When was the last time you went into a restroom in an airport or restaurant or hotel and saw a hole in the floor…..granted a good-looking, clean, porcelain mounted in tile, but, nonetheless, hole in the floor.  I’m speaking to women.  I haven’t been in the men’s restroom.  I hadn’t been warned in advance.  Which makes me smile.  I’ve learned since that they’re called squat toilets.  And, yes, you feel it in your quads.

I’ve peed in the dirt, in a bucket and over the side of a boat.  So, I’m not unaccustomed to making do.  I’ve just never had this experience before.  After my turn in the restroom, I watched many well-dressed women in very high heels enter that space without a scream of shock or chuckle of surprise and come out looking relieved….and just as poised as when they went in.

My experience was that if there were more than one toilet stall, say two rows of stalls, one side was equipped with Toto Washlets and the other with squat toilets.  I soon began to watch who was going into which side.  Japanese women used both sides as they became available while others waited for the Toto.

At first, I wanted to live as the natives do; but, soon I realized that the Toto’s not only had a seat, but it was heated.  HEATED!  Life had changed for me.  My wish list is now topped with a Toto Washlet.  Did I mention that the Toto is also a bidet and massager and blow dryer? And, they have already come to America.  I haven’t heard a word about it.

If you google it you’ll find some calling it the Japanese Wonder Toilet.  I agree!  Think about it.  You sit on a warm seat, comforting in itself; then, when you’ve finished, you wash, massage, giggle a little, and dry.  It’s like going through a car wash.  You feel so much better when you emerge into the light.