People call Japan’s toilet technology the most innovative and cutting-edge and this is not without a reason! 😏👌 Most of them are equipped with heated seats, built-in bidets, air dryers and even deodorizing systems, can you believe? 🚽🛗 Guess what? 🤔 Their prices even reach thousands of dollars sometimes! 💸💰 Would you like to have a closer look? 🧐 I will show more in this article! 👇
Japan is known for its innovative and cutting-edge toilet technology, which is often considered among the best in the world. Many homes and businesses feature advanced toilets equipped with heated seats, built-in bidets, air dryers, deodorizing systems, and soundproofing features to mask natural noises. These toilets are like the iPhones of the plumbing world, with prices sometimes reaching thousands of dollars.
Japanese toilets allow users to customize their experience with features such as adjustable water pressure, temperature, and direction for the bidet. Some even offer functions like quick urine analysis and blood pressure measurement through buttons on a remote control. Similar to high-end cars that remember settings for individual drivers, some Japanese toilets can store and apply personal preferences.
However, these high-tech toilets have a drawback—foreign tourists often find themselves bewildered by the large number of icons and buttons on the remotes. In preparation for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, Japan implemented a standardization of these symbols to make them easier for visitors to understand.
Despite the rise of advanced options, traditional Japanese toilets, known as “washiki” toilets, are still in use, especially in public restrooms. These toilets are often paired with more modern Western-style toilets, offering both options.
A particular challenge for visitors is how to use the traditional Japanese-style toilet. Unlike the typical seated position used with Western toilets, users of washiki toilets must squat, facing the cistern rather than the door. Clear signs are posted in many bathrooms to guide users on how to use the toilet properly.
The washiki toilet bowl is designed like a slipper, with a part called the “kinkakushi” at the front. This feature helps prevent splashing when the toilet is flushed. For both convenience and cultural reasons, people are advised to face the cistern when using this type of toilet.
In his book The Reverse Side of Japan, Orientalist Alexander Evgenyevich Kulanov discusses the cultural significance of toilet use in Japan. He quotes a Japanese journalist who explains that the act of using the toilet places a person in a vulnerable position, making them unable to protect themselves in case of danger. Japanese culture, he suggests, is deeply rooted in a preference for avoiding the idea of facing death. This cultural belief is why many people choose to face the wall while using the toilet, even if it means being in a more exposed position.
