Device Called The "Sound Princess" Drowns Out Embarrassing Toilet Noises

[matcom]

<snip>

WHEN Naoko Ito uses a public bathroom, she cringes in embarrassment at the thought that other patrons can hear the sounds coming from her stall.

That's when she turns to the Sound Princess.

Ito, like a rapidly growing number of Japanese women, presses a device installed in public toilets to simulate the sound of water flushing - and mask the cruder noises of nature.

"I usually use the flushing sound when I go to a public bathroom, such as at a department store, because I get a bit self-conscious," said Ito, a 60-year-old waitress.

The device - a curious mix of Japanese bashfulness and modern technology - is spreading rapidly through public buildings and has now become standard equipment for new constructions.

http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,10977443%255E13762,00.html

[demnan]

1. Good idea

It's better than sitting in a stall holding it in while someone else just came in to do a tinkle.

[ScreamingMeemie]

2. I kind of like this idea...being shy like I am.

:hi:

[Piperay]

3. They should put them in

over here, it would make it easier and faster to get 'down to business'.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

4. I encountered those in Japan

It was startling at first to find that the toilet began making gurgling noises the moment I entered the stall.

Actually I think it's a silly example of Japanese fastidiousness.

News flash: everyone has these bodily functions, and even the Japanese got along without these high-tech bells and whistles for thousands of years.

[psychopomp]

7. You should know better

As it is, ladies just waste water being modest. You remember the story about the fire at the Mitsukoshi in Tokyo, I think in the 20's? Women jumped from the top floor rather than have themselves exposed from below. Going down the ladder meant people being able to see up their kimono. This led to women's undergarments being mass-marketed in Japan.

[psychopomp]

8. Sorry, forgot the point

Point is, this habit won't change unless there is some crisis (drought?) that forces people to change. The flushing sounds are discreet and if done electronically, I can't see the harm.

[kick-ass-bob]

5. Who the fuck cares?

HA! This reminds me of that scene in Austin Powers with Tom Arnold in the next stall...
"Show it who's boss!!"

:7

[Piperay]

14. You would be surprised at how many

women (here in the US) that have bathroom shyness and can't 'go' if someone is in the next stall. There is even a special term for this phobia (but I can't remember it exactly, something like shy bowel syndrome or something). All the time when I am in the restroom women go into the next stall and flush to cover the sound before they can even begin their 'business'. Don't suffer with it myself but feel for those who do.

:hurts:

[no name no slogan]

6. Almost as entertaining as boob scarves!

[LisaLynne]

9. Oh, come on.

People know what you're doing in there anyway.

[Red State Rebel]

10. I'd use that! n/m

[miss_kitty]

11. wow that's great!

I can now think of the person in the next stall as an OCD water-wasting toilet-flusher, instead of someone with normal bodily functions :evilgrin:

[spinbaby]

12. Encountered lots of those in Japan

Actually, it's one of the tamer features you can find on a Japanese toilet.

[Chovexani]

13. I've seen these on sale at the Japanese mall in NJ

They were an endless source of amusement for me and my two dumbass friends. :)