Toilets in Japan are generally more complicated than toilets in other developed countries. There are two types of toilets commonly found in Japan; the oldest type is a simple squat toilet, which is still common in general comfort. After World War II, modern Western-style flush and urinal toilets became common. The current state of art for Western-style toilets is the bidet toilet, which, in March 2016, was installed in 81.2% of Japanese households. In Japan, this bidet is usually called washlet, brand name Toto Ltd., and includes many sophisticated features that are rarely seen outside Asia. The usual feature set on washlets is anus wash, wash bidet, heating chair, and body odor. Japanese toilets are popular in popular culture and are often parodied in comedy works made in Japan.
Video Toilets in Japan
Terminology
The word toire ( ??? ) is an abbreviation of the English word "toilet" and is used both for the toilet itself and for the room where it belongs. Similarly, anime , toire is often mistakenly identified as a French loan word because of its French ending.
Common euphemisms are otearai ( ???? , lit. wash hands ) . This is similar to the use in American English of "small rooms", which literally means the room where something was washed, and "toilet", which literally refers to the act of self-cleaning. It is also common to see other loan translations, kesh? Shitsu ( ??? , lit. powder room ) , at the signs at the department store and supermarket, as well as accompanying public toilet pictogram.
The plain word for the toilet is benjo ( ?? , a place of comfort or where dirt >) , from the word ben (? ) meaning "comfort" or "dirt", and this word is quite common. It is often used in elementary schools, public pools, and other public places, and is not very polite, although some may prefer to use a more subtle word. In many children's games, a child marked "out" is sent to a special place, like the middle of a circle, called benjo . Japanese has many other words for places reserved for excretion functions, including kawaya (?) And habakari (??), but most are rare or archaic.
The toilet itself - ie, a bowl or container on the floor, a water tank, and so on - is called benki (??). The toilet seat is benza (??). Pispot, whether for a small child or for an elderly or a weak person, is called omaru (sometimes written ???).
The Japanese Toilet Association celebrated an unofficial Toilet Day on November 10, because in Japan the 11/10 (for months and days) can be read as ii-ke (ire) , which also means "Good Toilet".
Toto, short for T? Y? T? Ki (???? Oriental Ceramics) producing toilets, used in Japanese comics to show toilets or other things that look like toilets.
Maps Toilets in Japan
Toilet type
Toilet squat
The traditional Japanese style toilet (???, washiki ) is a squat toilet - also known as the 'Asian Toilet', because the squat toilet with a somewhat similar design is common throughout Asia. The squat toilets are different from Western toilets both in construction and working methods. The squat toilet basically looks like a miniature urinal set horizontally to the floor. Most squat toilets in Japan are made of porcelain, though in some cases (as in trains) stainless steel is used instead. Users squat over the toilet, facing a hemisphere hood, ie, the wall on the back of the toilet in the picture is visible on the right. Shallow troughs collect garbage, not a bowl filled with large water as in Western toilets. All other equipment, such as water tanks, pipes, and rinsing mechanisms, may be identical to Western toilets. Rinsing causes water to encourage waste from the reservoir to the collecting reservoir which is then emptied, with the waste brought into the sewer system. Flush is often operated in the same way as Western toilets, although some have a handle or pedal instead. Many Japanese toilets have two types of flush: "small" (?) And "big" (?). The difference is the amount of water used. The first is for urine (in Japanese, literally "small excretion") and the last for excrement ("great excretion"). The lever is often pushed into a "small" setting to provide continuous cover noise for privacy, as discussed below.
Two common variations: one where the toilet is parallel to the ground, and the other where it is raised on a platform of about 30 cm (1 ft). The latter is easier to use for men to urinate while standing, but both types can be used for this purpose. Also there is no difference to defecate or urinate squat. Users stand over the squat toilet facing the hood and pull down (up in case of skirts) trousers and panties into their knees. Users then squat over the hole, as close as possible to the front, because the dirt tends to fall to the rear end of the container on the floor if the user squats too far back; for this reason many public squat toilets have a sign that reminds users to "Go one step closer."
Beginners and strangers often hold the pipe in front, which has therefore earned the nickname "grunt bar," of the sound made while holding this pipe. If the pipe is hidden or not strong enough, a separate grip can be installed specifically to assist the user in maintaining his balance, both when using the toilet and when standing thereafter. Another common strategy used by strangers to avoid a potentially embarrassing accident when defecating is to fully dislodge from the waist down and hang clothes on the hook before taking a position.
One of the advantages of squat toilet is that they are very easy to clean. They are also cheaper to make, they consume less water per flush than Western toilets, and, due to lack of direct contact with seats, some claim they are more hygienic. However, chair contact is not a real health risk and squat toilets allow splashing on the feet and feet themselves. Waterless troughs minimize the risk of water splashes during defecation. However, since excretion products sit open to the open air until they are reddened, they usually produce a stronger odor than when submerged as in Western toilets, a commonly seen effect in or near the Japanese toilet.
A combination of western squat/toilets is also present, where seats can be overturned over squat toilets, and toilets can be used in the same way as Western style. This hybrid seems to be only common in rural areas for the benefit of foreigners who live. The adapter sitting on top of the Japanese toilet to turn it into a functional functional toilet is much more common. There are also permanently installed extensions available to turn the squat toilet into a Western-style washlet. Conversely, there is also a conversion platform available, which allows a person who prefers a squat toilet to raise himself to the Western toilet level.
Western Style
The flush toilets that have a base for sitting are known in Japan as Western Style ( ?? , y ? shiki ) toilet. Western-style toilets, including high-tech toilets, are now more common in Japanese homes than traditional squat toilets, although some older apartments store stickers in toilets or in rooms illustrating the proper way to use them to urinate and defecate. Many public toilets in schools, temples, and train stations are still equipped with squat toilets. In their own homes, however, Japanese prefer to be seated, especially older individuals or physically handicapped to whom the prolonged squat is physically demanding or uncomfortable.
Western-style flush toilets in Japan generally include water-saving features such as the ability to choose between "big" flush and "slightly" flush (double flush toilet). Many toilets also route water to fill the tank through a faucet above the tank that allows users to rinse their hands.
Japanese Bidet
The modern toilets in Japan, in English sometimes called Super Toilet , and are commonly known in Japanese as Washlet ( ?? , Woshuretto ) or as warm water purifier ( is one of the most sophisticated toilets in the world, shows a variety of stunning features. Toto Products Washlet Zoe is listed on Guinness World Records as the world's most advanced toilet, with seven functions. However, since this model was introduced in 1997, it now tends to be lower than the latest model by Toto, Neorest . The idea for washlet came from abroad, and the first toilets with integrated bidets were manufactured in the United States in 1964. The age of high-tech toilets in Japan began in 1980 with the introduction of Washlet G Series i> by Toto, and since then the name of the washlet product has been used to refer to all types of Japanese high-tech toilets. By 2002, nearly half of all private homes in Japan had such toilets, exceeding the number of households with personal computers. While the toilets look like Western-style toilets at first glance, there are many additional features - such as blow dryers, seat heaters, massage options, water jet adjustments, automatic lid opening, automatic flushing, wireless control panel, heating and air conditioning for the room - part of the toilet or in the chair. These features can be accessed by a wireless (often wireless) control panel mounted on a chair or mounted on a nearby wall.
Basic features
The most basic feature is the integrated bidet, pencil-size nozzle coming out from under the toilet seat and spraying water. It has two settings: one for washing the anus and one for the bidet. The first is called posterior washing , general use , or family cleaning , and the latter is known as feminine cleansing , < i> wash feminine or just bidet . There is no point in the nozzle actually touching the user's body. This nozzle also cleans and cleans away before and after surgery. Users can choose to wash the anus or vulva by pressing the appropriate button on the control panel. Usually the same nozzle is used for both operations, but at different positions of the nozzle head, and uses different openings in the nozzle to spray water at different angles to point to the correct place. Sometimes, two nozzles are used, each dedicated to one area. Control logic is also attached to a pressure switch or proximity sensor in the toilet seat, and operates only when the seat is occupied. The first models do not include this automatic switch-off.
The seat heating feature is very common, found even in toilets that have no bidet features. Since most Japanese houses lack central heating - instead of using a room heater - the bathrooms may be just a few degrees above freezing in winter.
Customization
Most high-tech toilets allow water temperature and water pressure to adjust to user preferences. By default, the vulva receives less pressure than the anus. Researchers in Japan have found that most users prefer a water temperature slightly above body temperature, with 38Ã, Â ° C (100Ã, Â ° F) considered optimal. The nozzle position can also often be manually adjusted forwards or backwards. High-end Washlet allows the selection of vibrating and pulsating water jets, which the manufacturers claim to be beneficial for constipation and hemorrhoids. The most sophisticated washlets can mix water jets with soap for a better cleaning process.
Washlet can replace toilet paper completely, but many users choose to use washing and paper in combination - although paper use can be removed for cleaning the vulva. Several laps before washing, some washes before wiping, some wash only, and a few laps - each according to his preference. Another feature that often is a blow dryer, often adjusted between 40 Ã, Â ° C and 60 Ã, Â ° C, is used to dry the washed area.
Advanced features
Other features may include a hot seat, which can be adjusted from 30 Ã, Â ° C to 40 Ã, Â ° C; automatic lid equipped with proximity sensor, which opens and closes based on user location; and air dryers and fragrances. Some play music to relax the user's sphincter (some Inax toilets, for example, play some of the first phrases of Op. 62 Nr.6 FrÃÆ'¼hlingslied by Felix Mendelssohn). Other features are automatic flushing, automatic air deodorizing, and germ-resistant surfaces. Some models designed specifically for parents can include armrests and devices that help users to step back after use. The soft close feature slows the toilet seat down while closing so the cover does not slam into the seat, or in some models, the toilet lid will close automatically at a certain time after rinsing. The latest introduction is the ozone deodorant system that can quickly remove odors. Also, the latest models store the time when toilets are used and have a power-saving mode that warms the toilet seats only during the time when toilets tend to be used based on historical usage patterns. Some toilets also glisten in the dark or may even have air conditioning under the edge for hot summer days. Another recent innovation is the intelligent sensor that detects someone standing in front of the toilet and begins lifting the automatic lid (if the person is facing away from the toilet) or the lid and seat together (if someone faces the toilet).
The text that explains the control of these toilets tends to exist only in Japan. Although many buttons often have pictograms, the flush buttons are often written only in Kanji, which means that non-Japanese users may initially find it difficult to find the correct button.
In January 2017, the Japan Sanitary Equipment Industry Association, a consortium of companies producing pipeline products including Toto Ltd., Panasonic, and Toshiba, have agreed to unite the iconography used on the often confusing control panel for Japanese toilets. Toilet manufacturers plan to apply eight new pictograms on models released from this year onwards, with a view to the system becoming an international standard.
Further developments
Recently, researchers have added medical sensors to this toilet, which can measure blood sugar based on urine, and also measure pulses, blood pressure, and body fat content of users. Talking toilet that greets the user has also started to be made. Other measurements are currently being investigated. Data can be automatically sent to a doctor via a mobile phone that has internet capabilities. However, these devices are still very rare in Japan, and their future commercial success is unpredictable. A voice-operated toilet that understands verbal commands is under development. TOTO, NAiS (a division of Panasonic), and other companies also produce portable battery-operated washing machines , which must be filled with warm water before use. Channel Wash syndrome
Recurrent use of "type water jets in high-pressure settings for enemas, may weaken the ability to self-evacuate users , which can lead to more serious constipation. "If a high pressure water jet is used on the anus repeatedly, this can lead to excessive hygiene, encouraging other bacteria to stick around the anus, causing skin diseases (inflammation) around the anus. Some proctologists in Japan name this "Pigs Syndrome" ( ?????????? , woshuretto shoukougun ) or "Warm toilet syndrome" ( ??????? , on-sui ben-za shoukougun ) .
Urinal
Urinal in Japan is very similar to the urinals around the world, and is mainly used for public man's toilets or men's toilets with a large number of users. However, they are often installed lower than the urinals in the West.
Urinal women have never been caught in Japan, despite efforts made to popularize the urine of Sanistand American women by the Japanese toilet manufacturing company Toto between 1951 and 1968. The device is cone-shaped and placed on the floor. However, it was never very popular, and only a few of them remained, including those beneath the National Olympic Stadium destroyed from the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, which were added to accommodate people from different cultures.
Japanese specialty accessory
Toilets in Japan have accessories that are very similar to most toilets around the world, including toilet paper, toilet brush, sink, etc. However, there are some special Japanese accessories that are rarely found outside of Japan.
The Sound Princess
Many Japanese women feel embarrassed when heard heard by others during urination (see paruresis). To cover the sound of bodily functions, many women are used to flushing public toilets continuously while using them, wasting a lot of water in the process. Because educational campaigns do not stop this practice, devices were introduced in the 1980s that, after activation, produced a water rinse sound without the need for actual flushing. The usual Toto brand names are Otohime ( ?? , lit. "Sound Princess," also homophone with the legendary Otohime goddess) . These devices are now routinely placed in most of the new female common rooms, and many older public women's rooms have been upgraded. The Otohime can be either a battery-operated separate device that is attached to a toilet wall, or included in an existing washlet. The device is activated by pressing a button, or with a hand wave in front of the motion sensor. When activated, the device creates a loud rinsing sound similar to a flushed toilet. This sound stops after a predetermined time or can be stopped by a second emphasis on the button. It is estimated that it saves up to 20 liters (4.4 Â ° c; 5.3 USG) of water per use. However, some women believe that Otohime sounds artificial and prefers to use continuous toilet flushing instead of flush recording of Otohime.
Toilet slipper
In Japanese culture, there is a tendency to segregate areas to be clean and unclean , and contacts between these areas are minimized. For example, the inside of the house is considered a clean area, while the outside of the house is considered unclean. To separate the two areas, shoes are taken before entering the house so that odors do not touch the clean area inside the house. Historically, toilets are located outside the house, and shoes are used for trips to the toilet. Currently, toilets are almost always inside the house and hygienic conditions have improved significantly, but toilets are still considered as illegal areas . To minimize contact between dirty toilets and clean floors throughout the house, many private homes and some public toilets have toilet slippers ( ??????? , toire surippa ) in front of the toilet door to be used when in the toilet and removed after leaving the toilet. This also indicates if the toilet is being used. They can be as simple as a pair of rubber slippers, sandals decorated with anime character prints for little kids, or even fur slippers. Strangers often forget to take off toilet flip after visiting the toilet, and then use it in a non-toilet area, then mix clean and haram .
Public toilets
Public toilets are usually available throughout Japan, and can be found at department stores, supermarkets, bookstores, CD shops, parks, department stores, and at all the most outer train stations. Some older public toilet buildings do not have doors, which means that men who use urinal are in full view of passers-by. Starting in the 1990s, there was a movement to make public toilets cleaner and more welcoming than ever.
The number of public toilets that have western-type toilets and squats is increasing. Many train stations in the Tokyo area and public schools throughout Japan, for example, only have squat toilets. In addition, parks, temples, traditional Japanese restaurants, and old buildings usually only have squat toilets. Western-style toilets are usually shown by kanji characters ?? (y? shiki), English words "Western Style", symbols for the type of toilet, or a combination of the three. The disabled bathroom is always Western-style.
Many public toilets do not have soap to wash hands, or towels to dry hands. Many people carry handkerchiefs with them for such occasions, and some even carry soap. Some public toilets are equipped with powerful hand dryers to reduce the volume of waste generated from paper towels. Hand dryers and taps are sometimes installed with motion sensors as an additional resource saving measure.
Cultural aspects
In Japan, being clean is very important, and some Japanese words for 'clean' can be used to describe beauty. The word kirei (???, ??) can be defined as "beautiful, beautiful, clean, pure, orderly." This might explain the success of a high-tech toilet with a built-in bidet. There is also a large market for deodorants and air fresheners that add a pleasant aroma to the area.
Under the lively conditions of Japanese cities and with the lack of lockable rooms from inside traditional Japanese houses, toilets are one of the few rooms in the house that allow privacy. Some toilet rooms are equipped with bookshelves, in others people can enter with newspapers, and some are even filled with character items and posters. Even so, this toilet, whenever possible, in a separate room from the bathroom. This is due to the ethics in separating the net from the unclean, and this fact is the sale value in the property for rent.
Traditional squat toilets and high-tech toilets are a source of confusion for foreigners unfamiliar with this device. There are funny reports about people using toilets, and knobs that randomly push the control panel either out of curiosity or look for rinsing controls, and suddenly they are horrified to receive a jet of water directed at the genitals or anus. As the water jet continues for a few seconds after he jumps, he also makes himself or the bathroom wet. Many Japanese toilets now have pressure sensitive seats that automatically turn off the bidet when the person wakes up. Many also have buttons written in English to reduce the culture shock.
In January 2017, the Japan Sanitation Equipment Industry Association agreed to standardize the iconography used at the control panel for Japanese toilets, in an effort to reduce the confusion of foreign visitors to the country.
Environmental aspects
The environmental impact of modern style washers is different from regular flush toilets. Modern toilets use less water than old toilets, and self-cleaning options also reduce the amount of detergent. Some toilets even change the amount of water to flush depending if the seat is upside down (indicating male urination) or not. They also cause less toilet paper to be used. On the other hand, these toilets also consume energy, and are estimated to consume 5% of energy from average Japanese households. In rural areas, toilets that use little or no water have also been designed. This is also considered an emergency toilet in case of an earthquake.
Economy
Washlets in Japan start at US $ 200, with a majority valued around US $ 500 for an increase in washlets for Western-style toilets. Top-class dishwashers, including ceramic bowls, can easily cost up to US $ 5,000.
Toto Ltd. is the largest toilet manufacturer, including washlet, worldwide. Washlets and other toilet related products are also manufactured by Inax, and Panasonic.
The total worldwide market for high-tech toilets was about US $ 800 million in 1997. The largest producer is Toto, with 65% market share, while the second largest is Inax at 25%. The main markets for washlets still exist in Japan, and TOTO reports that overseas sales accounts for only 5% of revenues. The main overseas market is China, where Toto sells over a million washlets each year. In the US for example, sales are well below the Japanese level, although sales increased from 600 units per month in 2001 to 1,000 units per month in 2003. In Europe, Toto sells only 5,000 washlets annually. While most Europeans might regard the Japanese washlets as a curiosity, the number of toilets installed in Europe is on the rise. This is especially for the special purpose of the toilet for the disabled. Depending on the type of disability, the handicapped person may have difficulty reaching the anal region to wash up after using the toilet. Therefore, the introduction of a toilet with water jet cleaner and blow dryer allows the person to clean themselves without help.
There are a number of reasons for low sales outside of Japan. One of the main reasons is that it takes time for customers to get used to the idea of ​​washing dishes. Sales in Japan were also slow when the device was introduced in 1980, but after some acclimatization, sales increased significantly starting in 1985. Around 1990, 10% of Japanese households had washlets, and this number increased by more than 50% in 2002.Toto expects a corresponding increase in foreign sales in the next few years. Another reason is the lack of power supply near the toilet. While almost all Japanese toilets have electrical outlets behind the toilet, many foreign bathrooms do not have the nearest outlets. In Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and many other countries, high-current power outlets that are installed near water, or where people may be wet, are prohibited by legally enforceable codes for health and safety reasons. Finally the toilet outlet (for the S-type toilet) is max. 10 ~ 15cm from the back wall but Japanese toilet needs at least 30cm so that European type S toilet can not be replaced easily with Japanese toilet. They are also much more expensive than traditional Western toilets. Finally, in Europe, there is competition with traditional Western bidets; on the contrary, North Americans are unfamiliar with any bidet.
History
During the J period? Mon (14,000 BC to 300 BC) settlements are built in the shape of a horseshoe, with a central plaza in the middle and a pile of garbage around the settlement. In this pile of rubbish, the remains of human or dog calcification stool, called koprolite , are found, indicating that the dump is also used as a toilet.
The earliest sewer system dates from the Yayoi period (300 BC to A.D. 250). This system is used in larger settlements, perhaps combined with toilets.
Possible ritual sites, which may also have toilets using running water, dating back to the early 3rd century are found in Sakurai, Nara. Another waste analyzed by archaeologists in detail is found at the site of Fujiwara Castle in Kashihara, Nara, the first location of the imperial city from 694 to 710. The toilet is built on an open pit similar to a latrine.
During the Nara period (710 to 784), a drainage system was created in the capital of Nara, consisting of a 10-15 cm wide stream where users could squat with one leg on each side of the river. The wooden stick called ch? Gi is used as a kind of toilet paper. In the early days seaweed was used for cleaning, but in the Edo period, seaweed has been replaced with toilet paper made from washi (traditional Japanese paper). In mountainous areas, wood chips and large leaves are also used.
Often, toilets are built on streams; one of the first known flushing toilets found in the Akita castle, dates from the 8th century, with the toilet built on a diverted stream.
However, historically, toilet pits are more common, because they are easier to build and allow the reuse of feces as fertilizer - very important in a country where Buddhism and most vegetarian lifestyles, pescetarians act to reduce dependence on cattle for food.. The waste products of the rich are sold at a higher price because their diet is better.
Historical documents dating from the 9th century describe the law on the construction of sewerage and sewage, as well as detailed procedures for the disposal of toilet waste.
- Prisoners will be directed to clean up the dirt at the Palace and government offices and toilets in the east and west on the morning after the rain
(Interpretations Collected from Administrative Law Ryo-no-shuge )
Selling human waste products as fertilizers became less common after World War II, both for sanitary reasons and because of the proliferation of chemical fertilizers, and less than 1% now used for fertilization. Because of this history, Japan has a much higher standard of historical hygiene. For example, in Japan, regular human waste disposal is common, while in Europe, waste is thrown away into the streets of much of the early modern history of the continent. The first Westerner to visit Edo expressed his surprise at the clean city.
In Okinawa, toilets often stick to pig pens, and pigs are fed with human feces products. This practice is prohibited because it is not hygienic after World War II by the American authorities.
During the Azuchi-Momoyama period (1568 to 1600), "Taiko Sewerage" was built around the Osaka Castle, and still exists and works today. The use of a modern exhaust system began in 1884, with the installation of the first brick and ceramic gutters in Kanda, Tokyo. More plumbing and sewer systems installed after the Great Kant? earthquakes to avoid illness after earthquakes in the future. However, the construction of sewerage only increased after World War II to tackle the waste products of the growing population center. In 2000, 60% of the population was connected to a sewer system. National Sewage Day is September 10th.
Western-style toilets and urinals began to emerge in Japan in the early 20th century, but only after World War II its use became wider, due to the influence of American occupation. The Occupied Government keeps the use of human waste as fertilizer, which causes a shame over this practice, and in the rural areas where the practice is taking place, human waste is rapidly changing from being recycled to disposal. Certain places where the night soil continues to be recycled require conscious political leadership, such as Shinky? Commune in Nara Prefecture.
In 1977, the sale of Western-style toilets exceeded the sale of traditional squat toilets in Japan. Based on a toilet with a built-in bidet from Switzerland and the US, the world's largest sanitation equipment company, TOTO, introduced Washlet in 1980. The Japanese company currently manufactures some of the most advanced high-tech toilets in the world.
See also
- Science and technology in Japan
- The phenomenon of Mariko Aoki, the urge to defecate while visiting the bookstore
- TOTO Neorest 600
- TOTO Drake II
References
External links
- Articles from The Japan Times, Tokyo residents, holidaymakers, professors and celebrities were interviewed about the use of Japanese toilets.
- Tokyo Toilet Map with pictures of public toilets in Japan.
- ToiletZone Private toilet drawings in Japan.
- Toilet in Tokyo
- Ito, Masami, "Toilet: The power of Japan behind the throne", The Japan Times , 2 November 2010, p.Ã, 3.
- ??????????????? ???????????? History of toilet paper at Toiletpaper.co.jp. Retrieved on March 28, 2011. A Japanese language site.
- Toilet MP3 News Akihabara. Retrieved March 28, 2011.
- Japanese manners: Toilet Hokkaido Japanese Language School.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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