By Kevin Cooney
When I first arrived in Japan I spoke no Japanese. I obviously read none either. But I did my first day in Japan learn my first two new Kanji. A process that would not prove as easy for other more complicated Kanji. They were 大 and 小.
Respectively they mean "Big" and "Small." You might wonder by what means of deduction I figured out their meaning. Well, these two Kanji I found side by side. No, not on the menu for beverage sizes. No, not while buying a pair of new Japanese shoes. No, not while trying on "I love Tokyo" T-shirts. I found these two Kanji side by side in the bathroom. I was presented with a flushing choice: big or small. I'm still after nine years not entirely sure what decides big or small.
I bring this up, because after nine years this still strikes me as one of the most emblematic creations of Japanese design genius. Using less water when necessary is ecological, economical and entirely simple. The world is currently worrying itself about any number of disasters. Global warming, harsh economic times and a plethora of other issues confront the world. The looming water shortages don't even blip on the radar of most folks. As the world tries to adjust to painful lifestyle choices like using less petroleum or changing their diet, some small solutions exist that seem despite their obvious benefits to have not been adopted world wide.
I suppose over the years the toilet with a size choice has become less novel for me. But I still look at the handle in wonder. Not that I can't decide if I need to use big or small. Rather I don't understand why every toilet world wide doesn't have this option.
When I first arrived in Japan I spoke no Japanese. I obviously read none either. But I did my first day in Japan learn my first two new Kanji. A process that would not prove as easy for other more complicated Kanji. They were 大 and 小.
Respectively they mean "Big" and "Small." You might wonder by what means of deduction I figured out their meaning. Well, these two Kanji I found side by side. No, not on the menu for beverage sizes. No, not while buying a pair of new Japanese shoes. No, not while trying on "I love Tokyo" T-shirts. I found these two Kanji side by side in the bathroom. I was presented with a flushing choice: big or small. I'm still after nine years not entirely sure what decides big or small.
I bring this up, because after nine years this still strikes me as one of the most emblematic creations of Japanese design genius. Using less water when necessary is ecological, economical and entirely simple. The world is currently worrying itself about any number of disasters. Global warming, harsh economic times and a plethora of other issues confront the world. The looming water shortages don't even blip on the radar of most folks. As the world tries to adjust to painful lifestyle choices like using less petroleum or changing their diet, some small solutions exist that seem despite their obvious benefits to have not been adopted world wide.
I suppose over the years the toilet with a size choice has become less novel for me. But I still look at the handle in wonder. Not that I can't decide if I need to use big or small. Rather I don't understand why every toilet world wide doesn't have this option.
Its common here in Sweden aswell. Didnt think it was something special for others. Guess they arent common in America then. ;P