The Technology of Toilets

If you haven't been to Japan, you have not experienced in the ultimate toilet experience. Who would have thought that such technology could go into toilets?

Let me give you a few examples. In our hotel room, when you first sit down, the water starts to run and then stops. Next to the toilet seat, there is a set of controls that you can use to spray a stream of water to the front or the back of your seat. The sign warns you that if you press the button before the "Ready" sign is lit, you might get a stream of cold water.

In Grandma Kato's house, there is a remote control for the toilet. You can warm the seat, spray warm or cold water, and even blow warm air to the area of your choice.

At the Tokyu Hands department store, there was even a button you could press (and press CJ did!) to play a little audio file of rushing water. When we asked a Japanese friend what that was all about, she said that women don't want others to hear them using the toilet, so the sound of rushing water is meant to mask their tinkling. I thought that perhaps the sound of rush water was meant to be suggestive.

Some bathrooms even play music while you use the potty!

Of course, in many places, especially restaurants, you will find old fashioned squat toilets. I've traveled all over Asia, so these types of toilets do not flip me out, but boy, CJ did not like them. We had to find a store that had both traditional and modern toilets. Maki took him to one place and CJ walked out saying, "mama, they had old school and new school toilets." :-)

I found this forum online about Japanese toilets (unbelievable!)
http://www.gaijinpot.com/bb/showthread.php?t=27533

Here's a photo from Wikipedia of a toilet control
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Modern_japanese_toilet.jpg

I'm surprised that the French, with their love of bidets, have not discovered Japanese toilet technology. If Maki and I ever get a chance to redo a bathroom in our house, I'm getting a top of the line Japanese toilet with a heated seat!