Japanese toilets

Modern Japanese toilets, commonly known as Washlets, include many advanced features rarely seen outside of Japan.

While the toilet looks like a western style toilet at first glance, there are a number of additional features—such as blow dryer, seat heating, massage options, water jet adjustments, automatic lid opening, flushing after use, wireless control panels, heating and air conditioning for the room, et cetera—included either as part of the toilet or in a toilet seat. These features can be accessed by a control panel that is either attached to one side of the seat or on a wall nearby, often transmitting the commands wirelessly to the toilet seat.

Recently, researchers have added medical sensors into these toilets, which can measure the blood sugar based on the urine, and also measure the pulse, blood pressure, and the body fat content of the user. Other measurements are currently being researched. This data may automatically be sent to a doctor through a built in internet-capable cellular telephone. However, these devices are still very rare in Japan, and their future commercial success is difficult to predict. Producers currently also develop a voice-operated toilet that understands verbal commands. Toto, NAIS, and other companies also produce portable battery operated travel washlets which must be filled with warm water before use.

It is possible and occasionally done to use the water jet on a high pressure setting for an enema. There are also reports of females using the water jet as a masturbation aid. It is not known, however, how common these practices are.