They're not doing so hot in Japan because of the economic situation. But we're completely unaffected here. They want the bidet-style wash, but no blow dryer, please. And some of the most popular Japanese features, for instance the artificial flushing noise, just don't translate well between cultures. A bidet nozzle emerges from under the seat at the touch of a remote control.
Product literature claims that an automatic deodorizing system eliminates toilet odor in an instant.
In Japan, where most homes are not centrally heated, the adjustable heated seat is the No. 1 attraction of the high-tech toilets. But American firms, which still dominate the domestic market, say they are not worried about losing out to Toto's bottom-up approach. Eljin, which is owned by U.S. Industries, has about a 26 percent market share. American Standard, Kohler and Briggs have most of the rest of the market. If we saw a void, we would try to fill it.