Otohime

tsurara · Nov 25, 2007, 09:39 PM

Japan is great. Don't get me wrong, I love it here. But every so often I notice something so mindbendingly stupid that it warrants a little rant.

Here's a good example: Japanese women will not pee if they think anyone can hear them.

That's how nuerotic this society is. The very THOUGHT that a woman needs to urinate and that someone else might find out that she's doing it seems to send Japanese women into a panic.

So, women will flush the toilet before they use it to cover the sound. This is, of course, idiotic and a huge waste of water: so some smart fellows came up with this device called "otohime" (literally: "sound princess")

Otohime is a little box attatched to the wall of most public restrooms that has a big button to press. Pushing the button makes an obviously fake flushing sound designed to mask the fact that you are *gasp* peeing.

Of course... it's fairly obvious that on hearing the otohime go off, the lady next to you is using the toilet.

I don't hate the boxes... I actually like that they save water. But I am annoyed that, by their mere existance EVERYWHERE, they're implying that the sound of urine hitting the water in a toilet bowl is something mortally offensive that must be hidden at all costs.

Alright... I'm done.

Damn you otohime.
Damn you forever.

*Abu Dhabi* · Nov 25, 2007, 09:53 PM

O_o not to be rude, but isn't urinating in like half of all hentai? anyways...

i can understand wanting to cover up certain bathroom sounds, but just for urinating? are they going to try and hide that they sh!t too?

=_= but, i don't really understand a lot of culture of Japan...

_gwenibe_ · Nov 26, 2007, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsurara

Here's a good example: Japanese women will not pee if they think anyone can hear them.
.

I don't think it's exclusively in Japan ( though prehaps more common). All through Highschool I would walk into the toilets and the tap would be running. For the longest time I wondered why, thought that prehaps that some one left it on and so I just turned it off. I realised that it was because the girls that were in the toilet didn't want to let anyone hear them pee >_>. ( even though last I check, that's what toilets were for..)

I haven't seen this done anywhere else outside of highschool, but i'm sure there are women and girls who would do it else where. Prehaps the use of Otohime might become a common thing in other socities aswell. Waste of time and money imo, but I guess it does save water. But honestly wtf cares? It's not as if someone is going to walk out and say "omg did you hear how loud that women was peeing?" XD

Arukih · Nov 26, 2007, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsurara

Here's a good example: Japanese women will not pee if they think anyone can hear them.

GOOD LORD!!! I all most fall off the chair when I read that! Seriously they have to find out a priority for them GEEZ Im in shock!!

souichiro_arima · Nov 26, 2007, 05:59 AM

If I would have to think, its pretty obvious that women in Japan really take good care of their reputation as women.. Come to think of it, a woman whose really in need of toilet to pee need to wait until anyone in the rest room goes out.. Thank heavens they invented that device called Otohime, if it wasnt for that thing all women in Japan would have an kidney sickness....

3cheersforrevenge · Nov 26, 2007, 07:01 AM

wow, who the hell would want to hide the sound of themselves peeing? that's like trying to hide the fact that you're a human being. hey! that rhymed....

Evol · Nov 26, 2007, 07:24 AM

Interesting and a little pathetic, what do japanese women do when they need to go poo? spam the otohime till they're done their business? or is only pee pee taboo. <--rhetorical, I just wanted to use poo and pee in the same sentence...

I'd be interested to see if they have these devices in korean bathrooms, my mom has never had this issue. She'll even continue conversations on the crapper.

I wonder if its just Japanese society that has this embarrassment of the tinkle sound or if it applies to other nations.

bpoponmyheart · Nov 26, 2007, 09:17 AM

i think that's a bit excessive to have a machine for that, but I can understand why some girls are rather modest when it comes to making noise. It's just a self-conscious thing.

Hassun · Nov 26, 2007, 10:38 AM

I thought the toilet sound apparatus was fart/faeces related. And aren't there other versions that play a bit of music instead of the sound of a toilet flushing?

KimiFemi · Nov 26, 2007, 10:50 AM

well I kinda uderstand it I mean it is a lil embrrasing when your at work and have to use the bathroom and everyone can hear everything
its like in that moment the world goes on mute and you unzipping your pants is the only thing people can hear for miles lol >.< I know its a lil silly but it depends on how you're raised my grandmother was so private till this day I have never know of her going to the bathroom to do anything other than shower and she wakes up so early to do that we're almost never aware of it lol mean while my grandfather lets the whole world know when he's on the toilet he sings opera and reads the newspaper or the bible and the whole time he's making grunting noises like a bear its really gross >.< lol

Kairu · Nov 28, 2007, 06:23 PM

I can understand it to a certain extent. To make a device to hide the sound is a little....hmm over doing it. It is kinda amazing how the cultures differ. I suppose living around it would get a little annoying though.

Nov 25, 2007, 09:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
tsurara anti-semantics Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Shikoku Posts: 1,312 Thanks: 5 Thanked 81 Times in 55 Posts Credits: 61,124	Otohime Japan is great. Don't get me wrong, I love it here. But every so often I notice something so mindbendingly stupid that it warrants a little rant. Here's a good example: Japanese women will not pee if they think anyone can hear them. That's how nuerotic this society is. The very THOUGHT that a woman needs to urinate and that someone else might find out that she's doing it seems to send Japanese women into a panic. So, women will flush the toilet before they use it to cover the sound. This is, of course, idiotic and a huge waste of water: so some smart fellows came up with this device called "otohime" (literally: "sound princess") Otohime is a little box attatched to the wall of most public restrooms that has a big button to press. Pushing the button makes an obviously fake flushing sound designed to mask the fact that you are gasp peeing. Of course... it's fairly obvious that on hearing the otohime go off, the lady next to you is using the toilet. I don't hate the boxes... I actually like that they save water. But I am annoyed that, by their mere existance EVERYWHERE, they're implying that the sound of urine hitting the water in a toilet bowl is something mortally offensive that must be hidden at all costs. Alright... I'm done. Damn you otohime. Damn you forever. __________________ <-RUNAWAYS-> <-lemonsquares? yay!-> <-Mmrs->
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Nov 25, 2007, 09:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
Abu Dhabi Spoken for. Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Neither here... nor there. Posts: 1,507 Thanks: 12 Thanked 15 Times in 13 Posts Credits: 6,499	Re: Otohime O_o not to be rude, but isn't urinating in like half of all hentai? anyways... i can understand wanting to cover up certain bathroom sounds, but just for urinating? are they going to try and hide that they sh!t too? =_= but, i don't really understand a lot of culture of Japan... __________________ Animal Friends! great day! want to read my comic? go here~!
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Nov 26, 2007, 05:59 AM	#5 (permalink)
souichiro_arima Diamond in the Rough Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Anywhere within mind own world Posts: 467 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts Credits: 8,963	Re: Otohime If I would have to think, its pretty obvious that women in Japan really take good care of their reputation as women.. Come to think of it, a woman whose really in need of toilet to pee need to wait until anyone in the rest room goes out.. Thank heavens they invented that device called Otohime, if it wasnt for that thing all women in Japan would have an kidney sickness.... __________________ "Bring salvation to akuma's soul."
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Nov 26, 2007, 07:01 AM	#6 (permalink)
3cheersforrevenge Newbie Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: south dakota Posts: 37 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Credits: 1,814	Re: Otohime wow, who the hell would want to hide the sound of themselves peeing? that's like trying to hide the fact that you're a human being. hey! that rhymed....
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Nov 26, 2007, 07:24 AM	#7 (permalink)
Evol Say hi to your mom. Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 271 Thanks: 2 Thanked 9 Times in 8 Posts Credits: 11,531	Re: Otohime Interesting and a little pathetic, what do japanese women do when they need to go poo? spam the otohime till they're done their business? or is only pee pee taboo. <--rhetorical, I just wanted to use poo and pee in the same sentence... I'd be interested to see if they have these devices in korean bathrooms, my mom has never had this issue. She'll even continue conversations on the crapper. I wonder if its just Japanese society that has this embarrassment of the tinkle sound or if it applies to other nations. Last edited by Evol; Nov 26, 2007 at 07:43 AM.
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Nov 26, 2007, 09:17 AM	#8 (permalink)
bpoponmyheart Newbie Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Columbia, MO Posts: 22 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Credits: 826	Re: Otohime i think that's a bit excessive to have a machine for that, but I can understand why some girls are rather modest when it comes to making noise. It's just a self-conscious thing.
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Nov 26, 2007, 10:38 AM	#9 (permalink)
Hassun shittle Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Pretiacruento Posts: 6,997 Thanks: 0 Thanked 35 Times in 30 Posts Credits: 23,835	Re: Otohime I thought the toilet sound apparatus was fart/faeces related. And aren't there other versions that play a bit of music instead of the sound of a toilet flushing? __________________ Gorecreeps inc. Last edited by Hassun; Nov 26, 2007 at 10:55 AM.
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Nov 26, 2007, 10:50 AM	#10 (permalink)
KimiFemi Diamond in the Rough Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: So many places... I cant remember ... Posts: 476 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Credits: 4,554	Re: Otohime well I kinda uderstand it I mean it is a lil embrrasing when your at work and have to use the bathroom and everyone can hear everything its like in that moment the world goes on mute and you unzipping your pants is the only thing people can hear for miles lol >.< I know its a lil silly but it depends on how you're raised my grandmother was so private till this day I have never know of her going to the bathroom to do anything other than shower and she wakes up so early to do that we're almost never aware of it lol mean while my grandfather lets the whole world know when he's on the toilet he sings opera and reads the newspaper or the bible and the whole time he's making grunting noises like a bear its really gross >.< lol __________________ Secret Love "Love everyone unless they dont love you back" http://z13.invisionfree.com/Deaths_d...ex.php?act=idx
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Nov 28, 2007, 06:23 PM	#11 (permalink)
Kairu Diamond in the Rough Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Everywhere... Posts: 279 Thanks: 10 Thanked 21 Times in 20 Posts Credits: 11,752	Re: Otohime I can understand it to a certain extent. To make a device to hide the sound is a little....hmm over doing it. It is kinda amazing how the cultures differ. I suppose living around it would get a little annoying though. __________________ I got me a blog now ^_^ Check it out if you would like. Kairu the Otaku
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