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Japanese Toilets: The Future Called 30 Years Ago

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Re: Japanese Toilets: The Future Called 30 Years Ago

#21

Post by wting »

rahimnathwani wrote: post #8

If you're thinking about buying one of these, I can highly recommend the Toto S300e ( http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009IJ2LM4 ) or, if you live in Asia, the TCF4722CS ( http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=23047236820 ). These 'washlet' toilet seats can be retro-fitted to normal toilets. It's really easy as long as the flush-water inlet to your toilet has a standard fitting. Oh, and assuming you have a suitable power socke…

There are also cheaper compromises that only replace the toilet lid instead of the entire toilet and without requiring a hot water line. I bought this version last year for $250 but it's $350 now:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005XNW1Q0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?...

Re: Japanese Toilets: The Future Called 30 Years Ago

#22

Post by smokey_the_bear »

In the spirit of too much information that is this thread. I was given a lavette bottle after giving birth, and I've continued using it quite often.

http://www.amazon.com/Lavette-Bottle-Perineal-Irrigation-DYN...

It's an even cheaper alternative to the cold water attachment, it's portable, and you can fill it with warm water.

Re: Japanese Toilets: The Future Called 30 Years Ago

#23

Post by craigching »

veidr wrote: post #13
kiba wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Never met any Americans/westerners/etc who wear shoes in the house. They all walk barefoot.

Yes, the overwhelming majority of Americans in the USA do wear shoes in the house. I myself did it too, until age 19 (when I moved to Japan). http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Consumer/story?id=5177409 http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/18ekqf/as_a_canad... http://www.quora.com/Do-real-Americans-wear-shoes-indoors-as... https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20101011193926A...

That is amazing to me. In Minneapolis, everyone requires you to remove shoes before entering the house proper. Maybe it's the snow ... of which we are currently in the process of getting about 12" tonight :-/

Re: Japanese Toilets: The Future Called 30 Years Ago

#25

Post by npsimons »

enko wrote: 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…

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.

Re: Japanese Toilets: The Future Called 30 Years Ago

#26

Post by ragle »

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.

On my last trip back to the states, I remember feeling perpetually disgusted that all I had to clean myself with was paper. It's disgusting - barbaric even... you're just smearing waste all over yourself.

If you don't feel like spending the money to install a Japanese bidet, a Thai "bum gun" might be a more wallet-friendly option.

[1] - http://thatluckyboy.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/bum_gun_t...

Re: Japanese Toilets: The Future Called 30 Years Ago

#27

Post by ChuckMcM »

FWIW this was one of the 'tour questions' on Google which had (at least when I was there) several bathrooms equipped with washlets. It really is a nice thing, and one of the engineers put a WattsUp meter on one to see if it was wasting power (answer quite economical). Of course in California using water to wash yourself in a drought is probably the wrong thing to do ...

Re: Japanese Toilets: The Future Called 30 Years Ago

#28

Post by ekianjo »

enko wrote: 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…

> Japanese toilets are simply better. For some bizarre reason we've resisted adopting them here. It boggles the mind.

They are not cheap in Japan, by the way. If you buy a new apartment they are included by default(these companies work like Mafia to secure contracts with new apartment complex builders), but new ones you buy directly from TOTO are like... "what?" when you see their prices.

Re: Japanese Toilets: The Future Called 30 Years Ago

#29

Post by Sidnicious »

gtaylor wrote: post #18
enko wrote: 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…

Seconded. I own this similar Luxe bidet, $35:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001KKRCFA/

I'm living in the future. Would recommend one to anyone, zero hesitation.

Re: Japanese Toilets: The Future Called 30 Years Ago

#30

Post by rikacomet »

One thing I haven't really understood is why exactly is a Indian toilet seat seen as inferior to the English toilet seat.

- True that the English seat occupies less space, but its adoption has not always been based on space savings.

- True that sitting appears more gentleman like, rather than sitting half subtended in air, but hey who is watching?

- True that elderly find the english version easier to use because of the supporting nature of the seat, but its not a hard rule. A hybrid of both (Anglo-Indian) seat is more suited to them, and ailing patients.

- The Indian version is more hygienic, as no part of your body directly touches any part of the seat. Besides superior genital cleanliness over time due to wider leg positions.

- The Indian version is decisively easier to clean/maintain compared to the English version.

- Moreover the Indian version, is more suited to over-weight people than a English version.

- And relatively, due to its production in labor intensive market such as India/China, the Indian version is cost-efficient, suited for developing nations, who still have a fairly large population that needs proper sanitation structures.

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