Japanese Toilets and the question: But do they flush??

Some of my friends are going to visit me here soon, and I promised to write about japanese toilets. Well - I know, a slightly odd topic, but then again you are free not to read it ;-)

There are two types of toilets in Japan: "Japanese style" toilets and "Western style" toilets, the latter ones existing in the luxorious form of so-called "Washlets".

Common for all public toilets is that toilet paper is often not provided - so japanese people carry around small packages of tissue. Product samples of tissues are commonly given away at train stations (Note: GRAB ONE!!!!)

Handkerchiefs to dry your hands are also usually not provided, and the well-equipped Japanese often carries both towels and soap in her handbag...
Some public toilets (as for example the one at my sports centre) even have toilet slippers for exclusive usage inside the washroom...

In addition, all japanese toilets have another nice accessory:

The Sound Princess

(I have heard that men's toilets don't feature this great invention, but have no personal experience to judge from...)

Apperantly, many Japanese women are embarrassed about the sound of nature's call, and therefore used to flush the toilet constantly. This is of course a huge waste of water, and therefore the technically highly versed japanese came up with a smart solution: The Sound Princess (Otohime, 音姫, just one brand name which is commonly found), a device to emulate the sound of flushing Japanese toilets (without actually flushing them). Ingenious...

This device can be found in all public women's toilets, and may be either a separate battery-operated box attached to the wall of the toilet (as the one shown in the picture above), or included in an existing washlet (see further down). It is activated by pressing a button, or by the wave of a hand in front of a motion sensor. After activation, the device creates a loud flushing sound similar to a toilet being flushed.

Terrible... I mean, you would think that for the japanese who are the world leader in high-tech and managed to invent the tiniest cell phones, laptops, mp3 players and whatever it would be a piece of cake to make this box reproduce the flushing sound in a slightly more natural and less painful way... The sound is so scarp it actually hurts to hear it... it is LOUD... and they use it ALL THE TIME...
And even if you are totally alone in a public toilet, it is almost impossible to manage NOT to activate the flushing sound if it is activated by a motion sensor....

Well, enough complaining already, let's go on and have a look at


Traditional Japanese-style (和式, washiki) toilets

which are basically holes in the ground... These toilets are also known as the Asian toilet, apparently squat toilets of somewhat similar design must be common all over Asia.

There exists a nice animation about how to use these toilets, have a look: http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~AD8y-hys/movie.htm

Incredible enought, a number of medical benefits are attributed to the squat toilet. It has been
suggested that the squatting strengthens the pelvic muscles of females, reducing the likelihood of incontience, and it is also said that this toilet builds up strength in the hips, and improves breathing and concentration, and that the upright squatting position allows more solid waste to be eliminated from the colon. Furthermore, assuming and maintaining the squatting position on a regular basis may also help maintain the flexibility of the knees and...

Health benefits of squatting position.... Unbelievable what you can do research on. Use it once a day and you will live happily and healthy ever after. But as healthy as it may be - this type of toilet is uncomfortable... So here comes the lush version of a western toilet :D


The Japanese Washlet (ウォシュレット)

a high-tech version of our western toilet and the most advanced type of toilet worldwide, featuring a dazzling array of features... We even have this type of toilet in our institute - which I would not have expected judging from the buildings age...



The Washlet is a super-high-tech sit-down model with a control panel that looks like the cockpit of a plane... You are lucky if the panel is in both japanese AND english, otherwise it may be quite difficult to figure out what the toilet is going to do in case you push a certain button...

The first pleasant feature I noticed when I arrived in early spring (it was still chilly outsiden since japanses don't warm up buildings in general) was the heated toilet seat...

It took me a couple of days until was brave enough to test all the other buttons without knowing what the response of the toilet would be... Usually, the toilet functions are operated by a control panel that is either attached to one side of the seat or on a wall nearby, transmitting the commands wirelessly to the toilet seat.


Washlets (a brand name of TOTO Ltd.) come in different versions and feature different effects. The most common features seem to be integrated bidet are washing the anus or vulva of the user (including a number of pulsating and massaging functions) and dry afterwards with warm air. Great.


As soon as you get up from the toilet seat, a deodorizing fan that apparently breaks down odorous molecules and returns clean air into the bathroom environment is switched on automatically.

I have to be honest and say that the extra functions indeed are very comfortable :-) No further comment.

You can watch a nice presentation of how the washlet works on this webpage: http://www.washlet.com/jasmin.asp and click on the quick time videdo on the right hand side.

The most advanced washlets can even mix the water jet with soap for an improved cleaning process, and depending on the model, these features may be included:

- automatic lid opening
- massage options (vibrating/pulsating jet of water)
- automatic flushing after use
- automatic lid closing
- wireless control panels
- germ-resistant surface
- heating and air conditioning for the room,
- et cetera et cetera...

There are obviously no limits... Some toilets also glow in the dark or may even have air condition below the rim for hot summer days. In the most recent toilets, researchers have added medical sensors, which can measure the blood sugar based on the urine, and also measure the pulse, blood pressure, and the body fat content of the user.

Talking toilets that greet the user have also started to be made, and TOTO has even created a portable washlet which you can carry around with you! (have a look here: (http://www.washlet.com/portable.asp)