Why Japanese Toilets Are Failing in America (2013)

I brought one of these home from Japan and have been trying it out on unsuspecting houseguests. People usually yelp the first time (surprise heated seat!) and after the second time they're hooked.

The water jet is unsettling the first time you use it, but you get used to it quickly. The feeling of having a genuinely clean butt gives you the confidence you need to go crush it in the boardroom.

Here's my answer:

* no plugs near the toilet in American homes

* too f'ing expensive

Combined, these two turn getting a Japanese style toilet into a multi-thousand dollar investment. To compare, even reasonably nice toilets cost <$200 at your local hardware store.

There are U.S. homes with Bidets in them. My sister had one in the master bath of her 1940s era home. But they're again another $200-400 prices plus plumbing costs.

If somebody made a Japanese style toilet, and it and install were <$500 Toto brand toilets would be everywhere.

So I was shopping for bathroom fixtures with my wife and I decided to use the bathroom (the ones that were plumbed!).

I sit down, do my thing, and I notice there's a remote control unit. I press the button and a jet of water shoots up my ass, and I get so freaked out I stood up and got the rest of me wet, too. Having not read the manual, I press a few more buttons because I hear these things dry you as well. It did, after a few more squirting incidents.

It would have been cool to have one of these things, but they do cost a fair bit more than a normal toilet. Also your guests may never return to your house.

Oh and someday these things will be so advanced they will be considered intelligent. Terrible thought, an intelligent being whose whole life is looking where the sun don't shine.

This is a big deal, but no one wants to think or talk about it. You can start to experience this by just taking a shower immediately after anything that would normally require a bidet (read: toilet paper... or kleenex). It's quickly realised that this means a LOT of time wasted taking showers and clothes-changing to stay clean in only two areas. And I'm sure everyone shaves often enough so that nothing sticks, right? It then become annoying, as this is entirely a solved problem from the engineering side (very much "not invented here"). I don't even use toilet paper any more. However, I live in an apartment and can't afford one of these washlets anyway, yet I very clearly see the advantages.

Note that deep into the piece, the author reveals he's never actually tried one before. So take his advice and analysis with a grain of salt.

Before smartphones became the rage, American consumer technology always lagged behind japan in terms of adoption. I think this is still the case for a lot of things, including toilets.

We love these things. We have bought at least 8 of the Totos over the last 10 years. None has ever needed repair (we have several houses). They helped me a lot after an abdominal operation, and are good for our severely learning delayed son.

If anyone wants to give it a try, here it is a cheaper alternate [1].

This doesn't require the electricity since it is manual but more or less play the same role like Japanese toilets (without drying facility but you can use TP after using it).

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bidet_shower

"Also, interestingly enough, most people who grew up with bidets believe the toilet paper only method to be unsanitary whereas those brought up on TP only believe bidets to be inferior."

If bidets are inferior to TP, then why should we wash our hands after using the toilet? Surely a wipe over of our hands with a piece of TP would be better.

American homes are generally insulated, not drafty, and centrally heated. There is therefore no need to heat your butt to stop it freezing to your toilet seat, and so no overwhelming drive to connect everyone's loos to the mains, and all the other features aren't enough to make it a mainstream purchase.

I didn't really like living and working in Japan, but the toilet in my flat is one of the few things that I dearly miss. I don't know why anyone would want to stick their hand in "the mess" with a flimsy layer of cheap paper as the only insulator between skin and "the mess" when such a great alternative is available.

The machine I had in Japan had a hot water connection instead of an electric heater. However, being electrically inclined, the models sold in the USA would be a better proposition for me, rather than having to plumb a hot water line to the toilet. I'm going to get a Toto as soon as I expect to remain in one place for longer than five years.

On the other hand, I've had experience with German toilets too, and wow the fact that this exists makes me sad.

I experienced the japanese toilet the first time in 2006. I was curious to try but afraid it would get messy. It takes a bit getting used to. When i came back to the netherlands, i wanted to buy one too but, like the US, no power in the toilet.

After i got my new apartment i had a power outlet built in the toilet. Now im so used to it, sometimes i even look for the remote in other peoples toilets, lol.

They say using TP only cleans 20-30% of bacteria and with a bidet around 95%. Most important is that you feel just fresher down there.

My friends coming over dont use it, but my girlfriend does and loves it.

There are, however, many Americans who started to use wet wipes because they want to feel cleaner.

Bidet attachments and bidet seats ("washlets") are much cheaper in the long run and they also aren't a problem for the sewage system.

By the way, electricity isn't an unsolvable problem. There are water resistant extension cord covers. You can safely extend it.

Maybe it would be a good idea to produce models with replaceable power cords (with generic IEC 60320 plugs) for the American and European market.

After using them in various Google bathrooms, I spent the money and added a Toto washlet to my toilet. It has easily been worth it.

How do folks use bidets (or those spray-hoses they use in India) without getting water and feces everywhere? How do they dry off without using tons of toilet paper?

The whole bidet thing just seems messy and unsanitary. I'm sure that there's a way to use it which isn't messy and unsanitary, but I'm not about to make a mess trying to learn!

I've already read several good reasons here. Another major problem is that the issues solved by these expensive toilets can be solved by much cheaper means.

Temperature: cold seats are not a problem in the Southern third of the country, and where they are, a padded vinyl seat is quite effective in mitigating the problem.

Cleanliness: Wet wipes work quite well. Our favorite after trying many brands with a new baby is the Target generic unscented wipes. They are about $2.50 a pack, or $20 for a metric-xxxxload.

Therefore I cite the KISS rule, "keep it simple stupid." Cost and maintenance issues heavily favor the simple toilet and why I've never been very interested in fancy ones despite the disbelief of others.

Stupid question, but doesn't the stream of water potentially spray fecal matter all over the nozzle itself, causing contamination?