It is a well-known fact that the Japanese have got going to the loo sorted. And that the kings of toilet toilette are Toto. And having pampered the bums of Asia since 1917, Toto are now touting their wares in Europe. Visitors to Via Solari 37/39 (Tortona District) can savour their latest product and first conscious attempt to woo a European market with a ‘washlet’ (i.e. robotic loo seat) designed by none other than Stefano Giovannoni.
Judging by the number of Japanese men pawing at and cooing over it, and the number of German and Italian men standing around sniggering, it would seem that a significant cultural divide remains in the area of bum hygiene. In anticipation of this fact, Toto have helpfully provided a press release and marketing material which includes a 15 page manga on the delights of using the product. What does it look like? Well Giovannoni’s days of designing brightly coloured willy-shaped accessories for Alessi are pretty much behind him, so this is not the Barbapapa bumparty you might be expecting. In fact, it looks a little bit like all the other washlets. i.e. Like a big, white, shiny loo seat with buttons on. While the information provided doesn’t go as far as telling you that this device is for washing poo off your bum, it does tell you lots of other things that it does, such as the “Tornado Flush” feature and the automatic lid: “as you approach the toilet, sensors cause the lid to open automatically. You can’t see them, but they see you, responding intelligently to your presence.” Available from June.
Text & Image: Ben Hughes