On April 2nd, my Japanese Conversation Class took a field trip to the TOTO Museum.
We met at the Nishikokura Station in the morning and walked to the museum together.
Our class coordinator had arranged for us to have a private guided tour. So when we arrived to the museum we were immediately greeted by our guide and ushered to the viewing theater.
Even though the tour was conducted in Japanese, there were English subtitles for everything --- signs, displays, pamphlets ... etc. I also had Shoko-san by my side.
The tour lasted for about 2 hours, but I could have stayed there all day. There was so much to see and do. For those of you who are unfamiliar, TOTO is a Japanese company that is known for producing revolutionary toilets. Through the tour I learned about the history of the company and also about their plans for the future. I seriously wish I would have thought to do some of my business research projects on them when I was in college. Their company culture and business practices are admirable.
In Japan TOTO is a household name. Everyone seems to own a TOTO Washlet --- even me! My apartment is equipped with a Washlet. The Washlet is what TOTO does best. It's not just a toilet, it's a machine. With an abundance of features from air deodorizer, bidet, auto open/close, and heated seats, these machines can do it all.
TOTO toilets can be found in the USA, but their usually only seen in commercial buildings or high end hotels. I hope you're lucky enough to come across one someday.
So here are the pictures from the tour . . .
TOTO Washlet
TOTO Washlet
Traditional Japanese Style In-Ground Toilet
Japanese Conversation Class
