What OS Does Your Toilet Run?
I love Japan. I find the culture, architecture, cuisine—especially the seafood—immensely appealing. The people are right up my alley: the average Japanese loves all manner of electronic gizmos of questionable utility, just like I do; baseball is outrageously popular here, just like back home.
But what is this thing the Japanese have with their toilets?
A visit to any restroom here presents the naive visitor with a porcelain R2-D2 in place of the usual intuitive plumbing. As I approach, a proximity sensor brings R2 to life, the heated seat, softly illuminated from below, lifting in greeting. Somewhere deep in the bowels of the appliance a pump switches to standby, filling the room with a low hum followed a moment later by anticipatory gurgles.
R2 has a control panel that would do Mission Control proud, but the kanji callouts provide little relief for this clueless westerner. I know that Failure is Not an Option but cannot shake the feeling that this iGo is soon to become my iCan’t. What if I accidentally press the button for High Pressure Rinse?
Toto, we are definitely not in Kansas anymore.
I suppose I should be grateful to find a culturally distinct practice amidst 21st century global homogeneity. Nowadays it seems the same goods are found in the same stores for the same prices pretty much the world over. But I think I’d be more enthusiastic about the digital toilet if I could figure out how to flush it without a user manual.
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Comments:
Jan '11
Re: What OS Does Your Toilet Run?
The traditional toilet has two options: do nothing or flush.
That's because a toilet answers only one question: do you want to keep this stuff or not?
I prefer things simple.
May '10
Re: What OS Does Your Toilet Run?
The first button looks like a typical Stop button. So the next four must be Rewind, Fast Forward, Play, and Eject.
The one on the far right seems to be a substitute for a Big Red Button.
Apr '12
Re: What OS Does Your Toilet Run?
It appears to me that this is a combination of toilet and bidet and that the fourth button from the left activates the bidet. The fifth buttom might flush.
Beyond that, all I know is that 'Mater had great difficulties with a Japanese toilet in Cars 2.
Good luck.
Dec '11
Re: What OS Does Your Toilet Run?
Upper buttons
First two direct the stream of water from front to back.
Third button turns on the massage spray which cause the spray to spurt like some shower heads.
Fourth button is to operate a fan to take away the odor.
Bottom buttons
First is a stop button.
Second and third is for the rear-end spray, the second is for a "powerful" spray and third is for "mild" spray.
Fourth button is for the bidet.
Fifth button is for a "hair dryer" like function that sends heated air to dry you off. (Rare)
The dial at the end is to set the spray strength.
Up at the top of the unit at the right.
First button is for when you go "Number 2" and it means "big".
Second button is for "Number 1" for your liquid and it means "small". This uses less water.
I don't know if anyone caught the joke in the post. Toto in Japan is a sink and toilet maker. (The picture actually is from a different maker Inax.) My "personal throne" is a Toto. Once you get used to one of these it is hard to go back to the normal toilet.
Edited on June 25, 2012 at 9:50amMar '11
Re: What OS Does Your Toilet Run?
Interesting post; though I confess the image of a toilet having bowels really doesn't do much for me.
Dec '11
Re: What OS Does Your Toilet Run?
(Continued)
First photo with the orange button for stop is from Toto. This looks like it is a top of the line unit with probably a radio or some speaker system in it.
How to flush. The flushing buttons are usually at the top.
大 for the big stuff and 小 is for the small stuff. At cheap hotels you have to use the normal manual metal lever which is on the toilet to flush.
Edited on June 25, 2012 at 9:37amMay '11
Re: What OS Does Your Toilet Run?
Back in the late eighties when I was in Iwakuni, there were still some very primitive toilets, if they merit even that title. They were more like unisex slit trenches. I suspect that you're seeing fancy toilets in the big cities that over compensate for the more countrified parts of the island.
Dec '11
Re: What OS Does Your Toilet Run?
These are the traditional Japanese toilets which some people still prefer. You squat over instead of sit like the Western toilet. For new construction though most places don't have these.
Jul '11
Re: What OS Does Your Toilet Run?
I have a Toto and will always have one in my master bathroom. Quite possibly the best money I ever spent.
Dec '11
Re: What OS Does Your Toilet Run?
DocJay, how common are they in the States?
Aug '10
Re: What OS Does Your Toilet Run?
Failure is Not an Option? It's not always an option?
Ricochet: join the conversation about mysterious toilets and sad bananas.
Feb '11
Re: What OS Does Your Toilet Run?
When I lived in Japan, I watched other people to figure out the functions of the different buttons on the ATMs. I guess that's not really a good option for you, George...
Edited on June 25, 2012 at 2:15pmAug '10
Re: What OS Does Your Toilet Run?
Rob Long is a Japanese-toilet enthusiast and has one in his home. He should be able to help you out!
Jun '10
Re: What OS Does Your Toilet Run?
This is a bidet toilet seat from Toto as some of you correctly established. I sell them. The bidet wand is self cleaning and when requested by pushing the corresponding button it will extend to provide a front or rear wash. It also provides oscillating, pulsating , or combination spray effects. All other features mentioned here are part of the equipment, including the deodorizing carbon filter to clean the air in the bowl while the user remains seated. The word is when Toto first tested this unit five years ago, fifty women participated. Forty of them are still in the bathroom.
Dec '10
Re: What OS Does Your Toilet Run?
If it is so advanced, why does it not flush itself?
Jun '10
Re: What OS Does Your Toilet Run?
SNL: The Bidet
http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/bidet/1207082/
Apr '12
Re: What OS Does Your Toilet Run?
What happens when there's a power outage? Is there a manual emergency setting on high-tech toilets, or is it back to the (slit) trenches til the lights come on?
Oct '10
Re: What OS Does Your Toilet Run?
I agree with KC. Some things ought to remain simple.
On a separate note, I went to McDonald's yesterday and ordered the #1 but it tasted like #2.
Mar '11
Re: What OS Does Your Toilet Run?
We'd have to spec out a chip set before we decide on an OS.
Dec '11
Re: What OS Does Your Toilet Run?
Japanese toilets like these are basically a normal toilet with a fancy seat. If the power goes out the toilet functions by pulling a manual lever on the right side of the toilet tank. Of course the seat with all its functions can not be used until the power comes back on.
Actually they do have models that flush themselves. These models have motion sensors that automatically raise the seat cover when they detect a person and lower the seat cover and flushes after the person leaves.
Edited on June 25, 2012 at 6:39pm