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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?

#251

Post by DanBC »

hnriot wrote: post #136

I wouldn't want a bidet like contraption, it's just massive overkill for something that humans have turned into a big deal. People seemed to manage for hundreds of centuries just fine without computerized toilets. Utterly ridiculous and a good example of the first world having gone crazy. These are just extortion, taking advantage of a cultural "issue" in a first world country like Japan. I can't believe hn are even…

> People seemed to manage for hundreds of centuries just fine without computerized toilets.

Diarrhoea is a major cause of child death. Many of these deaths could be prevented with better hygiene, including better toilets and running water for hand washing with soap.

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

#252

Post by duaneb »

wilfra wrote: post #235
blazingfrog2 wrote: post #177

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 depar…

For working class white American men, that is not limited to public restrooms. They're doing it at home too and laughing about it to their wives/girlfriends/kids - who probably call them disgusting to which they laugh even more. People with more class and manners tend toward the French way of doing it.

I don't think that "class" and "manners" are very healthy in this case. Farting is very natural and happens consistently. You shouldn't have to hide that or be embarrassed about it.

That said, I tend to look for bathrooms to relieve myself privately.

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

#253

Post by duaneb »

Osmium wrote: post #67

How does one go about cleaning these? It always seemed to me that, if the nozzle got dirty, then they could cause more problems than they solve. Especially (to quote the article) if it's spraying the "female genital area." If there's any bacteria on that nozzle, and since it's been in a toilet for any number of years I'd guess there might be, surely there'd be a risk of it causing UTIs and the like?

IIRC some of them have self-cleaning mechanisms. Anyway, I would imagine I would still want to clean once a week with the rest of the toilet.

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

#254

Post by nvmc »

GuiA wrote: post #126
FrojoS wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

The original purpose is to squirt water at your anus to loosen any left over faecal matter.

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

#256

Post by icebraining »

tomjen3 wrote: post #14
MrFoof wrote: post #2

The US is a notoriously price-sensitive market. For a lot of folks, they wouldn't consider paying $1000+ for a toilet when the most basic American Standard can be found for about $125. A lot of people would find it hard to justify an order of magnitude price increase. I know Boston has a Toto showroom in its North End, but I really cant consider it due to the rules of my apartment building.

How long does a toilet last? Ten years? Then we are talking less than the cost of your internet connection (and we won't mention the cost of food, which is way more than that).

That's mostly irrelevant. What you have to consider is the opportunity costs of forgoing food or internet compared the opportunity cost of settling for an 'old-fashioned' toilet. For me, at least, the former are much cheaper.

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

#257

Post by Tsagadai »

svachalek wrote: post #132
simontzu wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Fazed. Sorry, it's not spelling, it's a different word.

Thanks for clearing that up. Apparently, it is a common misconception that it is 'phase' and 'faze' is the incorrect spelling: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/faze

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

#258

Post by wilfra »

greggman wrote: post #247
wilfra wrote: post #235

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For working class white American men, that is not limited to public restrooms. They're doing it at home too and laughing about it to their wives/girlfriends/kids - who probably call them disgusting to which they laugh even more. People with more class and manners tend toward the French way of doing it.

You mean people who are snobs tend toward the French way where as people who are fun and warm hearted have no problem laughing at farts. I would much rather be with a person that thinks farts are funny then one who doesn't. To each their own.

I wasn't passing judgement on either group, simply stating the facts as I know them to be.

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

#259

Post by wilfra »

jpatokal wrote: post #244
wilfra wrote: post #237

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I guess this doesn't extend to oral hygiene?

Japanese oral hygiene is fine. It's cosmetic dentistry, braces etc that they don't really get.

They have notoriously bad breath and bad teeth. Travel guides for Japanese tourists even suggest they brush their teeth regularly and use mouthwash in America so as not to offend people.

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

#260

Post by spqr »

crusso wrote: post #135
Aloisius wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The wands that spray you are almost always are self-cleaning.

So they have some sort of disinfection process like a chemical or heating element? UV? What does "self-cleaning" mean?

It means that it's covered in filth, but he wants to pretend he's superior to Americans so he's telling you it's better and that we're in the dark ages of toiletry.
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