Wednesday, November 11, 2009

トイレの日(toire no hi): Day of toilet

They say November 10 (11.10) is day of toilet. Why? Because 11.10 is read 11 (ii) 10 (to) ire. Ii (いい) means good, 10 is read "to" and toire is toilet. This day was established by Japan Toilet Association in 1986.
Japanese traditional style toilet is different from the western style toilet. Men stand and women have to squat. Some people still like Japanese style because they don't have to sit directly on the seat.
However these days the Japanese style toilet has been changed a lot. The shape has become very similar to the western style toilet. But our toilets have so many unique functions such seat warmer, warm-water bidets, warm-water washer and drier, and flushing-sound-maker called oto hime (音姫), literally sound princess, to save extra water.
Usually toilets are separate from bathroom.
They say Japanese public toilet was first introduced in November 1872 in Yokohama. There appeared 83 of them. At that time to urinate outdoors on the street became to be fined.

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