The rising sun and the hidden moon

The rising sun and the hidden moon

Posted 05.15.2006 by Dave

The Washington Post recently went on the job with Kyoji Asada, a top designer for Japan's Toto Ltd. Toto makes toilets. Asada inspects them in the field -- conducting random bathroom assessments that, Asada says, keeps himself and his fellow engineers on their toes.

It's clear from this article that a lot of very talented people put a lot of deep thought into the design and construction of that in which we poop. It's interesting to read the details about Mr. Asada and his efforts to keep his company on top of our bottoms; but just as interesting in this article are the brief asides that offer incredibly insight into Japanese bathroom culture:

"{Toto has developed} the Rolls Royces of porcelain thrones. There are toilets with heated seats. Toilets with cleansing water sprays and drying-action air blasts. Toilets with built-in deodorizers and soothing river sounds to cover up embarrassing smells and sounds."
"The bathrooms at the two-month-old Kitakyushu International Airport in southwestern Japan contain some of Toto's newest, top-of-the-line toilets -- elegant egg-shaped units that seem to hover above the ground."
"Bathrooms, Asada explained an hour later en route to Toto's factory labs in the heart of this city of 1 million, are accorded a special place in Japan. In a cramped society, toilets offer a rare form of personal escape and, these days, a chance for a refreshing wash."
"In two decades, Toto has sold more than 20 million of its electronic Washlets -- high-tech toilet lids with bidet-like sprayers first inspired by a short-lived American invention for hemorrhoid sufferers. Washlets are now almost ubiquitous in Japan, a fact Asada credits to the national obsession with hygiene."
"A Japanese proverb says that pregnant women who keep their toilets sparkling clean will give birth to attractive babies."
"After listening to feedback from housewives ashamed about the unsightly marks they occasionally left inside toilet bowls, Asada invented a unit fitted with a tornado-like flush and cleaning cycle that wipes away all the evidence."
"The company's toilet museum {includes} an extra-wide seat of honor for sumo wrestlers."

As a result of this site's efforts to investigate and spread the gospel of Shameless Shitting, I've arrived at the estimation that about half of the American population is Shameful and half is Shameless. Based on this article and other anecdotal information I've accumulated over the years, I think it's safe to say that Japan has a heavy bias towards the Shameful. And the points highlighted above illustrate what happens to a profoundly poop-phobic society: they become obsessed with poop. The Japanese appear terrified of acknowledging the fact that they poop; and in the extremes they reach to pretend they don't poop, they associate themselves with poop even further. The imperatives of Shameful Shitting serve only to intensify the stigma of poop on the Shameful Shitter.

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Show some poop support, or make a poop retort.

The Dumpster (2506) -- 05.15.2006

Isn't it true that in Japan, nobody keeps the crapper and the bathtub in the same room?

Lame comment! -1 point

Double Flush (604) -- 05.15.2006

I'm interested in one of these toilets. It's almost as if we all have GM and Ford toilets and these are Lexus toilets or something. Speaking of which, will someone buy me the biggest Lexus they make in shiny black?

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Practicing the ancient Chinese art of double flushing... because sometimes, a single flush just isn't enough.

The Dumpster (2506) -- 05.15.2006

No, DF: People on this site have to send all their money to Bilgepump.

Lame comment! -1 point

Double Flush (604) -- 05.15.2006

Then let's get Bilgepump to buy me that Lexus, assuming people have actually sent him money. I must confess that I haven't cause NC State University gets all my money. After that, the bank will get my money because I have a huge loan... sorry Bilgepump!

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Practicing the ancient Chinese art of double flushing... because sometimes, a single flush just isn't enough.

L Wrong Hubbard (216) -- 05.16.2006

Excellent poop reporting!
Japan is, for the most part, shameful. Things that are considered "dirty" are dealt with carefully here. No shoes in the house and the Sound Princess noise boxes to hide poop sounds in women's public toilets for example.
The traditional animisitc Shinto religion places a lot of emphasis on purification, mainly through water and salt. Sumo wrestlers will throw a wad of salt into the ring before they start fighting, and you are supposed ot wash your hands and mouth before entering any shrine to pray.
I have also had linguistic troubles, as well, with the toilet and the bathroom (i.e. tub and shower) being separate as The Dumpster pointed out. And all the while this shameful shitting goes on, you will see lots of cute cartoons of poop in many forms including the nefarious Poop shaped chocolate lolly-pops called "Unchi-kun"
As in all things Japanese, there seem to be strict rules but there is always some ambiguity in the mix

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Happy trails,
L. Wrong
Chairman & CEO, PPK Industries

L Wrong Hubbard (216) -- 05.16.2006

And yes, the toilet is the only place in Japan to get some private space.
The offices are desks crammed together so your coworkers are basically on top of you. No corner suites or cubicles here.

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Happy trails,
L. Wrong
Chairman & CEO, PPK Industries

The Shit Volcano (3740) -- 05.16.2006

With the look of my toilet I am now very worried about what Gordon is going to look like when he finally pops out. Some scary stuff in that Japanese proverb, man. Scary stuff!

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Broccoli!

The Dumpster (2506) -- 05.16.2006

Welcome back, L. Wrong! Long time, no see!

How are things at Dai Ichi?

Lame comment! -1 point

Double Flush (604) -- 05.17.2006

I guess we'll see what Gordon's like when he gets here. I'm sure he couldn't be too horribly ugly.

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Practicing the ancient Chinese art of double flushing... because sometimes, a single flush just isn't enough.

The Dumpster (2506) -- 05.17.2006

When Little Dumpster was born, he looked so much like his Daddy that people wondered who the mother was.

healthy 1 (1427) -- 01.07.2007

These Toto toilets are very nice, and you pay for them. $$$$$$.

I am happy with my simple toilets in my house. I sit down, do my thing, clean up, flush, and move on with my day.
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"-55F, a new record low? Nope, thermometer went bad. Looks like -50F still stands"