You're in for a bit of a shock should you visit the restrooms and bathrooms in Japan or some other Asian countries. They have installed some of the most advanced toilets in the world.

According to one observer, they make American toilets look like "a bedpan with a drain."

Japan started introducing new toilets and new toilet technologies in the mid-1980s. The first examples to hit the marketplace were reasonably basic, but still more advanced than anything found in this country. They had a heated seat and were a combination toilet and bidet.

While this new toilet became a hit in Japan and surrounding countries almost from the start, when the manufacturer introduced them in the U.S., they landed with a big thud. They were treated as a novelty, and while some high-end hotels selected them, the American consumer was just not interested. We might add, one reason for this might be costs. They did cost far more than a traditional toilet, and installation costs could be hefty as well.

Since then, the American "bedpan with a drain" remains the mainstay of U.S. bathrooms and restrooms, with few changes expected in the coming years. But let's take a look at some of the things we are missing by not installing these high-tech toilets.

For instance:

• Most have integrated bidets, like the ones first introduced in the 1980s. However, instead of squirting cold water to your private parts, the water is warmed to make the experience more enjoyable.

• Heated seats are the norm.

• Water is used far more efficiently. Most use about 1.28 gallons per flush, which is less than the minimum amount required in the U.S.

• Get this, they clean themselves. While they still will need a more thorough cleaning about once per week, for the most part, the toilet maintains itself very well on a day-to-day basis.

• Most high-tech toilets now have a built-in deodorizer. One American commented that "they make the whole restroom smell like flowers."

• Along with deodorizers, white noise machines are built-in that fill the stall with the sound of raindrops, also adding a bit more privacy when duty calls.

• Built-in night lights are standard and some even have built-in music systems.

• We should add electronic panels next to the toilet control all of these features, or they have a remote control.

These toilets are everywhere in Japan. It is believed that more than 80 percent of Japanese homes now have high-tech toilets.

So, why have these toilets not become more prevalent in this country?

We do find them in some high-end homes and hotels, but they are still treated as a novelty. Most Americans, it appears, just don't think they are all that necessary. Plus, there is the cost difference mentioned earlier. Some of these high-tech toilets can cost more than $13,000.

However, there is another reason, as well. Culture. The Japanese have a history of being somewhat germophobic, starting with their bathrooms. While individual Americans certainly can be germophobic, it is not necessarily one of our cultural traits.  Even in Japanese homes that might be slightly unkempt, the bathroom is invariably kept clean at all times. It's the way they are and the reason these toilets are so commonplace.

For more information on new restroom technologies, how to reduce water consumption, waterless urinals, and to use water more efficiently, contact a Waterless Co Specialist

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