20. März 2021
“Japanese toilets are about as far beyond ours as our society is from the Middle Ages,” commented German weekly magazine “ZEIT” in its recent evaluation of the benefits of Japanese shower toilets, especially TOTO WASHLET™. The author of the article is not the only one who is convinced: The Japanese also know that they lead the way when it comes to hygiene when compared to other countries. And this is no coincidence.
When people use the toilet in Japan, they expect it to be clean and hygienic. For example, people change their shoes before entering the bathroom. Thoroughly washing one’s hands and leaving the bathroom clean for the next person to use are completely natural and commonplace parts of everyday life in Japan. Europeans are aware that using a Japanese toilet may involve a faux pas or two, and that there are a few things to learn.
The venerable Japanese company TOTO has been manufacturing WASHLET™ (name inspired by “let’s wash”) for the past 40 years and is the world’s leading producer of shower toilets. The shower toilet has since become part of nearly every Japanese household. In addition to cleaning the intimate areas with warm water, these shower toilets include several hygiene technologies that leave people with an incomparable feeling of cleanliness – and are well on their way to becoming a regular part of European everyday life as well. The ongoing pandemic is another reason why people are more focused on the topic of hygiene. There is also a greater willingness among homeowners to spend more on renovations and invest in shower toilets.
What’s different? Travelling to Japan makes this very clear. Most tourists who travel by plane will land at the Narita Airport in Tokyo – and experience their first contact with Japan’s distinctive hygiene culture in the waiting area of terminal 2: Whoever wants to use the toilet here will encounter the impressive Gallery TOTO, spanning 145 m2. This space invites people to explore and linger, with WASHLET™ in every stall. Travelers will then see WASHLET™ throughout their entire time in Japan. Whether at the hotel, on the train, at a restaurant, in a public washroom or at a cultural institution, people will find shower toilets everywhere.
The principle of hospitality in Japan also applies to public toilets. This is why the wonderful Nippon Foundation project, The Tokyo Toilet, could only happen in Japan. Tokyo’s Shibuya neighbourhood is home to 17 different public toilets, each of which a unique architectural work of art. These objects were designed by such high-profile architects as Shigeru Ban, Tadao Ando and Kengo Kuma. TOTO was able to contribute its products for the interior design. The main idea was to create toilets for everyone to use: for people with physical limitations and of all ages; for men, women, children and families. The result: public toilets in which everyone can feel comfortable and secure.
TOTO has introduced several WASHLET™ models to the European market over the years. A new introduction for this year’s ISH is the sleek, curved WASHLET RG, available in two versions. The RG and RG Lite look the same, include the hygiene technologies synonymous with TOTO, and can be descaled either manually or using an integrated descaling programme. The difference: In contrast to the RG, the RG Lite does not feature the Premist function or deodorizer – for a more affordable introduction to the world of WASHLET™.
Read more about WASHLET™: gb.toto.com/washlets/
Düsseldorf, March 2021
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TOTO, one of the world’s leading sanitary ware companies with 36,000 employees world-wide, has an unwavering focus on people and their well-being. Since its foundation in Kitakyushu, Japan in 1917, TOTO has been developing, producing and marketing its comprehensive high-end bathroom concepts – entering the European market in 2009. The company aims to create a new attitude towards life through regeneration, comfort and hygiene, integrating easy-to-use technologies into their product designs in a smart, nearly invisible way. Japan’s leading manufacturer in the sector, TOTO offers a comprehensive range of products including ceramic sanitary ware, faucets and accessories. The company can look back on over 40 years of success in developing and manufacturing WASHLET, having sold over 60 million of them world-wide so far.
TOTO is strongly committed to improving people’s well-being – as well as that of our planet. TOTO joined Initiative RE100 with the goal of becoming an emission-free company and is working towards achieving carbon neutrality at all its locations by 2050 – primarily through the consistent use of renewable energies. In 2021, TOTO received certification from the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) for adopting targets in line with Paris Climate Accord. By selling and developing products that save water, the company is helping conserve resources each and every day. Sustainable products will make up 83% of TOTO’s portfolio by 2030 – with innovative technologies dramatically cutting water consumption. With these steps, TOTO is pursuing complete climate neutrality by 2050 – see our Integrated Report 2024 for more details.
More about TOTO: eu.toto.com