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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?

#181

Post by pserwylo »

eob wrote: post #50
pdenya wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Minus the necessity of the wreath, I assume construction managers in the US are equally willing to accept free drinks and an extra $100/per bathroom. Does this not work in the US because it can't be a reasonable default in those types of situations?

It's not a reasonable default because every visitor to your house would make a comment requiring you to justify having "fringe" bathroom habits. Edit: Not every, of course. And the number would vary by region of the US. Excuse the universal quantifier :)

While that may be a tad arkward, it isn't as bad as it sounds. If I had one of these, I'd still leave toilet paper on the side for those who were uncomfortable with the concept of a Washlet.

Edit: After reading the other comments, it is apparent that this is probably a good idea for primary users too. Makes sure the job is done right.

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

#182

Post by hcarvalhoalves »

AndyIngram wrote: post #93
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…

shattaf's (North American salad sprayer but for the restroom) work much better then the Japanese toilets, however I would only want to use one in my residence not a public/work restroom. They are common in Brazil and the Middle East, I think the heat makes being "unclean" a bigger issue.

Both shattafs and bidets (which is the whole separate ceramic apparatus, not just the spray) are common here in Brazil. I always though it was because of bigger French/Islamic influence.

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

#183

Post by coin »

chopsueyar wrote: post #145
pdenya wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Minus the necessity of the wreath, I assume construction managers in the US are equally willing to accept free drinks and an extra $100/per bathroom. Does this not work in the US because it can't be a reasonable default in those types of situations?

Just the toilet seat is $750 (Disclosure: This is on my Christmas wishlist)! http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0011YSEUC/ref=as_li_ss_tl?... Although it does come with a remote (with LCD display), water temperature adjustment, volume control (for your iDevice), warm air-dryer, and air deodorizer.

What's with the affiliate link (littdidd-20)?

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

#184

Post by forgottenpaswrd »

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…

Spanish here. I agree, we use the bidets basically for washing our feet too.

The original purpose was for women and their period... those kind of things on a time in witch using large quantities of water inside the building(for shower) was not that common(shower needs high water pressure too).

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

#185

Post by henrikschroder »

beatgammit wrote: post #78
mirkules wrote: post #66

While I find bidet toilets incredibly useful, I don't understand why this is such a sudden revelation. The French invented these toilets in the 18th century: they were/are in wide use in Europe, middle east, and I've even encountered a few in Canadian hotels ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bidet ). Is there something fundamentally different about Japanese bidets (other than integration into the toilet itself)?

I think the main difference is that the Japanese toilet is paperless. From the wikipedia page: > In 1980 the first "paperless toilet" was launched in Japan, a combination toilet and bidet which also dries the user after washing. The bidet often required something separate to dry after cleaning, so the difference seems to be integration with the toilet plus the dryer (heated seat optional). On another note, on a recen…

Eh, they're not popular in Europe either.

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

#187

Post by smackfu »

arrrg wrote: post #39
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…

People don’t pick the toilets in their houses? I find that hard to imagine. People not picking the pipes or bricks that are used I can see, but the toilet? No way. Before I buy a toilet I want to at least sit on it and I cannot imagine anyone feeling any other way about that.

People tend to have strong preferences about things they don't like in their current place. Like the kitchen layout, or the appliances, or the showerhead. People don't really have that much of a beef with a normal American Standard toilet, so they don't care.

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

#189

Post by arrrg »

chc wrote: post #123
arrrg wrote: post #113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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!

Ha, I guess you are right. Though my parents might well have taken me with them on one of their many trips to an untold number of stores and I might have actually been present when they picked a toilet. I don’t remember, I was three at the time.

What I wanted to say that I can’t understand not picking the toilet for a house when you build it (or if you decide to renovate a house), I obviously didn’t pick the toilet in my current apartment.

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

#190

Post by goostavos »

aplusbi wrote: post #171
eob wrote: post #161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I've transitioned into a bit of a hybrid strategy. Sit for the broad strokes, stand for the detail work.
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