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Nov 18 2005 11 Comments

Toilet techno

Not content with making the bathroom a place for the leisurely perusal of poetry, toilet trailblazer TOTO has produced a lavatory with a built-in music player.

apricot toilet

As well as the now almost standard wash and dry facilities, TOTO’s unusually named Apricot N5A has the ability to bang out a few tunes, whilst you, erm, bang out other things. A company spokesperson saying, “We conducted a survey in 2002 where we asked people to tell us what they wanted from a toilet. The most common response was a heated water cleaning system, which was closely followed by the desire for audio-visual functions.”

Yet don’t for a minute think that this means some kind of cheap stereo with an inbuilt muzak soundtrack. Far from it. The inclusion of a memory card slot means that users can set the music to suit their needs. A couple of short and snappy pop ditties could be ideal backing for an equally brief ‘business trip’. Alternatively, a 1970’s prog rock marathon would perhaps be better suited to those looking at a more prolonged visit. The addition of volume control allowing any embarrassing splashes or splatters to be easily drowned out by a timely cymbal crash or screeching guitar solo.

music playing toilet

With the Apricot N5A however, the fun doesn’t stop with musical accompaniment. For those whose bowels run like clockwork, the toilet seat can be set to warm-up at specified times. Plus the embarrassment of frantic flushing after a particularly large and stubborn deposit should be a thing of the past, as the intelligent toilet is capable of analyzing what it’s dealing with; taking the appropriate action once dimensions and consistency have been accurately calculated. Yet perhaps the Apricot’s biggest boon — at least for the ladies — is that the seat puts itself down automatically.

automatic toilet seat

Whilst such lavish lavvies may seem a little over the top to some, Kuo Ue, director of the Japan Toilet Association, claims to know why such advancements have become so attractive. “Japanese are a people who have placed great importance on hygiene since the olden days and really focused their attention on the toilet. There’s even a saying that if you want to be beautiful, you should first clean your toilet.” Finishing off with a slightly controversial parting shot. “There’s a tendency for toilet talk to be taboo in the West, so they haven’t progressed.”

Categorized: Culture, Music, Technology Stuff

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Worn Used Panties says

    11/19/2005 at 6:23 am

    I think this is a great idea, there is nothing worse than a cold toilet seat in the morning

    Reply
  2. Surronded says

    11/19/2005 at 11:17 pm

    I love this kind of toilets hahahaha I want to have one…

    Reply
  3. Makito says

    11/20/2005 at 12:38 pm

    Toilet humor!

    Seriously though, I’m moving into a brand new condo and if I hadn’t quit and gone to University this year too I’d have one installed.

    Toto’s top of the line + the NeoRest (actual toilet part) is crazy expensive, over $3000+install here.

    Reply
  4. Reg says

    11/20/2005 at 8:27 pm

    Ummm does it only play DRM music?

    Reply
  5. John says

    11/20/2005 at 10:55 pm

    Being back in Japan at the moment for work I am once again using these high-tech marvels. Although the hotel ones do not come with music features, it does have a heated water cleaning system, assuming that means the water jets that it shoots at ones nether regions at the press of a button.

    In fact it has both temperature and pressure controls for me to play with if I get brave enough. It also has a light labelled ‘deodorizer’ that illuminates when one sits on the seat (and it starts pumping water somewhere at that point in time too).

    Reply
  6. Brett says

    11/21/2005 at 1:53 pm

    “Japanese are a people who have placed great importance on hygiene since the olden days and really focused their attention on the toilet.”

    Riiiiight.

    Reply
  7. poppy maclean says

    12/17/2005 at 12:49 pm

    “There’s a tendency for toilet talk to be taboo in the West, so they haven’t progressed.”

    That’s right – we’re so unevolved we’re into saving whales from extinction, we’re working on getting over our racism and we even own up to our war crimes occasionally……….

    Reply
  8. Miguel Muniz says

    6/18/2006 at 10:05 am

    We like information about products details, prices USD$$$, shiping and handling, time to receive it at Carolina, Puerto Rico

    Reply
  9. Laura says

    3/8/2007 at 11:41 am

    Ok, from now on when I think of Japanese beauty, I’ll think of the toilets!

    Reply
  10. josef says

    10/12/2009 at 1:12 pm

    what a wacky toilet

    Reply

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