American Standard

[chan]

I've been having problems for some time with the toilet in my apartment. It doesn't always flush effectively first time and I find myself waiting for ages for the tank to re-fill before trying again. The toilet is made by a company called American Standard. Apparently that's quite unusual in apartment buildings in Japan and probably has to do with my building trying to be trendy when it was built in the early 90s. After years in Japan, I am used to Toto toilets, which have never caused me any trouble, apart from being too low and unnecessarily hi-tech. I've seen this American Standard in public urinals.

My "American" toilet has a strange flush style. It spins around like a whirlpool before making a long downward suck, like a toilet in a plane but without that eardrum shattering suction. At the point of the deepest suck everything disappears, leaving a completely empty bowl for a milisecond. When it's on form, clean water gurgles back into sight. It's not always on form.

My agent arranged for a repairman to come over. He confirmed that there wasn't a block and that it was simply a badly designed toilet. I couldn't really understand the plumbing vocabulary but I did get the fact that many tenants in the building had the same problem but that the building's owner company was reluctant to fork out to replace the toilets.

Today a second repairman was sent over. He did a high pressure wash of the pipes. Made no difference. Told me I'd just have to negotiate for a new toilet. He explained that I should be patient and wait until the tank had completely refilled before going for the second flush as that would only compound the situation and lengthen the wait. He is quite right.

His parting words to me, said with total conviction and sincerity: "Because of the different kinds of foods they eat, American poo is quite different from Japanese poo". "Americajin no unchi ha nihonjin no unchi to chigau".

Had he verified this with his own research?

I chipped in with "I'm from England so I don't know about American poo, but this American-made toilet is weaker than the Japanese ones that I've used to date". I meant to imply that I assume (along the same kind of unverified stereotype logic as him) that the volume of faeces of the average American would be greater than the average Japanese and that it was strange that "American Standard" actually had a weak, sub-standard, flush.

Although, I almost immediately started to wonder whether there was something in his statement. Whether plumbing and toilet design is in fact influenced by national poo traits. More than that? Ethnic poo traits?

Had I just experienced one of those pearls of Mino Monta wisdom that get called "nihonjinron" and cause the worst kind of fg alienation?

Is it OK for a grown man to say "unchi" to another man with a straight face, in any language? What would a plumber in England have said if using the word was absolutely unavoidable?

Maybe he just didn't know what small talk to make with me as we stood, looking at my toilet and contemplating the hopelessness of it all.

I think he started to sense a weakness in his own position. "Yeah... different poo..." (un.. chaigau... unchi...) he muttered, with a fade out as he gathered his tools and headed for the door.

[Iraira]

I dunno, man. I really can't say whether J-shits are different from gaijin shits, but what I do know is that the pipe running from my toilet could handle a brace of baseball bats. Not sure, if anyone else in my building has a pipe of such a thick bore (no sexual pun intended), or it is just me. I'll ask the landlord next time he invites me to watch him drink.

[FG Lurker]

His parting words to me, said with total conviction and sincerity: "Because of the different kinds of foods they eat, American poo is quite different from Japanese poo". "Americajin no unchi ha nihonjin no unchi to chigau".

If the volume of food consumed has anything to do with the volume of crap produced (and I would assume it does...) then logically the average 300lb American is going to need a much more powerful toilet than the average 150lb Japanese.

Basically speaking though American toilets are crap -- no pun intended. I would say the biggest reason they were put into your building was likely cost, not trendiness. Basic toilets in the US and Canada cost around $100. Special designs (low tanks etc) will be more, but your average "throne" is about a hundred bucks.

A throne made by TOTO or INAX will cost 2x to 7x that amount, and add on another 20,000 to 50,000 for a washlet system.

[Adhesive]

American Standard toilets are generally crap, but maybe this has something to do with the gallons per flush? What is the standard in Japan? I think it's something like 1.6 gallons in the States.

[2triky]

American Standard toilets are generally crap, but maybe this has something to do with the gallons per flush? What is the standard in Japan? I think it's something like 1.6 gallons in the States.

Suprising that they even have American Standard toilets in Japan! I once visited someone in Kamishakuji and she had an old Kenmore refrigerator which I found really suprising.

[ttjereth]

I dunno, man. I really can't say whether J-shits are different from gaijin shits, but what I do know is that the pipe running from my toilet could handle a brace of baseball bats. Not sure, if anyone else in my building has a pipe of such a thick bore (no sexual pun intended), or it is just me. I'll ask the landlord next time he invites me to watch him drink.

I'm not a plumber, but isn't the pipe running FROM the toilet usually under the toilet?

[Iraira]

I'm not a plumber, but isn't the pipe running FROM the toilet usually under the toilet?

I'm no plumber either, and I'd hafta think that suddenly being asked to make a quick right after exiting the poop chute is kinda rude to the shit, no matter how thick your pipe is.....again, no sexual pun intended, even if you are into what's it called.....copaphagia or copacabana.

[kurohinge1]

. . . His parting words to me, said with total conviction and sincerity: "Because of the different kinds of foods they eat, American poo is quite different from Japanese poo". "Americajin no unchi ha nihonjin no unchi to chigau" . . .

"They were Americans. Look at the size of these droppings. And I can see a Hershey's wrapper in there."

Actually, I think anyone with kids can tell you that poo consistency & smell very much depends on what you eat. While country of birth will not magically change your poop chute from a standard human one, where you live will obviously influence your diet and hence the kind of "cable you're cutting". But I suspect toilet manufactures based their designs on more practical issues such as the patents available to them, manufacturing cost, water use, etc.

Just my 2 yen.

[Greji]

Had I just experienced one of those pearls of Mino Monta wisdom that get called "nihonjinron" and cause the worst kind of fg alienation?

Well, since J-intestines are longer, so that J-people can't digest foreign beef and it affects the digestion of rice other than local products, why therefore is it not possible that we have turd-ron problem as well.

This should be an excellent topic for a graduate thesis. A random product development comparison of dispersed residue as produced oriental turd cutters versus occidental counterparts.

[halfnip]

I've only seen American Standard toilets used at airports in the US. Funny thing is, that I noticed that SFO has nice Toto toilets throughout now. It must be the Asian influence in the Bay Area.

[Blah Pete]

I had American Standard toilets in my house in California and never had any problems. It may have to do with the water pressure, or the capacity of the line to the sewer.
During drought times I put a brick in the toilet tank to use less water. you may want to try that.
While we are on the subject of toilets and without going into detail, do the toilet manufactures also own stock in the companies that make toilet brushes?

[Greji]

[quote="halfnip"]I've only seen American Standard toilets used at airports in the US. Funny thing is, that I noticed that SFO has nice Toto toilets throughout now. It must be the Asian influence in the Bay Area. ]

Nope. It was all started when the Larry Craig review, on their nationwide tour following Minneapolis, played there. Now it's standing room only around the stalls. So they've been able to upgrade.

[Iraira]

Nope. It was all started when the Larry Craig review, on their nationwide tour following Minneapolis, played there. Now it's standing room only around the stalls. So they've been able to upgrade.

Larry Craig was reported as saying, "I like Japanese style toilets, as you really can spread yourself open wide, but I don't like how the doors don't leave me any space to observe the stylish footwear of the person next to me."

(no citation possible for this quote)

[Big Booger]

http://video.about.com/homerepair/How-to-Fix-a-Slow-Toilet.htm


That should get your shitter flowing well enough, providing there is enough pressure reaching the system for it to function properly to begin with... It could be that the system that the toilet was designed for (America) has a higher pressure requirement than the system it is installed in (Japan).

That or it's a 10 year old POS that needs to be replaced. Give the video method above a shot, and tell us the results.

And I don't know the type of pooper you have, but if it has a tank with a float inside, you should be able to raise or lower the float to increase or decrease water storage/usage and adjust flow that way. If there's no adjustment screw or system, sometimes just bending the float up or down can have the same affect.

[ttjereth]

Larry Craig was reported as saying, "I like Japanese style toilets, as you really can spread yourself open wide, but I don't like how the doors don't leave me any space to observe the stylish footwear of the person next to me."

(no citation possible for this quote)

I'd say Japanese toilets work well except for being way too damn low. I don't think my knees should be at chest level when I go to take a dump

[kurohinge1]

. . . I don't think my knees should be at chest level when I go to take a dump . . .

Actually, for humans, they should.

Squatting Versus Sitting - Why Squatting Is Better

[ttjereth]

[quote="kurohinge1"]Actually, for humans, they should.

Squatting Versus Sitting - Why Squatting Is Better



]


Not when using a sitting toilet

[Iraira]

[SIZE="3"]Energy-tight Japan splashes out on posh privies[/SIZE]
Electricity-guzzling toilets boast warmers, bottom-washers and music
TOKYO - When it comes to saving energy, the Japanese have much to teach the United States and other rich countries, whose leaders descend on Japan next month for a Group of Eight summit.

Energy consumption per person here is about half that in the United States, and the growth of greenhouse gas emissions is slower than anywhere in the industrialized world.

There is a hiccup, though, in this world-beating record. It happens inside the Japanese home, where energy use is surging. And nothing embodies the surge quite like the toilet -- a plumbing fixture that has been reengineered here as an ultracomfy energy hog.

Serious about cleanliness
Toilets with built-in warmers for bottom-washing first arrived in Japan in the 1970s. They were U.S.-made medical devices for hemorrhoid sufferers. But they took off, becoming the most profitable innovation in the modern history of Japanese bathrooms, according to toiletmakers.

The Japanese are serious about cleanliness. The word for clean -- kirei -- is also a word for beautiful. People often sweep the street in front of their house. They remove their shoes upon entering a house. They shower before bathing. They are sensitive to odors. For all these needs, aversions and desires, super toilets fit the bill, as well as catering to the Japanese love of gadgets.

In addition, Japanese houses are often small and, in the winter, chilly. A warm, comfortable, musical and hygienic seat in the bathroom expands living space.

...romance with a high-end toilet is not cheap. Luxury models cost up to $4,000 -- plus at least $2.50 a month per toilet in higher electricity bills.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25360387/

[Greji]

I'd say Japanese toilets work well except for being way too damn low. I don't think my knees should be at chest level when I go to take a dump

Agreed and some of the early made western styles that are still in use will cause you to drag you johnson in the water during use. Take, you can disregard this post as this will not create any problems for you.

[nottu]

[nottu]

[kurohinge1]

Agreed and some of the early made western styles that are still in use will cause you to drag you johnson in the water during use. . .

I thought your Johnson was supposed to go in the water.

[FG Lurker]

[quote="kurohinge1"]I thought your Johnson was supposed to go in the water.



]
That's a mighty small Johnson you've got there kuro....

[kurohinge1]

[quote="FG Lurker"]

That's a mighty small Johnson you've got there kuro.... ]



Oh, that's not mine, FGL.

I'm not allowed to post a picky of mine - according to the Court order.

[Greji]

[quote="kurohinge1"]
I'm not allowed to post a picky of mine - according to the Court order.

]

Damn Kuro, they busted you again? You ain't got no lucky with proxies at all!

[Mock Cockpit]

Proper toilet repair is only possible if the consistency of the input is known.

[Iraira]

Proper toilet repair is only possible if the consistency of the input is known.

I tend to break up the block of curry cubes into #5 before I plop it in the cook pot. It tends to end up looking like #7, but a little thicker.