneficial. If there is a version of the full paper available on the web for free or otherwise, I haven't been able to locate it:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30346317