With their heated seats, hidden sensors and warm water cleansing systems, Japanese toilets are used to being the centre of attention in hotel bathrooms, public restrooms and ordinary residences all around the country.
Now its time for their next-of-kin to get an upgrade, with a new machine set to revolutionise toilet paper dispensers, making it possible to automatically cut sheets and even fold the final edge into a neat little triangle for the next person to use.
A total of 10 companies in Japan put their combined energies into the creation of the new automated paper cutting and folding machine. Called the Orifuji, the concept initially came about as a way to express the Japanese culture of omotenashi, or hospitality, in restrooms ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
In Japan, good hospitality and cleanliness go hand-in-hand, and every time a stall is cleaned, the toilet paper ends are folded into a crisp triangular point to let users know they’re doing their business on a freshly cleaned throne. Japanese cleaners might be hard-working but they’re not able to step in after every visitor to tend to the toilet paper ends, and that’s where the Orifuji comes into play, providing an automated triangle every time a sheet of paper is used, instantly making everything look new and fresh.
To see the machine at work, check out the short video below.
In addition to folding the paper into a neat-looking point, the Orifuji makes it easy to replace toilet paper rolls and helps to keep things sanitary by eliminating the need for direct contact with the dispenser. To use it, all you have to do is slowly pull out the paper to the desired length, lift it lightly and the machine will tear it off for you.
We can’t wait to see these in restrooms around the country soon. Hopefully one day the technology will eventually evolve to bring us more entertaining folds like origami toilet paper designs!
Source: Jimdo, H/T Kotaku US
Top Image: YouTube/Sekai Saisoku Shisaku Centre (edited by RocketNews24)
Insert Images: Screenshot YouTube/Sekai Saisoku Shisaku Centre
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