America’s Toilets in Need of a Revival

By Tanner Pipins - Entertainment Editor

   The earliest reference to the bidet dates back to the early 1700s of French royalty. The invention of the bidet is credited to a French craftsmen who installed a porcelain bowl (filled with water) into a wooden chair that would be
placed near their noble’s chamber pots. “Bidet,” which translates in French to “small horse” or “pony,” refers to the way you would straddle the bowl, similar to riding a horse. Since it was, at that time, more labor-intensive to gather enough water to fill the entire bathtub, servants would fill a bowl and place it bedside so the French aristocrats could “spot clean” smaller areas.
   Somehow between then and now, Americans have remained out of touch with the growing technology of bathroom hygiene. However, globally, areas like South America, Europe and Asia embrace and even accessorize their porcelain thrones.
   In NPR’s Newsletter you can find an excerpt from “Why America is Losing the Toilet Race” where reporter Greg Rosalsky describes toilets in Japan as “marvels of technological innovation.”
   A Japanese toilet company known as Toto, prides itself on being the world’s largest toilet manufacturer and leading the race on bringing comfort and functionality to the commode. Features like: heated seats, air deodorizers, backrests, remote controller and motion activated lids are just a few of the items that come standard to approximately 80% of the homes and hotels in Japan. On the higher end of Toto’s showroom you can purchase toilets that also feature night lights and a sound panel known as the Otohime or “The Sound Princess.” This panel
is fully customizable and can emit white noise to ensure relaxation and privacy during your go. Toto’s newest dual flushing toilet comes with all the bells and whistles and is currently being sold for about $17,000.