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Japanese Toilets: The Future Called 30 Years Ago

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121–130 of 172 posts

Re: Japanese Toilets: The Future Called 30 Years Ago

#121
post #18
post #3

After using the toilet, do you wash your hands, or just wipe them? You've just demonstrated why washing toilets are superior. I cannot understand our misplaced, hollow pride in not adopting something which simply works better. I've even heard some especially crazy people try to say the japanese toilets are "perverted" - the hold tradition has on some people is just insane. Japanese toilets are simply better. For some…

I gave in and ordered a bidet a year ago. Not wanting to commit to some of the expensive options, I opted for the $25 Astor Bidet: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003TPGPUW/ Installation involved adding a T-adapter to my sink's cold water line. The whole setup takes about 5-10 minutes if you know what you're doing, or about 30 if you don't. Even if you know nothing about plumbing, you can install this thing with so…

"Continue smearing poop on your butts, heathens."

It is odd that whilst we use specially designed water jets and cleaning products to bathe our approach to bottom hygiene is just to keep scrubbing till there is nothing visible left.

Anyway looks like a good device, thanks for the link.

Re: Japanese Toilets: The Future Called 30 Years Ago

#122
post #112
post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You've used correct logic but you missed the point OP was trying to convey.

What did I miss? OP is arguing that we should wash our behinds for the same reason that we wash our hands. Yet the reason we wash our hands is to reduce a threat that does not exist (at least, not as readily) for our behinds. And now semantic satiation has kicked in for "behind."

>What did I miss? OP is arguing that we should wash our behinds for the same reason that we wash our hands.

No. OP is not arguing that. OP is arguing that if you got mud on your hand and tried to clean it with dry paper, there will still be crusted mud on your hand. Do you see where this is going now?

Re: Japanese Toilets: The Future Called 30 Years Ago

#123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

the hold tradition has on some people is just insane. My quarter-Japanese wife won't let me get one - but of course she was raised in America. And TMI, but I've had a doctor specifically recommend one (or cheap bidet setup) for hemorrhoids.

I've had a doctor specifically recommend one (or cheap bidet setup) for hemorrhoids. That's not TMI. That's important information. Why do they recommend it?

>Why do they recommend it?

Doesn't irritate as much as excessive wiping.

Re: Japanese Toilets: The Future Called 30 Years Ago

#124
post #112
post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You've used correct logic but you missed the point OP was trying to convey.

What did I miss? OP is arguing that we should wash our behinds for the same reason that we wash our hands. Yet the reason we wash our hands is to reduce a threat that does not exist (at least, not as readily) for our behinds. And now semantic satiation has kicked in for "behind."

I think OP meant that washing is good for personal hygiene i.e. not carrying pathogens smeared around on your skin/clothes.

Re: Japanese Toilets: The Future Called 30 Years Ago

#125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

None of which is true when building a new home. But they still don't put them in new homes either.

Yeah there aren't very many new homes in places like the Bay Area or Manhattan either

>Yeah there aren't very many new homes in places like the Bay Area or Manhattan either

This isn't true of Mountain View, Sunnyvale, and San Jose. Perhaps you are thinking of SF?

Re: Japanese Toilets: The Future Called 30 Years Ago

#126
post #71
post #2

This is one of those things that long-time expats that live in Japan often take back with them when they leave. Another is the practice of removing your (utterly filthy, inevitably) outdoor shoes when you enter the house. I read Shogun as a kid (great book, for a little kid) and going back home to the USA and using the toilet there always reminds me of the scenes where the European sailors that shipwrecked in Japan s…

If you remove your shoes outside and walk barefoot, you're just sharing the sweat, dirt & germs of your foot with everyone else at home & guests. You'll probably take that to bed with you and sometimes sleep on it. If you must leave your shoes outside, wear an 'inside-only' slippers.

You keep your socks on so that's not really an issue. I personally don't let anyone wear shoes in our house, I don't know what they've stepped on so I don't want them dragging anything over the floors and carpets.

Re: Japanese Toilets: The Future Called 30 Years Ago

#127
post #26

When I first came to Thailand, I was appalled when one of my friends told me the pistol nozzle (like we use in the US for doing dishes) next to every Thai toilet[1] was for spraying yourself after using the bathroom. This was disgusting to me at first. Echoing a few other comments, I feel like a bidet is something you have to experience yourself before you trust it. Once you do though, I think you are forever changed…

Those are ubiquitous in Northern Europe as well—yes, including all public bathrooms.

Are you sure about Northern Europe? I live in Sweden and I haven't encountered anything like that here. (They are common in Finland, though)

Re: Japanese Toilets: The Future Called 30 Years Ago

#128
post #3

After using the toilet, do you wash your hands, or just wipe them? You've just demonstrated why washing toilets are superior. I cannot understand our misplaced, hollow pride in not adopting something which simply works better. I've even heard some especially crazy people try to say the japanese toilets are "perverted" - the hold tradition has on some people is just insane. Japanese toilets are simply better. For some…

I wash my hands because I use them to interact with the world and to eat. Keeping them clean is necessary.

The day I push an elevator button or place food in my mouth using my soiled anus is the day I agree washing it constantly is required and not just pleasant.

Re: Japanese Toilets: The Future Called 30 Years Ago

#129
Questions, I couldn't find an answer to:

How do you make sure that the water doesn't merely distribute your feces all over your butt?

How do women prevent that feces get sprayed onto or even into their vagina, since the water seems to be coming from the rear side of the toilet?

Re: Japanese Toilets: The Future Called 30 Years Ago

#130

You will probably hate me for giving some graphic details but I had never used Toilet paper for the first 21 years of my life.(I am 22 BTW). I didn't even use a bidet. Just my left hand and water. I know this might be considered very disgusting but it is very common from where I am.

I'm curious: Did you first try using toilet paper in another country/region, or it something that has recently been introduced to where you grew up?

I still don't use toilet paper. I used one when I had access to it(in a hotel). I knew toilet paper existed as once when I saw it in movies or read about it.
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