In Tokyo Neighborhood, Artistic Toilets Get Attention
2024-04-13
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1Tokyo visitors can now join a special tour of one of the Japanese city's modern wonders: its public toilets.
2Penelope Panczuk recently went on the Tokyo Toilet Shuttle for a two-hour visit of artistic public bathrooms.
3Panczuk got the idea after seeing "Perfect Days", the Oscar-nominated film about a toilet cleaner in the city's Shibuya district.
4"In the U.S. or in France where I originally come from, you just don't go," Panczuk said of using public bathrooms.
5She added that in Tokyo, the bathrooms are "extremely clean, they're very safe and each one is so different it feels like it's a new discovery each time."
6The shuttle began in March with visitors coming to Japan in record numbers.
7A drop in the value of the Japanese yen has made it less costly for many lovers of Japanese culture to visit for the first time.
8Among Japan's most-loved technological exports in recent years are its toilets produced by TOTO.
9The devices have cleansing sprays, heated seats, music, and more.
10The American animated comedy show South Park recently had a whole program on the toilets.
11Hip-hop music star DJ Khaled announced on Instagram that he appreciated a gift of four TOTO bowls from the rapper Drake.
12The nonprofit Nippon Foundation started the Tokyo Toilet Project in 2020.
13It asked creators including Pritzker Prize-winning architect Tadao Ando to develop new toilets.
14The goal was to increase accessibility and artistry in 17 public toilets in the Shibuya district.
15The project was not meant to be something foreign visitors would want to see.
16But Shibuya's government saw a chance to increase interest in the area beyond its famous street crossing.
17"The highlight for visitors is that they can be driven around the less-visited parts of Shibuya and enjoy the entire district while checking out the toilets," said Yumiko Nishi, a tourist association manager for the area.
18People on the tour pay $32.76 to visit nine different toilets, including one with clear walls that turn opaque when users enter.
19Another is operated by voice commands.
20Takao Karino, visiting from Japan's western city of Osaka, wondered at the wide entrance of a facility created by British designer Miles Pennington.
21"There's nothing else like this in Japa" 69-year-old Karino said about the tour.
22"It's unusual, it's unique, it's honestly brilliant."
23I'm John Russell.
1Tokyo visitors can now join a special tour of one of the Japanese city's modern wonders: its public toilets. 2Penelope Panczuk recently went on the Tokyo Toilet Shuttle for a two-hour visit of artistic public bathrooms. 3Panczuk got the idea after seeing "Perfect Days", the Oscar-nominated film about a toilet cleaner in the city's Shibuya district. 4"In the U.S. or in France where I originally come from, you just don't go," Panczuk said of using public bathrooms. 5She added that in Tokyo, the bathrooms are "extremely clean, they're very safe and each one is so different it feels like it's a new discovery each time." 6The shuttle began in March with visitors coming to Japan in record numbers. A drop in the value of the Japanese yen has made it less costly for many lovers of Japanese culture to visit for the first time. 7Among Japan's most-loved technological exports in recent years are its toilets produced by TOTO. The devices have cleansing sprays, heated seats, music, and more. 8The American animated comedy show South Park recently had a whole program on the toilets. Hip-hop music star DJ Khaled announced on Instagram that he appreciated a gift of four TOTO bowls from the rapper Drake. 9The nonprofit Nippon Foundation started the Tokyo Toilet Project in 2020. It asked creators including Pritzker Prize-winning architect Tadao Ando to develop new toilets. The goal was to increase accessibility and artistry in 17 public toilets in the Shibuya district. 10The project was not meant to be something foreign visitors would want to see. But Shibuya's government saw a chance to increase interest in the area beyond its famous street crossing. 11"The highlight for visitors is that they can be driven around the less-visited parts of Shibuya and enjoy the entire district while checking out the toilets," said Yumiko Nishi, a tourist association manager for the area. 12People on the tour pay $32.76 to visit nine different toilets, including one with clear walls that turn opaque when users enter. Another is operated by voice commands. 13Takao Karino, visiting from Japan's western city of Osaka, wondered at the wide entrance of a facility created by British designer Miles Pennington. 14"There's nothing else like this in Japa" 69-year-old Karino said about the tour. "It's unusual, it's unique, it's honestly brilliant." 15I'm John Russell. 16Tom Batemen reported on this story for Reuters. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. 17____________________________________________ 18Words in This Story 19tour -n. a trip taken by people visiting a place on vacation or for pleasure that is led by a guide who tells about the interesting things in the area 20toilet -n. a large bowl attached to a pipe that is used for getting rid of bodily waste 21bathroom - n. a room in a public place with a toilet and sink 22originally - adv. when something first happened or began 23animated -n. a cartoon using imaginative drawings rather than filmed pictures of real people 24accessibility - n. able to be reached or approached 25opaque - adj. not letting light through 26unique -adj. one of a kind, not like anything else