The Bathroom Door is Not Sound-Proof!

As we know, nobody likes to be heard peeing or pooping. Just ask anyone who uses the Pee Without Noise Stool. (Or Marilyn Monroe!)

The Japanese always seem to be pioneers when it comes to bathroom technology. After all, back in the 1800s, a Japanese genius came up with the idea for the Otokeshi-no Tsubo: “Urn for Covering the Sound.” 

The urn was filled with water and put in the bathroom. So when someone needed to pee or poop, the idea was to pull the plug on the urn and let the water flow out of the dragon's mouth. This gurgling would mask the sound of pooping and peeing.

And now the Japanese have come up with yet ANOTHER genius bathroom invention: it’s named the Keitai Otohime, but it’s probably easier just to call it the first-ever, palm-sized pee and poop audio masker.

Basically, it’s a keychain-sized version of the Urn for Covering the Sound. The small electronic device costs about $15, and makes flushing, gurgling sounds. (There is also an iPhone application called “Eco Oto” that does the same thing.) 

But the cool thing about it is that the Keitai Otohime  saves water. That’s because the average Japanese woman flushes the toilet more than two times to conceal her pooping and peeing sounds. That means this device will save four gallons of water every time someone goes to the bathroom!

But maybe the day will come when we no longer need these devices. As a Japanese woman said in this news story, “My own excretory sounds never make me embarrassed. It's much more embarrassing to put on makeup on the train.” Totally. I feel the same way!

Oh, and here’s a 1980s' version of the Keitai Otohime.