19. Juni 2024
In 2009, Japanese sanitary experts TOTO gave their visitors to ISH, the world’s leading trade show for the industry, a warm welcome: “Hello Europe!”. This was their first time at the Frankfurt show, and they had a decisive product in their portfolio: WASHLET. It disrupted the industry. WASHLET, or shower toilet, combined the toilet and bidet in one – was practically unknown in Europe at the time. In Japan, however, WASHLET was part of everyday life for several years. Just about every child is familiar with TOTO products, and most households have a shower toilet. Thanks to TOTO, WASHLET is a trending product today and the greatest innovation in European bathrooms in the past several years. It is considered an important element of any bathroom designed with comfort and well-being in mind.
Many innovations that have changed the world were initially ridiculed, viewed with scepticism or rejected altogether. People thought that the first automobiles were mere toys for the wealthy, the internet a passing fad for tech enthusiasts, and AI just science fiction. WASHLET has a similar story. Adding an intimate cleansing feature to a toilet was also totally new to Japan – but people throughout the country quickly caught on. The feeling of cleanliness from fresh, warm water cleansing reflected the strong need for hygiene that sets Japan apart from other countries. This phenomenon also holds true today: No country on earth has public toilets as inviting and clean as Japan.
It makes perfect sense that Japan was the birthplace of a project like THE TOKYO TOILETS. The Nippon Foundation asked renowned international architects to build 17 public toilet facilities in Tokyo, all of them equipped with TOTO products. These toilets, designed by such luminaries as Tadao Ando, Kengo Kuma and Shigeru Ban, have attracted international attention
WASHLET has become more widely accepted over the years. Today, it’s a “must have” for any modern bathroom. TOTO remained unfazed by the initial hesitance, always expecting the product to take off in Europe over time. The company attended every ISH trade show, having in-depth conversations with plumbers, wholesalers, planners and interior designers. They wanted to bring Japan’s life-changing experience with WASHLET to Europe as well, allowing people to make it part of their everyday routines. As soon as 2011, just two years after the TOTO market launch, competitors started showing more shower toilets at their trade show exhibitions. Together, everyone helped make this product a success.
TOTO can claim to have initiated this development. The expertise gained over decades of hygiene and comfort technologies is often imitated – even today. Founded in 1917, the company has extraordinary expertise in ceramic production. TOTO developed the innovative rimless toilet bowl and Tornado Flush system. Another special feature is that TOTO always positions the wand for intimate cleansing above the toilet bowl: This protects the wand from waste. A protective flap also keeps the wand clean. This placement also prevents the wand from coming into contact with flush water or faeces, keeping the technical components clean if the toilet ever clogs. Another unique cleansing technology developed by TOTO is ewater+. It is based on electrolysed water, which has an antibacterial effect. Bacteria-reducing ewater+ cleans the toilet bowl and wand, helping them stay cleaner longer. Other comfort and hygiene technologies include the heated toilet seat, front wash and dryer features available on some WASHLET models.
Today, WASHLET is an important part of designing a comfortable and accessible multigenerational bathroom. It also gives the elderly and people with physical limitations greater independence when using the toilet. According to company figures, TOTO has sold over 60 million WASHLET models – more than any other company in the world.
Düsseldorf, May 2024
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TOTO, one of the world’s leading sanitary ware companies, has an unwavering focus on people and their well-being. Established in Kitakyushu, Japan in 1917, TOTO has been developing, producing and marketing its comprehensive high-end bathroom concepts for the European market since 2009. The company aims to create a new attitude towards life through regeneration, comfort and hygiene, integrating 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 now look back on over 40 years of developing and manufacturing WASHLET and has sold over 60 million units worldwide to date. TOTO supports the development of a fully emission-free society and is very committed to sustainability: By joining the RE100 initiative, TOTO Group will convert all of its facilities to power from sustainable energy sources by the year 2040. The company also received certification from the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBT) to reduce greenhouse gases in line with the Paris Agreement, and to systematically cut CO2 emissions further on this basis. TOTO employs 36,000 people world-wide.
Read more about TOTO online: eu.toto.com