Traveling abroad is always a daunting task, often involving misunderstanding
of spoken and body languages, intimidating food, and strange customs. Few top
the confusion felt by the uninitiated when seeing a bidet. But that technology is old hat. Enter the Washlet. Japan's latest hygienic innovation is quickly catching on and may spread stateside. As of 2004, it was being installed in more than half of Japanese households.
Making Water and Making Money
Washlet is actually a brand name product manufactured by a very successful
firm in Japan called TOTO Ltd. Certain models have control devices to dictate what the user wants to do. Others even lift the seat when it senses someone approaching.
A Little More Specific
So, without breaking standards of Internet decorum, how does one explain what
exactly the Washlet does? You can probably guess the hygienic benefits are far greater to standard toilet paper, but phrases like "pulsating water" and "massage functions" are also commonly used when describing the Washlet. A jet of warm air and automatic flush later, you're ready to face the rest of the day fresh as a daisy.
Facility History
Perhaps most surprisingly is that the Washlet has been produced in Japan for
over 20 years. Inspired by Swedish design, combination toilet-bidets, TOTO began
making the most sophisticated sanitary equipment on the planet. Why hasn't it
caught on worldwide? One can only guess.
