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Japan To End Tourists' Toilet Trouble With Standardised Buttons (theguardian.com)
The Japan Sanitary Equipment Industry Association, a consortium of companies producing plumbing products has agreed to unify the iconography used on the often baffling control panels for Japanese toilets. From a report on The Guardian: Navigating the array of buttons on Japan's high-tech toilets can be a disconcerting experience for the uninitiated, who, expecting to hear a familiar flushing sound, are instead subjected to a sudden, and unwanted, cleansing of the nether regions. As Japan prepares for an influx of overseas visitors during the 2019 rugby World Cup and the Tokyo Olympics the following year, the country's sanitation industry has agreed to standardize pictograms on toilets so users know for certain if they are about to receive a blast of warm air or a jet of water. Nine manufacturers belonging to the Japan sanitary equipment industry association will soon start using the same eight symbols to explain the buttons found on their state-of-the-art WCs. At a launch event this week, the firms said they had agreed to simplify the pictography in response to complaints from tourists that they are confused by symbols that differ depending on the make of toilet. In a survey of 600 foreign visitors, a quarter said they could not understand some of the symbols that appear on the toilet buttons.
> a quarter said they could not understand some of the symbols that appear on the toilet buttons.
Those are the quarter of the population that need to be sent on the B-ARK.
I should use this sig to advertise my book ISBN-13 : 978-1501515132.
I can think of three, maybe four, but beyond light flush, heavy flush, bidet, and drier, what are the other four functions?
SJW: a person who perceives an injustice, and while correcting it, commits a greater injustice.
In a survey of 600 foreign visitors, a quarter said they could not understand some of the symbols that appear on the toilet buttons.
The water spray looks like a sprinkler. The air dryer looks like wind or sometimes bacon. If there are no pictures, it's not too hard to figure out through trial and error. And how hard is it to learn a little bit about the country you'll be visiting? Jesus, you people make me sick.
Replace the buttons with 3 sea shells.
push buttons!
It's an Automatic Tampon Remover.
Drill baby drill - on Mars
I can think of three, maybe four, but beyond light flush, heavy flush, bidet, and drier, what are the other four functions?
After my first trip to Japan, I bought one of those superseats. Mine features a heated seat with different settings, front bidet for the ladies, back bidet for us all, settings for water temperature. And I didn't even buy the iffy-spiffy one.
Home Depot sells them. Once you've used them, you'll wonder why we use paper. Think about it: if you get poop on your hand, would you just wipe it or properly clean it with soap and water? Nevermind, I know the answer. So why do you settle for just wiping down there?
In the US there is more space. Plenty of space for a bidet. Incorporating the bidet function into the toilet seat is just a space saving method that is appropriate for the tiny bathrooms in Japan.
I should use this sig to advertise my book ISBN-13 : 978-1501515132.
Jesus Christ, that thing's more complicated than the Moon Lander!
And if you get it wrong, it pisses right back at you!
the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Years ago, while on vacation in Japan, I stepped into a bathroom only to find a large room with a row of holes in the floor and trapeze like handles (such as on a subway car) suspended from above.
I really didn't need to go that bad.... and used the tree in the corner instead.
I've not spent a lot of time in Japan but on future trips I will have a little nostalgia remembering coming in after a long night of Karaoke and trying to figure out how to relieve myself without flooding the bathroom.
Of course, that option is a lot better than the ubiquitous hole in the floor with a shell that you squat over that my wife always wondered why I took pictures of.
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You are welcome on my lawn.
I still don't understand. What's the difference?
The only answer I could come with was that one was meant for butts and the other for women, which would be an unpleasant surprise to any man who hit that button.
obligatory Futurama reference
Thomas Crapper and Leonardo Da Vinci would both uninvent the water flush closet if they'd known it would come to this.
Does it have one of those? It looks a little like it should have it. That would certainly surprise people.
Need a Python, C++, Unix, Linux develop
If I'm pushing a button that I think means flush I have already stood up and adjusted my clothing beforehand in order to avoid *any* possible complications from that operation. These certainly include unexpected jets of water coming from the bowl.
"Wait. Something's happening. It's opening up! My God, it's full of apricots!"
This is what everyone wants:
1). Go to the toilet, first thing in the morning. Barely awake;
2). Fill out a mandatory pre-use survey;
3). Do your business, not convinced you are even using the right appliance;
4). Play a game of chicken with the obscure controls;
5). Toilet clogs;
6). No apparent way of unclogging toilet;
7). Give up in disgust and frustration, leaving the mess for others.
Yes, people loved to be challenged by the toilet!
... the "I ate a greasy bacon cheese-burger for lunch" wash?
As Japan prepares for an influx of overseas visitors during the 2019 rugby World Cup and the Tokyo Olympics the following year...
What good is standardizing the pictographs now? Toilets stay in service for decades before being replaced. So unless they are going to have some sticker campaign to relabel all the ones already out there, it's too late.
Standard Buttons? So like, the first button is for small flush and the other one is for big?
Just like in demolition man. And stallone was confused!
I fear where this might go. (NSFW?)
Have gnu, will travel.
I the Philippines they don't even have a bidet you just use the little bucket.
The first time I visited Japan, I pressed the wrong button on the toilet, and a geisha girl came into the stall. I asked her name. "Buttons Galore."
https://xkcd.com/927/
I can say that it isn't really that complicated. Yeah, there are a few buttons. You just try them one at a time to see what happens. What's the worst that can happen?
Can someone tell me what the upside down bird held aloft by a water fountain do? (I'm aware what it really represents but when I first saw it it reminded me of how kids draw birds.)
"OK Google, lick my butthole"