English Audio Request

What do you know about, the Japanese thinking regarding toilets? If you look for Japanese toilets carefully, you can find them. In this presentation, we would like to talk about, Japanese thinking regarding toilets.

Firstly, many foreigners may think that toilets are dirty and have a negative impression of them. However, in Japan, there are many extremely clean toilets. Why are Japanese toilets so clean?

A long time ago, the Japanese believed that gods existed in a clean toilet. In addition, the Japanese placed a great importance on the cleanliness of toilets. For example, in Japanese restaurants, most Japanese think not only of customer service but of the cleanliness of toilets is part of the hospitality for customers. They also think ‘‘Toilets mirror of the respect for customers.’’ Therefore, public toilets in restaurants and shopping malls are checked once every hour by a cleaner as to whether they are dirty or not.

From the facts stated above, it can be said that keeping toilets clean is an important Japanese custom.

A second point we would like to make is that you can find privacy in a Japanese toilet cubicle. Basically, the door of a toilet outside in Japan is like this. However, cubicle doors in many overseas toilets are quite different as shown in this picture. This is to prevent crimes like rape or drug trading which don’t occur so often in Japan. Also, some countries have a problem concerning the theft of toilet fixtures. Moreover, washlets are installed even in public places in Japan. The reason why expensive features like washlets can be installed is that. Japan is a relatively safe country so it is rare that toilets get vandalized.

From the above, we can summarize that Japanese are very respectful regarding public facilities such as public toilets.

Finally, Japanese technology is advanced. One example, is "Otohime" which is installed in women’s toilets. Its aim is to decrease the sound of ablutions. Japanese women often repeatedly flush the toilet over a long time so that the sound of ablutions cannot be heard. Because of this, the water bill can be high. However, if we use Otohime, we can save water as well as decrease the sounds which makes women feel uneasy. Another example is the ‘‘Washlet’’― a product of Japanese advanced technology. It washes a person’s private areas with warm water and sterilizes and deodorizes the toilet. Nowadays, it has become so popular that Hollywood stars visit Japan to buy one. Such a toilet has various functions. For instance, it has a drying function. We don’t need to use toilet paper when using this function. This contributes to environmental protection.

From the information above, we can say that Japanese technology is very well developed regarding toilet facilities and customer care.

In conclusion, not only the Japanese toilet but foreign ones have their own individual idiosyncrasies. While this is true, it is important to understand that different cultures have different thinking about things such as toilets. We need to respect different cultures, and not just criticize them.