Washlet
Once upon a time, the Japanese used to use a small wooden stick called Chugi (photo here) to wipe their bottoms. It wasn't until the Meiji period when they gradually started to use toilet paper.
Toilet paper wasn't available during the Meiji period and folks had to import it!
I think people got fed up of using those Chugi sticks because some people mistook them for chopsticks and then realizing while they are eating breakfast that they were not chopsticks (chopsticks otherwise known as "ohashi" in Japanese) but elder brothers personal Chugi. The victim thinking "no bloody wonder there was dried corn on the end of that Chugi..."
The Japanese finally got bored of using toilet paper and invented the washlet. Basically what happens is that once you have finished your morning dump, you press a button and a stream of water shoots your back door to remove bits of poo and undigested spinach. You can see one in action at YouTube.
Rather than spread around the peanut butter with paper, one can strategically take out the offensive object just like MGS Snake with his sniper rifle on a dose of diazepam.
While a bidet does offer similar functionality, you have to actually move over to it and risk dropping some waste in the process. One could slip on the poo and hit ones head on the toilet rendering one unconscious – or worst still ones head could end up in the toilet.
Took this photo in Akihabara and you can see that a washlet is basically a combination of toilet lid/seat that you can fit to most toilets. Some of them have control panels that you mount to the wall and some even have SD Card MP3 players.
Most of these cost 25,000 yen upwards but if you cant afford that then you can always go for a portable version which you can carry around with you.
I remember when I first came to Japan and tried one of these – nearly jumped out my seat. If you are over here, you should try it at least once!
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ecchi student
http://tofusando.blogspot.com
Didn't the Japanese start using chugi in the Nara period? I read that somewhere.
ecchi student
http://tofusando.blogspot.com
Didn't the Japanese start using chugi in the Nara period? I read that somewhere.
ecchi student
http://tofusando.blogspot.com
Didn't the Japanese start using chugi in the Nara period? I read that somewhere.
ecchi student
http://tofusando.blogspot.com
Didn't the Japanese start using chugi in the Nara period? I read that somewhere.
Student
The water they used in Keio Hotel was warm. Cold is better. :V
study
lool
Animator/ graphic designer
http://www.collateralds.com/
Used it before...pretty efficient but has a weird sensation?
Student
Remember the phrase "getting the wrong end of the stick"? In Rome public restrooms sometime a person would grab the wrong end of the Chugi and thus the phrase is born.
http://www.marvinryan.com
ahh washlets, one of the must experience items in Japan. guaranteed to literally knock the muck out of your tushie. ^^
Overman
http://myplasticmoustache.blogspot.com/
Wait, we have washlets too here, right? I mean, it's not exactly unknown here.
Overman
http://myplasticmoustache.blogspot.com/
Anyone figure out how to use three shells yet? (bonus points to the one who can figure out where that reference came from).
http://www.marvinryan.com
demolition man. ^^ btw about ur comment. do you mean bidet? it is similar but not exactly the same. this thing keeps the seat warm and spurts warm water up the tushie. even if you're a bidet user it'll make you jump a bit in suprise. ^^
manager
Hi May i know whether there will be a Unicorn ver 2 in the future?
Student
http://anime.scripts.mit.edu/miteiru/
lol i've used those so many times lol it's fun to experiment with all the buttons and stuff :]
manager
Hi , can a strike PG used a non PG weapons?
Ha!
Got one put in when I remodelled my house last year. It is from Toto and when I ordered it, it came directly from the factory in Kyushu, Japan. It is great, warm seat, nice cleaning with remote control. Both my wife and I's bottom cannot live without it now @@
Graphic Design student | Receptionist | Otaku
http://sukidesho.blogspot.com/
Interesting post, Danny...
Hikikomori in the making
http://supermariabros.deviantart.com/
This would be great in a water gun fight...
Student Engineer
http://www.tgwnetohh.blogspot.com/
no, a CPS 2000 or CPS 2500 would =p.
Student Engineer
http://www.tgwnetohh.blogspot.com/
Import to the United States please! I would totally buy one for my house.
Would want to test it's effectiveness, though! If it chalks up to what it's supposed to be, for $230USD I'll buy!
Gamer, the hardcore kind
http://even248.wordpress.com
What? Toilet paper has it's own web site? That's rich. lol
Lucky I hadn't made breakfast before reading this, but if I had the chance, I'd try out a washlet. Maybe it could be an option if it's fast and effective enough..?
daydreaming
Hihihihihi I brought one portable washlet back from Tokyo 2 weeks ago...great reminder
Pursuing that ever-elusive diploma.
http://finality.dasaku.net
SD Card MP3 Players integrated into a toilet seat? Wow.
Seriously, best innovation. EVAR.
Overpaid Computer Nerd
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rboyett/
I would love to get a Toto washlet for the Master Bathroom but the damn things are so expensive in the States. In Japan there are several manufacturers so the competition keeps prices reasonable. In the states you will spend a MINIMUM of $1000 for a washlet to attach to your existing toilet.
My in-laws have one of these and it tried one for the first time last year. First off having a HEATED toilet seat is the next best thing to heaven on a cold winter morning. Remember that most Japanese homes do not have central heating. The toilet is usually freezing in the morning....except in Japan where you can get your buns nicely toasted. The actual cleaning is done with heated water too. I had my reservations about using it but my wife talked me into it and I'll be damn it is fan friggin tastic. Seriously you'll wonder why the hell you've lived in the stone ages so long...
And don't even get me started about the sink the Japanese build into the top of the toilet tank...
Blogger, Video Gamer, Wan-a-b Otaku, Snowboarder, Idol Appreciator
http://www.jdepot.com
These are "da bomb" but just gotta be careful.
First time it will feel like a water pick firing at your ass! You will lose sensitivity over time ala "deVirginization".
Aside from that on the National Hi-Tech toilets there's a sensor for when you open the bathroom door the toilet seat cover will rise up.
You then press the button to make the toilet seat go up or down depending on your "needs".
The bathroom is a sacred place in Japan. Seriously...sanitation is key in this country. One of more cleaner countries in the world up there with Singapore.
Freelance Artist
http://edcomics.deviantart.com
Had one of these types of things in my first house in Switzerland back in 1994. Nothing new.
Head Lackey and Scape Goat
What I find most interesting about this post is the fact that Danny had a COMPLETELY different writing style / voice than what he has currently.
n/a
http://jijineko.blogspot.com
This makes me think of Golden Boy when Naoko told Kintaro "Don't use that towel by the toilet"...
"Are you alriiiight? You're sweating really profusely!"
Grocery Store Clerk
Seems a little unconventional for me.
Grocery Store Clerk
The skirting water scares me a bit.
HR Manager
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/profile.php?id=679724814&ref=profile
we rented one at home...a serviceman would come round once a month to check and repair it. It had a bulit in heater...an air freshner function and multi-jet stream functionality...I think we had it for 6 months and then my missus called the guy in to remove it and we back to a regular seat...funny that even when we had the thing I still used paper......
Student / Wannabe Artist
http://tsundereworks.wordpress.com
just imagine:
a japanese washlet that runs on a pentium 3, 755 Mhz, 128 MB ram and windows CE. that's why they can play music off SD cards using windows media player.
built-in technology that doesn't violently shoot water up your anus, microsoft has developed a technology that will give the sensation of the soft hands of a loving maid cleaning your behind.
College Student
Since I do not have the luxury of a jet spray toilet, but grew up in the culture of using water to wash one's anus...Here's how I do it.
1.) Our bathroom floor has a "flippable" drain cover, the purpose of this is to prevent larger
objects like hair and poo from getting trapped in the cover itself.
2.) After defecating and flushing, i flip up the drain cover, and stand on the bathroom floor
with my legs slightly spread apart.
3.) While holding a small basin of water (which we locally call a "tabo") with my
right hand, I then let the water flow down my anus, and at the same time spreading
out the inner cheeks of my buttocks with my left hand. The
purpose of such spreading, is to let the water thoroughly wash my anus.
4.) If done correctly, the poop particles and grime is washed away from the anus and goes
down the drain.
5.) When the water that is flowing down my anus is clear or no more pieces of poo are being
washed away, I now let water flow through my left hand to wash away any grime or
pieces of poo that might have sticked to it.
6.) I will then pour liquid antibacterial soap on my left palm, and wash my anus with
the soap, Afterwards i will then rinse away the soap from my anus and left hand.
7.) Next, I open the faucet with my right hand, pour soap again on the whole of my left hand
and then wash and rinse it
8.) Then i put disinfectant alcohol or sanitizer on both my hands.
9.) Last I dry and put baby powder on my buttocks to preserve it's smoothness. ^^;
I so agree with u! My Jpz MIL loves her washlet and is always *telling* me use it (she's old, so I don't get pissed off when she says inapropriate things like that) I prefer wet wipes and did an ahm... erm...*cough*... "experiment", and Lo! and behold. Wet wipes are better than the spray. Nothing beats a bidet though, IMHO.