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Why aren't we all using Japanese toilets?

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Re: Why aren't we all using Japanese toilets?

#121

Post by jasontraff »

swampthing wrote: post #4

I might in the paranoid minority on this, but here are some concerns I have: * How does the toilet know that everything is clean? With toilet paper, you can just wipe with new toilet paper until there is no more residue. * What is the algorithm for the toilet's spraying? Does it end up spreading diluted feces around, or is it careful to spray outward-in? * What happens if feces end up on the nozzle? Is there some kin…

My wife dragged me to an appliance shop in the Mission (SF) and they had a toilet like this in their bathroom. At first I was shocked and appalled at how forceful the stream of water was - especially as I had it on the 'low' setting. Then I became aware of how long it was spraying because after 30 seconds I had to turn it off. With the combination of these two (and the heated dryer), I didn't have any problems.

Re: Why aren't we all using Japanese toilets?

#122

Post by adestefan »

arrrg wrote: post #113
adestefan wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even in most custom built homes you only pick the fit and finish and not the actual product. This is mainly done for cost reasons since specific products means you need someone to take the time to review existing plans to make sure everything fits and is spec'ed out properly.

See, my perspective is completely skewed. I don’t even know what a custom built home is. I don’t have a house nor any plans to get one but my dad (a civil engineer, usually planning water supply systems) drew up all the plans for my parents’ house and my parents (including the extended family plus friends) really did nearly everything by themselves, and that includes picking out all the interior. Everything is custom…

What i'm saying is the customer usually asks for a white toilet that looks like X. The builder says, "Manufacturer Y has something like that. Does this look good?" knowing that manufacturer Y works with his suppliers who will have the exact product at the exact time that they need it.

Sure you can go to a builder and say I want this, this, this, and this, but be ready to pay out the nose for someone to do all the work to make sure they show up correctly and at the appropriate time.

Re: Why aren't we all using Japanese toilets?

#123

Post by chc »

arrrg wrote: post #113
adestefan wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even in most custom built homes you only pick the fit and finish and not the actual product. This is mainly done for cost reasons since specific products means you need someone to take the time to review existing plans to make sure everything fits and is spec'ed out properly.

See, my perspective is completely skewed. I don’t even know what a custom built home is. I don’t have a house nor any plans to get one but my dad (a civil engineer, usually planning water supply systems) drew up all the plans for my parents’ house and my parents (including the extended family plus friends) really did nearly everything by themselves, and that includes picking out all the interior. Everything is custom…

I hope the irony isn't lost on you that this means you did not pick the toilet in your house, just like you found it hard to imagine other people doing!

Re: Why aren't we all using Japanese toilets?

#124

Post by captainchaos »

These toilets are a pleasure to use. But I think the main reason many people don't consider them is that you need a nearby electrical socket or have a big dumb cable on your bathroom floor. The article quotes $500 to have a GFCI socket installed but that in unrealistically low in some parts of the country. > $1000 is a decent investment, especially if you consider your bunghole reasonably clean today.

Re: Why aren't we all using Japanese toilets?

#125

Post by Zak »

runjake wrote: post #25
jadc wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

According to the article, there are devices that could be attached to existing toilet seats that cost 100$ or less. If they do work well (article claims that they have good reviews), then cost is not an issue.

If you read the full article, only the cheapo, probably ineffective solutions cost $100, you're looking more at $500 and up for a good unit. And if you want a warmer, you'll need a GFCI outlet installed next to the toilet, which most US homes do not have. You'll want a warmer in many areas of the US during the winter. So you're looking at quite a bit of cash there. Edit: Please read what I wrote. I'm not saying most…

And if you want a warmer, you'll need a GFCI outlet installed next to the toilet, which most US homes do not have.

Am I the only one here who would install it myself?

Re: Why aren't we all using Japanese toilets?

#126

Post by GuiA »

FrojoS wrote: post #114
eob wrote: post #18

Americans, by and large, are quite bizarre when it comes to discussing anything that takes place below the belt. When I mentioned working at Google, I have had multiple people say to me, "I heard the founders at Google are OBSESSED with toilets and import special models from Japan." As if one has to be stark raving mad to use a modern toilet from Japan, instead of the old fashioned toilet which was probably imported…

While I agree that Americans are especially prude, its not like these toilets are noticeable more common in Europe. Of course the French have their bidet...

>Of course the French have their bidet...

I'm French- there's a bidet at my grandparents' house which is never used, and there used to be one at my parents' house but they removed it when they remodeled the bathroom because they never used it (it was there when they bought the house).

I've only ever used a bidet to wash my feet (or as kids, we would put our swimsuits in it to dry). I'm not even sure what its original purpose is.

Re: Why aren't we all using Japanese toilets?

#127

Post by hazov »

throwaway1979 wrote: post #24
radley wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

- It's like washing your hands vs. wiping them off with a paper towel. You should wipe clean first, then you water clean. - The sprayer is manually controlled: when you're done using and flushing, then you wash & dry. It doesn't just stick out the whole time.

When I was a child (living in an Asia), we had a separate toilet and a bidet (side by side). The awkward part was moving between the two. Even with that separation, accidents can happen (i.e. feces in the bidet). I wonder if the single Japanese toilet is superior to two separate seats (toilet + bidet) in regards to hygiene.

Oh man I feel your pain. My family had one of those here in Brazil and I hated when this happened. Anyway I do not live in the house I was raised anymore and now every modern apartment in Brazil only have a toilet, this is sad for me.

Re: Why aren't we all using Japanese toilets?

#128

Post by s_henry_paulson »

eob wrote: post #18

Americans, by and large, are quite bizarre when it comes to discussing anything that takes place below the belt. When I mentioned working at Google, I have had multiple people say to me, "I heard the founders at Google are OBSESSED with toilets and import special models from Japan." As if one has to be stark raving mad to use a modern toilet from Japan, instead of the old fashioned toilet which was probably imported…

From what I read on the internet 25-40% of people out there seem to stand up to wipe.. and I have to believe that's largely due to people never discussing how they use the restroom.

Re: Why aren't we all using Japanese toilets?

#129

Post by seanmcdirmid »

simontzu wrote: post #79
seanmcdirmid wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is how they do it in Thailand, at least. Basically, imagine the sprayer in your kitchen sink attached to your toilet. In areas without (edit: running) water, they'll have a bucket of clean water nearby with some sort of cup to use. I've heard this is pretty common in SE Asia.

Yup! And people eat with their hands a lot too. This is why its considered disgusting to eat with the left hand in many places. Right hand for eating, left hand for washing your ass. One of the benefits of having travelled a lot in Asia is you will never again be phased by running out of toilet paper.

People in SE Asia don't eat with their hands, you must be thinking about Central/South Asia. Spray cleaning really isn't that bad, you should be washing your hands after anyways.

Re: Why aren't we all using Japanese toilets?

#130

Post by LVB »

mberning wrote: post #96

Try using a toilet in Germany. Without being too crass, you deposit your excrement onto a dry shelf, whereupon it may be inspected, or not, and then a rush of water slides it off the shelf to its destination.

Thanks. Up until 10 seconds ago, my memories of those had been nearly completely purged.
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