Japan Womens Toilet
For some reason or another, some ladies in Japan are rather shy when it comes to jettisoning human waste.
For this reason, bathroom appliance maker TOTO invented the Otohime [音姫] which literally means "princess of sound."
Otohime is a device that emits the sound of water to disguise the real sound of the trickle of pee or the kerplonk of 1 kg of poo hitting the waters surface. The video below is an example of the device in action.
The Otohime above is a standalone unit (available from Amazon for 11800 yen) but some toilets come with Otohime built in.
But what about toilets that are not equipped with a sound emitting device?
Well one can stamp their feet or clap their hands as loud as they can or start to cough or even sing to disguise the noise.
For folks who cant sing, have their feet tied together or need their hands to examine their poo, Transformers maker Takara Tomy comes to the rescue with a portable version of the Otohime.
The portable version of Otohime or "Keitai Otohime" fits discreetly in ones bag - as you can see they have cunningly chosen pink to camouflage in with natural surroundings.
One can even hang it off their mobile device. If you have parents who keep nagging at you about being late out at night, you can always use Otohime to simulate the sound of a tidal wave.
Hey Mum, I'm just being swept away by a tidal wave which is why I will be late.
Keitai Otohime comes in two designs - "Ribbon" and "Forest" and will be out this November and retail for 1500 yen. Are you in need of this device? Are you embarrassed about the noises you make when taking a dump?
Photos from Walker Plus.
BTW, if you do a search for 音姫, you will also get a load of results for the DaCapo character - she has the same kanji but her name is pronounced "Otome" - bit O trivia for you.
If you are interested in reading about life in Japan, seeing photos taken daily around Tokyo, like Japanese subculture (anime, manga, figures, Dollfies) then you may want to start delving into the Japan or Figure categories for a start or have a gander at all photo articles.
If you don't have much time now, maybe subscribe to the RSS Feed, Twitter Feed or join the other readers in the FaceBook Page.
Alternatively, you may want to read more about the site.
If you are a regular reader then this message will probably annoy you each time - hide it forever.
-Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)
Student or something like that
http://myanimelist.net/profile/tiberis1221
ROFL!!!
Hahahahaha, it reminded me of a radio commercial(disguised joke) Here in mexico for a device with the same function but applied to farts XD
LOL, "The sound of the nature, when ur inner nature calls out"
Hahahaha
High School Student
http://scorchnroses.wordpress.com
I have no need for such device as I don't use public toilets(except for taking a piss) unless I really have no choice.
Daigakusei [Consular and Diplomatic Affairs]
http://dixinfernal.wordpress.com
what the heck!?!?!!?
the sound of poo-ing will never be the same ^^
hobbyist snapper
if your poo sounds musical.
fart off a tune! hohoho.
former Emperor of Britannia
http://reflectiarx.wordpress.com/
I'm out of words to convey my laughter on this article.
3D artist
http://andyh.cgsociety.org
Haha - this is brilliant! Great choice of sound effect too - Kerplonk!
Bit strange how popular these sound making devices are - people will just know you are making cacky noises when you hear them go off.
Would be funny if people used the portable otohime when theyre taking a pee in the bushes when drunk!
unemployed machinist.. yeah
Dude!! That is a great idea! Use the otohime when drunk in the bushes.. Awww hell. I gotta get one now
http://h4msterworld.wordpress.com/
let's just hope that the device screams louder than the user..
I'm getting one of those!!!
Nah, not really.
but yeah to a westerner like myself the whole japanese toiletbusiness is just mindblowing. The controlpanel for the toilet in my Kyoto hotelroom looked advanced enough to control the millennium falcon.
NEET
http://austrianotaku.com/
Lol, toiletbusiness^^
Hopefully you din'T have a Wookie in your toilet though.
unemployed machinist.. yeah
Wow.. Oi.. that was a good laugh. SEriously.. I guess some people are embarassed by such things, and some people think ladies shouldn't make that sort of noise.. but that sound of rushing water is really annoying
Pre-U Student
http://wakuwakusuru.zeroclipse.net
Haha.. imagine like 5-6 of those things going off at the same time at a public toilet ^^;
Otaku ^^
What an invention to waste your money on. I prefer to spend the money on a Nendoroid... ;P
d@@b
Student
http://purplezest.wordpress.com/
haha funny, tht sound would prob be worse lol, i wonder how many they have actually sold
Otaku Graphic Designer
http://neoprolacus.spaces.live.com
LOL... I was thinking of Asakura oneechan when I saw the kanji... XD
Student
At least in school it's a bit embarrasing make louder noises, especially public toilet in school.
Student
LOL!!! Thats Wayyy too much ^_^
Software Developer / Space Marine
Why dont they just throw in a bit of toilet paper before taking a poop - no splashing noises?
Dance Trooper: DCX-001 O.D.E. (Order of the Dancing Empire)
http://dannychoo.com.my
and no splashing poo from the water sticking on our butt ^^
NEET part-time - Technical Support Officer - Network security engineer
http://burugureibi.blogspot.com/
i lol'd really hard on the second paragraph - *imagines plonking noises*
*giggles immaturely*
Education specialist, IT content developer, crosscutural trainer, freelance translator / interpreter
http://smart.fm/users/xaky
Only in Japan can you find such creative ways to camouflage your cacaphony- if you'll pardon the pun.
Podcaster and tech-otaku
http://www.japanpodshow.com
I think there's an iPhone app for that too...
Dedicated and certified lunatic, Beer snob extraordinaire...
Oh, too much: "iPhone-a-poo" app......STOP, please!.....*roflmao*
Medical School Student
http://xilvan.wordpress.com/
i wonder how many units they will sell=.=
and i am not embarrassed by the sound of taking dump , because nobody knows that i am there right 8P lol
Student
Now this is innovation.
フリー漫画家
http://mangayomo.com/member/tofu
日本人は、恥ずかしがりやなんですｗｗｗｗ
A Japanese is shy.lol
1 kg of poo hahahahahh
IT manager
I have a bit of shyness too, but as a male, I have the option of the "rim shot" which more or less removes the sound problem for most of it... the other part? Well, that's hit or miss... no ... that came out wrong... okay, I am not choosing my words well today am I?
studying comp studies, planning to look for part time job
http://bruneian-otaku.blogspot.com
lol I sometimes kinda embarrassed with the noises I made when taking pootpoot. ^^;
Student
http://foxkey.blog126.fc2.com/
I don't think i've ever dropped the kids off at the pool in a public restroom. I don't think it is more if i'll be embarassed or not, rather than the health conditions of those seats... Although I have nothing with the #1.
The product generated to cater to those meek people during toilet breaks.
Phail Student
http://heyitsjana.blogspot.com/
AHAHAH this funny, just wow. xD they made it so cute looking too. But to be honest I get shy too at times ^^;;
COMPENG/SWENG Student
http://ryan2006.deviantart.com
Wouldn't that just make it obvious? You could still try to be stealthy.
...
lol?
student
http://fletkumato.deviantart.com/
I'm a girl.. and I think it would be more embarrassing to carry that device with me than making those nice "kerplonk" noises >_<
Wanderer of the Mist
http://hangmen13.16ops.com/
YOU LOST ME. So, to put this across blatantly, Japanese women hate the sound of their own fart?
Student
lol funny stuff.
Student, Otaku, She-Geek(Sheek lol)
http://meimi132.wordpress.com/
'a bit O trivia for ya' lol.
Otome is cute. Has a figure of her.
As for the toilet gadget, I can totally see why it'd be useful.
NEET
http://austrianotaku.com/
Weird device is weird! I can't think of another country were stgh like this would be sold. Jpan is unique ^_^
And there's even a netbook like version, ROFL, I'm speechless...
Dance Trooper: DCX-001 O.D.E. (Order of the Dancing Empire)
http://dannychoo.com.my
Best of all, IT'S PORTABLE!!!
Mad scientist
Portable means it can run out of battery ^^;
What happens if it runs out of battery? Somebody spends all day not going to the toilet? That's downright harmful to the body (worse for female than male for some reason)
Blue Suit Sapien with White Helmet
http://conrad501.wordpress.com/
Again, i'm left speechless by those Japanese people and their ideas....They can come up with all sort of weird solutions for even the little problems....
Student
http://the-home-planet.blogspot.com
I remember hearing about those toilets a long time ago, but the portable device just takes it to a new level! XD
The little portable "Forest" Otohime is pretty cute, though. If I was in Japan I'd use it, but it would definitely attract more attention than your natural noises would anywhere else, hahaha.
mahou kishi
http://www.animedia.com.mx
thats like announcing that you are doing it, but is a good idea
College Student
"Hey Mum, I'm just being swept away by a tidal wave which is why I will be late."
I NEED THIS MACHINE.
Star Gazer
http://vixums.wordpress.com/
I think that is the strangest idea. But... I can see why some people would need it... kinda XD Marketing in Japan is so brilliant haha
http://myanimelist.net/profile/Chace
11800 yen?!
i would just make the noises with my mouth!
sure, people will stop and stare when they hear you screaming "WHOOOOSH" from a stall...
failing student
http://ukyuki.blogspot.com/
ha lol
High school student
http://www.animeraku.com
So much money for such useless device? O_o I would never buy that. You know, if you really can't stand that sound, then all you have to do is to disguise it by singing XD
Heh, now I need to go to toilet. This post has made my bowels move ^^
Upcoming College Student and Otaku
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/Patches418?ref=profile
It almost makes it more ridiculous to have a sound go off when your doing your business. It makes it that more obvious that you're going to the bathroom. Also, if you really need something to drown out the noise, start playing music really loud from an ipod with mini speakers ^^
Teacher of English
http://www.freewebs.com/superrobots/
Ha,Ha,Ha. Lol. Can I have an Otohime that simulates the Uchu Senkan Yamato cannon sounds when I fart in a public toilet, please? 'Ka-boom' in Dolby Digital 5.1 at 3 o'clock in the morning!
Or better still one that simulates the wave motion gun cannon at full power (from same anime) when my poo hits the water?
Thanks Danny you really made my day today as I simply can't stop laughing.
pervert
the ladies can always start moaning...
University's Slave
My Japanese teacher implied that such devices were specifically to disguise the sound of farts, since they have a weird way of echoing in the bathroom. XD I, however, don't care. I'd probably look for some way to mod the device so it would play some really obnoxious, distracting song--the the Numa Numa song, maybe, or All Your Base.
part time illustrationist, doll clothing seamstress
http://puppy52art.com/
woah that's chunky o_o
Mad scientist
I knew about the water sound machine for some time. It's made to save water since women will let the water run to hide their sounds O_O
I really don't get why it's that bad to make sounds in a toilet. I mean we all go to the toilets once in a while and that's it. Surely it's not something you put on display, but at the same time it seems sick to hide it that much. It's like being out of touch with your own body (something I suspect many cityfolks to be).
Student, Uncle & hopfully a good husband..
With the air freshener...they can package it to completely mask the smell and sound...of whatever they are doing...
Mad scientist
An air freshener is actually an air dirtifier. It fills the air with chemicals and the more places you are exposed to something like that, the more likely it will be to become allergic towards smell chemicals. Considering how severe an issue it is for those who are allergic and how little useful they are (just can just ventilate instead), then I say air "freshener"s shouldn't be used at all.
I have been wondering. Why not just make a vacuum inside the toilet and blow the air into the pipe the toilet uses for getting rid of the content? Sure it will become a bit windy to sit there, but the smell will not go against the airflow and the bathroom will not smell at all. No use for chemicals or anything besides electricity and the Japanese toilets already needs electricity so the difference will not be noteworthy.
Sure you can get the toilet to blow the air out of the room in a normal way, but by blowing it into the already present pipe you can build the blower into the toilet and installing it will not be different from any other electrical toilet. The only potential issue I see is what will happen with all the air in the sewer system? Will it leak into the air outside and hence smell of the content of the pipes, because that wouldn't be good ^^;
student
O.O soooooooooo impressed, maybe they can filter the dirty air that's going outside or something, but yeah, that would be pricey u.u
IT Administrator
Well..it just make the noise of "beep" louder, won't it make you more embarrass when you get out??
Student, part-time slave
http://yakuri.wordpress.com/
lol I remember some toilets with the built-in function, but it seems ladies need to be discreet outside too XD
Personally I don't care if people make noise in the restroom, we're all humans and we all have basic bodily functions, no reason to be embarrassed of something natural (that's like being ashamed of having sex). Same goes with farts and burps, if you excuse yourself it's alright (just crack a window willya?)
Mad scientist
You are excused to leave the room to fart. It's no good to fart smelly ones "on purpose". Toilets are a dedicated room for behaviour like that. Dining rooms and similar aren't and I can imagine better smells when I like to eat ^^
Student, part-time slave
http://yakuri.wordpress.com/
Hahahahaha of course it's not proper to go around farting in a closed room or while eating! one must always act according to the place they're in, I'm not saying people are allowed to just fart adn burp anywhere lol
Student
http://cream77.deviantart.com/
Strange but smart.I know my sisters never use public restrooms with other people in them because they get so embarrassed.
http://moemoekyun.wordpress.com
who need that device ?
Dirty Gentleman
http://cantstanzya.wordpress.com/
They should make one that plays the Alka Seltzer theme:
"Plop plop, fizz fizz... oh what a relief it is."
Full-time geek/Part-time student/Part-time musician
http://randomgeekness.livejournal.com/
LOL! I always do it at night or early in the morning so no one is awake to hear me :D. ROFL!!
Student
http://www.optimisticpenguin.com/
lol awesome, I know how they feel, spesh if you need to do a number two in a public toilet, you don't want everyone to know!!! lols.
Student, artist, dreamer
http://tranquil-solace.com
Why do I have the feeling that someone is making a musical version of this right now D:?
Student
http://lordofgundams.blogspot.com/
US bathrooms do not have such a feature. Unfortunately, anyone who uses a public bathroom would still be subject to hear those sounds.
Amazing what Jpaanese people invent, but alot of them sure are strange. Interesting, but strange.
Darn, typo. Japanese*
University Student
Wait wouldn't that bring even more attention to you? If I heard someone next to me with that I would look towards that stall and wonder what the heck what going on in there.
Marine on roids
So funny I can't even laugh
student
a good device, but I think is easier just to throw a little piece of paper before, that helps a lot and for the "other" kind of sounds there are other techniques ^^'
???Confused???
All I know is when nature calls...you better answer...
Imagine being able to install whatever music or sound effects you want later on. XD
writer/blogger/gamer/otaku
http://popgoespj.blogspot.com
I'll take a pass on this. even were I to use Otohime to disguise whatever it is I'm doing in the restrooms, I'd still feel like the device would actually call attention to what I was doing 'stead of camouflage it.
Illustrator/japanese language student
http://animesoussu.blogspot.com/
That's exactly what I thought When I first came across the toilets with the "sound disguise" thing! if people could hear the electronic noise they knew you were trying to cover a fart or a splash LOL
Polytechnic Junior, Bronze Lifesaving Trainee, Mech Designer In-training.
http://thehangerbay.wordpress.com/
1 kg of WHAT? XD
Hm, never really bothered about the sound before, can't say I actually considered it useful... well, it's just an opinion on my part.
Student
Oh my.
This is like at my school.
Highschool girls think that they're so clever walking into the restroom and turning on the hand dryer, then walking into a stall.
But my, some of the things people come up with.
Time Traveller/High School Student
http://thetsundere.wordpress.com/
But wouldn't the hand dryer go off by itself really quickly unless you keep your hands under the sensor?
writer/blogger/gamer/otaku
http://popgoespj.blogspot.com
I suppose not if the hand dryer's the old push-button type. we still get a few of those around here.
Student
No matter what you do to hide it, business is business.
Japanese Language Student
http://bamola.wordpress.com/
I used to see these at Juasco. I'd mess with them just because. I'd love to have a pocket one. Maybe I could recalibrate it to make monkey sounds instead. That would get a laugh.
Lazy Gamer at home
http://www.espadakiller.wordpress.com
Wow Japan...haha!
Carpenter
LOL. The need for these devices amuse me.
In Canada, either at a hockey game or other event (men atleast) let the noises fly.
Its quite amusing....The sound of 10+ bowel movements hitting water :P
Injured
Noisy bathroom vent fans can do a lot in this case, like at home. I see a new occupation from this article though. In bathroom bands, acoustic guitar, acoustic bass guitar, and a tambourine. Like the in bathroom attendant people who hand the people leaving the stalls a towel or whatever, these guys start anticipate when the person in the stall is going to go and begin playing loudly.
Injured
Have to add, whatever you do, don't start taping your feet to make noise. Someone has invented a language of feet taping in bathrooms and it can lead to some really strange and possibly bad things happening.
Student
http://youtube.com/lilkidz
Lol wonder what is next on the menu.
Underpants inspector #42
I think i'd be more embarrassed by singing or clapping to myself in a public toilet than making nasty poo sounds.
Programmer
LOL Will you hear horse, deer , owl, bird, cat and rabbit sounds as you poop
kaisyainn
http://nhk.boo.jp/
１０歳くらいの時ですが、学校で大便をすると、クラスメートがおちょくったりするので、学校では大便が出来ないという事がありました。
最近ではそんなしょーもない事をするアホガキはいなくなったと思ってましたが、なんと、最近は大便専用のプライベートがパブリックな学校に出来ているようで今でもそんなアホはいるみたいですね。すみません、アホと言ってしまって、今後は知能に於いて大いに進歩が期待される人達と呼ばせていただきます。
http://personal.babelred.com
LOL! Welcome to the future!
Trendspotter Busybody Mercenaries
http://spectreoutreach.blogspot.com
Another $$$ useless money grabbing application
Pseudo-Graphic Designer, 触手 wrangler, H-Man
http://lightningsabre.blogspot.com/
Wow... is it THAT embarrassing that you'd need one of these? ^^;
Screenwriter Wannabe
for 11800 yen, at that
Student
Another great japanese invention to save the day!! (^_^)