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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?

#171

Post by aplusbi »

eob wrote: post #161
s_henry_paulson wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

No, they stand because that part of the world is used to squatting when they go to the bathroom. The "toilet as throne" model is from the west. Over there, historically, toilets are built into the floor. The toilet bowl is a rounded-rectangle depression in the floor rather than something that sticks out of it. You stand with one foot on either side of the bowl and squat while you do your business. I prefer Western to…

When I first started using toilets on my own I stood to wipe. Eventually I figured out that I could remain seated.

This was on a western toilet.

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

#172

Post by maratd »

wahnfrieden wrote: post #22
aptimpropriety wrote: post #9

Every one of these articles gets the pitch of these toilets completely wrong - for every person, and in every scenario, these are not universally better. Consider the following experiment: Smear some mud on your arm. Now, using a jet stream the power of a squirt gun and very low precision, wash it all off in 10 seconds. Not so easy. Then - imagine if you put mud on a place with hair! Not only will it not be clean wit…

They have more useful features than just the bidet/water stream, such as the heated seat and how they won't slam when you close the lid.

Just an FYI, Toto sells regular toilets in the US. They come with seats that don't slam. I think Toto also sells seats separately that do that.

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

#173

Post by anonymous »

theThirdMan wrote: post #141
s_henry_paulson wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Is there an easier way to wipe?

Easier is subjective. The alternative OP is suggesting is sitting on the toilet and reaching between your legs. Personally, I find it easier to stand up, bend over and reach from behind.

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

#174

Post by ido »

FrojoS wrote: post #112
w1ntermute wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> every visitor to your house would make a comment requiring you to justify having "fringe" bathroom habits. Wouldn't this have been the case in Japan in the early 80s too, when Washlets first came to the market?

I don't have the source handy, but I remember there were at least two very attractive features that started the trend of "advanced" toilets in Japan: 1) A seat heater: Bathrooms used to be unheated so without this it would be very cold in the winter. Adding a heated seated was much cheaper than adding a room heater. 2) An artificial sound to overlay embarrassing farting sounds: Without this feature, it was common for…

    2) An artificial sound to overlay embarrassing 
    farting sounds: Without this feature, it was 
    common for Japanese women to constantly use 
    the flush in order to create a louder sound. 
    This was obviously a huge waste water.
Was this an issue because Japanese walls are thinner? Or homes smaller? Farting isn't considered particularly appetizing here either but I don't remember a single time this has been an issue (or ever hearing someone farting from outside the bathroom).

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

#175

Post by anonymous »

majormajor wrote: post #89

The US population seems rather stubborn regarding toilet habits. This is anecdotal, but I knew a guy who interned about a decade ago with a company that produces a lot of toilet paper here in the US. He told me that they had internally developed forms of "wet" toilet paper that were pretty much superior to the dry kind in every way (think of the difference in trying to clean off your hands with a dry paper towel and…

Bizarre. I always first wipe with some wet toilet paper and then use dry for the finish.

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

#176

Post by piyush_soni »

After being in multiple countries, I can safely conclude that if you think the daily 'paper' routine can clean it properly, it can't. If you think only a water jet can clean it properly, it can't. You have to use both. My schedule is something like : Paper->Water jet->Paper and I feel perfect after this! :)

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

#177

Post by blazingfrog2 »

FrojoS wrote: post #112
w1ntermute wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> every visitor to your house would make a comment requiring you to justify having "fringe" bathroom habits. Wouldn't this have been the case in Japan in the early 80s too, when Washlets first came to the market?

I don't have the source handy, but I remember there were at least two very attractive features that started the trend of "advanced" toilets in Japan: 1) A seat heater: Bathrooms used to be unheated so without this it would be very cold in the winter. Adding a heated seated was much cheaper than adding a room heater. 2) An artificial sound to overlay embarrassing farting sounds: Without this feature, it was common for…

While we're knee-deep into the toilet conversation, you make an interesting observation. I'm originally from France and have lived in California for over 11 years but, to this day, I'm still astonished at how little embarrassment there is in American toilets (my experience is limited to the mens rooms) as far as unpleasant noise goes. It is obviously a fact of life but, where I come from, denial is king in that department.

My theory is that it's because American public toilets are usually made of 2 thin, low separation walls and a door with sometimes wide gaps which makes it almost inevitable to share the entire experience with everybody in the room.

Still not used to it...

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

#178

Post by incision »

ksmiley wrote: post #52
patio11 wrote: post #5

Toto's primary sales channel is "If you build a house or office in Japan and don't specifically talk to your architect/contractor about your post-bowel movement preferences we will take the liberty of using the most current model Toto has available and then invoice you cost plus labor plus 50%." Toto does not have that relationship with the person responsible for picking your toilet. Why does Toto have that relations…

Nice insight on the sales approach. Is there any particular reason that this technique doesn't work outside of Japan? American construction companies might not care about a wreath, but surely drinking and promises of additional profits would be universally effective.

>Is there any particular reason that this technique doesn't work outside of Japan? American construction companies might not care about a wreath, but surely drinking and promises of additional profits would be universally effective.

It does work outside of Japan.

The relationship of "enterprise" software company to partner VAR to enterprise works much the same way, drinks and all.

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

#179

Post by lotso »

stcredzero wrote: post #69

I'm sure it's because Americans have funny attitudes. Programmers, who spend lots of time sitting, should see this as a way of increasing comfort during work time. For the same reason and others (prevalence of pizza at meet ups) programmers should consider modest amounts of fiber supplements like Metamucil. (Not like a conventional laxative at all, and it enables your GI tract to handle just about anything you throw…

Metamucil is definitely my favorite lifehack. Not to be crude, but having no-wipe number 2s is amazing.

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

#180

Post by mmagin »

graeme wrote: post #151

I recently started using a squat toilet. Never has number two gone so well. Apparently it's the position we're best designed for. Provides a great hip flexor stretch too. I use a lillipad: http://www.lillipad.co.nz/ It converts any normal toilet into an optional squat toilet. I don't think it would work with these warm-water jet toilets though. If you have any issues with your bowel movements (constipation, diarrhea,…

Here's another similar product http://www.naturesplatform.com/
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