Page 1 of 1
Japan's culture of techno-toilets
Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2009 5:10 pm
by Bookworm
For Westerners, it is the device that has launched a thousand euphemisms: the water closet, the loo, the john, the can. Its existence is about function one that is best left as unacknowledged as possible.
But in Japan -- where Western-style commodes replaced the traditional squat-style affair only three decades ago -- the porcelain throne has attained something of a royal status. A quotidian workhorse is now a high-tech, multifeatured must-have that elicits almost reverential observations.
For Japanese today, it's so important that one type of toilet seat is an advertised feature at hotels.
Toyoko Inn, one of Japan's largest hotel chains, now makes the "Washlet" brand standard.
"If we had not installed them, they would have gone to another hotel," says Mami Ohashi, a hotel official. "[For most customers], a Washlet in the room is as high a priority as Internet connections."
The Washlet -- a seat that adds a bidet function and so much more to a regular toilet -- evokes warm feelings. That may be, in part, because some of the toilets literally heat up and light up when you walk in the room.
But consumers can also summon features that spritz your backside, dry, deodorize, flush automatically, and lower and raise the lid hands-free. Nor is there any need to do all this in silence: With the tap of a remote control, you can program a built-in audio system with the performance music of your choice.
http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/Story?id=6158686&page=1
Archived topic from Anythingforums, old topic ID:3866, old post ID:68161
Japan's culture of techno-toilets
Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2009 7:16 pm
by manadren
ya know, one of these days, I'm totally getting a fancy pants bidet toilet seat. I dunno about heated toilet seats though, if they aren't a little cold, my brain associates it with the idea of someone else's naked behind being there 2 sec ago.
Archived topic from Anythingforums, old topic ID:3866, old post ID:68164
Japan's culture of techno-toilets
Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2009 11:21 pm
by Bookworm
A friend of mine on my other forum is working in Japan right now, and he intends on upgrading his toilet when he returns home. Personally, I think there are probably better things to spend money on, but if a person has the money available, such a toilet might be quite refreshing.
Archived topic from Anythingforums, old topic ID:3866, old post ID:68167
Japan's culture of techno-toilets
Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 4:10 am
by Chris Vogel
“Monitoring”?
Archived topic from Anythingforums, old topic ID:3866, old post ID:68169
Japan's culture of techno-toilets
Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 8:48 am
by Bookworm
Chris Vogel wrote:
“Monitoring”?
lol. That was quite the choice of wording. Hopefully it was done by surveys and not multiple video feeds.
Archived topic from Anythingforums, old topic ID:3866, old post ID:68170
Japan's culture of techno-toilets
Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 6:24 pm
by Red Squirrel
lol this thread is full of win.
Archived topic from Anythingforums, old topic ID:3866, old post ID:68172
Japan's culture of techno-toilets
Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 7:18 pm
by Stasi
manadren wrote: ya know, one of these days, I'm totally getting a fancy pants bidet toilet seat. I dunno about heated toilet seats though, if they are a little cold, my brain associates it with the idea of someone else's naked behind being there 2 sec ago.
Same here....
Archived topic from Anythingforums, old topic ID:3866, old post ID:68173
Japan's culture of techno-toilets
Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:17 pm
by Red Squirrel
I have this thing where when I go in a public washroom I always use the same stall. I just feel more comfortable using the same toilet instead of alternating. At least that way I know my butt is only coming in contact with the same toilet it's already been in contact with before.
Archived topic from Anythingforums, old topic ID:3866, old post ID:68179
Japan's culture of techno-toilets
Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2009 7:59 pm
by Bookworm
Red Squirrel wrote: I have this thing where when I go in a public washroom I always use the same stall. I just feel more comfortable using the same toilet instead of alternating. At least that way I know my butt is only coming in contact with the same toilet it's already been in contact with before.
And everybody else who comes in probably uses that SAME stall. None of the other stalls are ever used.
Archived topic from Anythingforums, old topic ID:3866, old post ID:68190
Japan's culture of techno-toilets
Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2009 8:29 pm
by Red Squirrel
Haha that could be. It's the newest toilet too, brand new.
Archived topic from Anythingforums, old topic ID:3866, old post ID:68191
Japan's culture of techno-toilets
Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 8:19 pm
by flowergirlajg
Bookworm wrote: Red Squirrel wrote: I have this thing where when I go in a public washroom I always use the same stall. I just feel more comfortable using the same toilet instead of alternating. At least that way I know my butt is only coming in contact with the same toilet it's already been in contact with before.
And everybody else who comes in probably uses that SAME stall. None of the other stalls are ever used.
That would potentionally be the strangest cosmic convergence ever.
At least associated with public W.C's.
Archived topic from Anythingforums, old topic ID:3866, old post ID:68235
Japan's culture of techno-toilets
Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2009 10:37 pm
by Bookworm
flowergirlajg wrote: Bookworm wrote: Red Squirrel wrote: I have this thing where when I go in a public washroom I always use the same stall. I just feel more comfortable using the same toilet instead of alternating. At least that way I know my butt is only coming in contact with the same toilet it's already been in contact with before.
And everybody else who comes in probably uses that SAME stall. None of the other stalls are ever used.
That would potentionally be the strangest cosmic convergence ever.
At least associated with public W.C's.
Wait a minute.
I didn't say that everyone was using that stall at the same time. Now THAT would be a cosmic convergence.
Archived topic from Anythingforums, old topic ID:3866, old post ID:68245
Japan's culture of techno-toilets
Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 8:03 am
by flowergirlajg
Bookworm wrote: flowergirlajg wrote: Bookworm wrote:
And everybody else who comes in probably uses that SAME stall. None of the other stalls are ever used.
That would potentionally be the strangest cosmic convergence ever.
At least associated with public W.C's.
Wait a minute.
I didn't say that everyone was using that stall at the same time. Now THAT would be a cosmic convergence.
When the moon aligns with saturn...
Archived topic from Anythingforums, old topic ID:3866, old post ID:68248
Japan's culture of techno-toilets
Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 5:21 pm
by manadren
Bookworm wrote: flowergirlajg wrote: Bookworm wrote:
And everybody else who comes in probably uses that SAME stall. None of the other stalls are ever used.
That would potentionally be the strangest cosmic convergence ever.
At least associated with public W.C's.
Wait a minute.
I didn't say that everyone was using that stall at the same time. Now THAT would be a cosmic convergence.
No, I'm pretty sure that would be a Japanese porno.
Archived topic from Anythingforums, old topic ID:3866, old post ID:68257
Japan's culture of techno-toilets
Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 10:15 pm
by flowergirlajg
Well, i have never thought of it that way.
Archived topic from Anythingforums, old topic ID:3866, old post ID:68267
Japan's culture of techno-toilets
Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 10:38 pm
by Bookworm
flowergirlajg wrote: Well, i have never thought of it that way.
Nor would I ever want to.
Archived topic from Anythingforums, old topic ID:3866, old post ID:68270
Japan's culture of techno-toilets
Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 10:40 pm
by manadren
Bookworm wrote: flowergirlajg wrote: Well, i have never thought of it that way.
Nor would I ever want to.
It's better that way, trust me.
Archived topic from Anythingforums, old topic ID:3866, old post ID:68272
Japan's culture of techno-toilets
Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 12:16 pm
by Stasi
Ugh
Archived topic from Anythingforums, old topic ID:3866, old post ID:68282
Japan's culture of techno-toilets
Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 1:36 pm
by flowergirlajg
Hmm. Slightly off topic, are we? Lol but thats alright, continue your teachings of pornography.
Archived topic from Anythingforums, old topic ID:3866, old post ID:68335