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The Rise of the Japanese Toilet

nytimes.com

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Re: The Rise of the Japanese Toilet

#21

Post by rendaw »

Rendello wrote: post #10

I've used less advanced versions for a few years. The quality varies; the most recent one we put in is pretty horrible to use (but better than nothing). I've always wanted to try a real Toto, especially with the drying feature. A word of warning for female users: > Habitual use of bidet toilets aggravates vaginal microflora, either by depriving normal microflora or facilitating opportunistic infection of fecal bacter…

From https://japantoday.com/category/features/kuchikomi/are-bidet...

> Over washing the anus risks removing the sebum, which lubricates the surface. There have been reports of problems caused by over drying of peripheral areas

> This leaves the body vulnerable to dermatitis and possibly invasion of staphylococcus aureus bacteria.

From https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8553346/

> Outbreaks of resistant bacteria have been reported to be due to the contamination of the cleaning nozzles of bidet toilets in hospitals

I.e. the nozzles do get contaminated and if body isn't able to fend off the contamination bidet use can cause infection.

From https://www.journalofhospitalinfection.com/article/S0195-670...

> Of the 292 [hospital] toilet seats sampled, warm-water nozzles of 254 (86.9%) were found to be contaminated by one or more of the following organisms

I'm not convinced this is actual sanitation.

Edit: I should say, I know due to physical and diet circumstances taking a shit might leave you with more or less of a mess that could be uncomfortable or inconvenient - but I don't think unqualified praise for bidet use, suggesting bidets as a superior lifestyle choice, etc is good.

Re: The Rise of the Japanese Toilet

#22

Post by dvh »

This isn't the first thing that comes to mind when I read "Japanese toilet", what is the name of the toilet that is in the ground, that long oval shape with bump in front (or back?)

Update: "washiki" is the name

Re: The Rise of the Japanese Toilet

#24

Post by unhappy_meaning »

In almost all of SE Asia, especially Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, all of the toilets come with a hand-held sprayer. They also had this in the Doha airport and I'm not sure how common this style is outside of SE Asia but I'm guessing it's common. Japanese style bidets are very common in Korean households as well and I'm sure its easily a billion dollar business.

It is nice but the functionality is quite difficult for a person who's not used to this whatsoever. After you're done sh*ing, you grab the handheld sprayer and turn it upside down and reach behind you toward your butt and try as best as you can to aim it into your anus to wash as best as you can. People who have been doing this their whole lives can probably aim with a precision of a Marine Corp Sniper but to us, we look at it as alien technology. It's is quite difficult to use for a first timer and there are factors that worry us.

If its not aimed correctly, where does the splash go? If you're lucky it stays in the toilet boil. However if your aim is off, you can completely miss your anus and either shoot to much under or over which will shoot the water outside of the toilet bowl.

Also when I was using the bathroom in the Doha airport, the handheld sprayer had a soap dispenser next to it. I was curious what it was for so I YouTube'd and searched for instructions on what the soap dispenser was for and (kind-of) to my surprise it was soap to lather and clean your anus with your other free hand. After you lather and clean, you basically rinse your hand with the hose as well.

Re: The Rise of the Japanese Toilet

#25

Post by justsomehnguy »

MichaelRo wrote: post #17
dep_b wrote: post #4

A bidet is standard equipment in Argentinian homes, even the poorest houses have it. Once you get used to it, it’s incomprehensible that in other countries people just wipe and…hope for the best. But often it’s hard to install one in bathrooms that are not designed for it. So a Japanese toilet is a somewhat over the top solution in our house.

>> it’s incomprehensible that in other countries people just wipe and…hope for the best. Well ... I don't have a bidet but doesn't mean I don't wash my buttocks after doing business. Unfortunately it's a bit of a taboo subject so it's not discussed, not taught in school / hygiene classes, just let it be. Best example I heard from someone is this: imagine you dip your hands in Nutella. Then try to clean them just wipi…

> just water I keep in my mouth if in a public place / at work

Sorry for intruding, but the water from some public place is the last thing I want in my or anyone else's mouth. May I suggest a water bottle or even a flask?

Or if you already tried that, can you explain why it didn't work for you? Just an idle curiosity. Thanks in advance.

Re: The Rise of the Japanese Toilet

#26

Post by jogu »

dvh wrote: post #22

This isn't the first thing that comes to mind when I read "Japanese toilet", what is the name of the toilet that is in the ground, that long oval shape with bump in front (or back?) Update: "washiki" is the name

Washiki literally means “Japanese style” and can be used in other contexts but, in general conversation has come to mean “Japanese style toilet”.

Re: The Rise of the Japanese Toilet

#27

Post by Rendello »

rendaw wrote: post #21
Rendello wrote: post #10

I've used less advanced versions for a few years. The quality varies; the most recent one we put in is pretty horrible to use (but better than nothing). I've always wanted to try a real Toto, especially with the drying feature. A word of warning for female users: > Habitual use of bidet toilets aggravates vaginal microflora, either by depriving normal microflora or facilitating opportunistic infection of fecal bacter…

From https://japantoday.com/category/features/kuchikomi/are-bidet... > Over washing the anus risks removing the sebum, which lubricates the surface. There have been reports of problems caused by over drying of peripheral areas > This leaves the body vulnerable to dermatitis and possibly invasion of staphylococcus aureus bacteria. From https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8553346/ > Outbreaks of resistant bacteria…

Interesting. I've never been a fan of the warm-water ones myself. I wonder how it compares to (only using) toilet paper with regards to dermatitis, I find that toilet paper can really cause issues sometimes and bidets are more helpful in that regard.

Re: The Rise of the Japanese Toilet

#28

Post by dep_b »

dfxm12 wrote: post #12
dep_b wrote: post #4

A bidet is standard equipment in Argentinian homes, even the poorest houses have it. Once you get used to it, it’s incomprehensible that in other countries people just wipe and…hope for the best. But often it’s hard to install one in bathrooms that are not designed for it. So a Japanese toilet is a somewhat over the top solution in our house.

If it's standard equipment, why wouldn't bathrooms be designed for it? New expectations? Something else?

Standard equipment in Argentina, not in Northern Europe or the US, where you would have to be in the opportunity to completely redo your bathroom to accommodate it. Otherwise you need to rearrange, or go for a Japanese toilet.

Re: The Rise of the Japanese Toilet

#29

Post by simfree »

mixmastamyk wrote: post #16
dfxm12 wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If it's standard equipment, why wouldn't bathrooms be designed for it? New expectations? Something else?

Most need power at the toilet. Not allowed to be exposed near water in US bathrooms without circuit breaker and so are not installed.

You should already have a circuit breaker at the panel.

A GFCI outlet is needed if your breaker is not GFCI already, but this receptacle is something that isn't terribly expensive.

Re: The Rise of the Japanese Toilet

#30

Post by simfree »

mixmastamyk wrote: post #19
alwa wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There definitely exist full-featured models that replace only the seat of the toilet—a 5-minute, highly reversible effort well within the capabilities of even the most nervous renter. The water hose stacks inline with your existing supply at the point where it enters the toilet basin—a simple unscrew-and-rescrew operation on the order of attaching a garden hose. If the seat and water are heated (vigorously recommend!…

Power outlets are not allowed near water basins here and so are not installed into the wall near the toilet. Most often there’s only one outlet near the sink with a circuit breaker on an opposite wall. Heated is not necessary in California and more complexity means more likely to break, so YMMV.

You certainly can put a GFCI outlet adjacent a toilet, sink or in any other wet space.

Please don't spread electrical code myths.

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