We all have to pee and do a number two...it's a fact of life!

***

But how many of you can honestly say you enjoy the experience of using your loo!

 

~*~The Magic Japanese Toilets~*~

There is a movie called "Toilet" that is about an American family who's mother recently dies, father i presumed died a while back and they have been left with a Japanese grandma. The American family dont speak Japanese and the grandma doesnt speak English!

The film in general I would have to say is quite boring with the main character being the typical 'otaku' (geek) who does not like to be around people. The whole movie is supposed to be about the language barrier that can form between family members but also between people of different cultures and explores how you can over come these issues.

One of the main culture difference in this movie is the fact the grandma sighs every time she leaves the bathroom - it is discovered she misses the japanese toilets.

So...here is why she misses Japanese toilets!

In the west a toilet is nothing more that a porceline chair with water in it with a piece of plastic or wood to act a seat which is usually freezing to sit on it the winter. You do your business, wipe and flush. The american toilets are usually filled with water too (which i can never understand why... the sound of pee hitting water is not a pleasant sound!)

But here in Japan the toilets are magical with an array of features that when you first come to japan could actually keep you on the toilet for hours as you have a play with the buttons (or make several visits so people don't come looking for you).

So, yes, the first this you will notice is japanese toilets can have a lot of buttons.

This is one of the high mid-range toilet!

All those buttons waiting to be pressed! What do they do?

With this particular model you can choose a front or back wash (selecting the correct button will extend an arm and spray either your front area or back area with water - please note that the front area spray is for women only).

You can adjust the water pressure and water temperature (on basic models the water is warm but and a standard pressure that is not adjustable)

The big orange button (which is sometimes a pink or red button) is the stop button!!!

In some public toilets you can have music play whilst you pee and plop away without the worry of people hearing you!

All of these kinds of toilets have heated seats too!!!

if you are not keen in touching the toilet seat or lid - with this model you can use the buttons on top to raise the lid, seat, both or close...there are also 2 flush options!

Some more expensive toilets are fully automatic - the lid will open, it will flush as you leave, music will automatically start playing, a squirt of air freshner when you leave (most will filter the bad smell out as you poop!), it will flush as you leave although sometimes you may have to wave in front of a sensor.

Even more expensive ones will allow you to chose what music to play and have colored lights in the water bowl.

I should point out that from time to time you will come across a standard western toilet with no buttons - this will leave you feeling a little disheartened, especially when you are searching for the flush - which will sometimes be a basic metal handle at the back or a big button in the wall (mainly at service stations)

I am almost certain that if this is your first time coming to japan it will be one of the things on the list of things to do in japan!

I can almost guarantee as well that in your apartment (especially if you are in a city) you will have a toilet like this - maybe not as many buttons - but still, it will have a heated seat and wash functions.

And I save the best to last!!!

On your toilet at home you will find a built in sink - this water comes from the tap and is used to fill up the water tank for the next flush - this will happen every time you flush!

It is a way to save water - dont be afraid to wash your hands - many japanese people put soup and a towel in the toilet room for this purpose - the water is clean to use.

One last thing - in a japanese house the toilet room is always seperate to the bathroom - unlike western bathrooms where you will often find a toilet and bath in the same room (this is a very strange concept to japanese people and will amuse them!!!) - Also you will find a pair of slippers greet you at the doorway - you should change into these when going into the toilet (sometimes they have this at schools, public loos etc) - remember to change back again when you leave and dont walk away with the slippers on!!! (i had a friend do this at a restaurant and she was so embarased when the owner asked for the slippers back!)

 

• toilets
• Japan
• pee
• alt
• ns
• teaching
• TEFL
• Asia