One of the first great mysteries foreigners encounter in Japan are toilets with a handles that turn in two different directions, with the kanji for “small” (小) and “big” （大) written on either side. After a while you learn that one handle turn will let out just a little water, for when you have made shoben (小便) or “small convenience,” while the other is a full toilet flush for daiben (大便) or “big convenience” (respectively, no. 1 and no. 2). I wonder if this innovative Japanese toilet feature won’t be getting popular in the U.S. soon. Increasingly I’ve been going into restaurants and other establishments in San Diego and seeing similar toilets with a two-flush water saving system. Now if they can get those butt-washing toilet seats in the U.S. en masse, I’ll be a happy gaijin.
It seems dual-flush toilets might be taking hold in the U.S.
