Working Mothers: Part 2

"My husband said, 'You've changed,'" and she looks at me for a response.
"Have you?" I put the question back to her.
"Yes, I have," and we both ponder this for a few moments.

I just did the math last night.  A year ago today I arrived in Tokyo to come up north, an area completely devastated by the tsunami, to begin what has ended up being a life-changing experience.  So, yes.  I've changed, too.

The woman telling me she's changed is also a working mother.  She volunteers from 9-5, then goes home to "Do laundry, make dinner, clean the house.  You know.  Wifely things."  What comes to mind immediately is her energy level.  Physical stamina is a must for all women who work outside the home, and then come home to continue Part 2 of their day.  Mental and emotional energy is also a prerequisite.  Add to this the fact the women I'm meeting live with daily reminders of how their lives were turned upside down over a year ago, I marvel at how they find the energy.

My mother used to tell me to "not spend energy on that" when I would complain about the latest injustice I faced, or the unfairness of someone's words or actions.  I much preferred to complain.  Energy?  I have plenty of that.  Right?

Wrong.  Mothers are more often than not right.  I am now keenly aware of the fact my energy level is definitely finite.  I often tap my reserves.  Knowing this is not a good thing, I have yet to figure out how to work with the energy I do have.

Working mothers in Tohoku face an entirely different set of issues than the rest of us.  My respect increases with every visit.  The more women I meet, the more I am aware of their collective strength.  To say they can handle anything is not fair.  It is, however, I believe a fair statement to make that women here cave less frequently than others I've met.  I want to learn from these Tohoku women.  How do I harness their energy?  Is there a secret?  There must be.  If so, what is it?  Do I dare just come right out and ask, "How do you keep going?" 

With each visit I have more questions than answers.  Sometimes this is daunting.  At times, it's invigorating.  On this visit, I resolve to learn more about working mothers.  They have a secret, the answers to my questions; I know it.  I'm determined to find out what it is.

The Sound Princess and energy conservation

It all started sometime during the 1980s.  Somewhere along the way, women in Japan decided it was too much to hear bathroom noises made by others.  Natural bodily functions, yes.  Did that mean we all needed to hear them?  Evidently not.

Women started flushing the toilet to cover up their sounds.  Flush once to cover, flush again to, well, flush.  The consequences?  Water usage spiked.  Women, en masse, began using double their normal water consumption level, at least in bathrooms.

Puzzled bureaucrats, or so the story goes, did a study.  Somewhere along the way, some brave woman must have told these men who cocked their heads that she may know the answer.  The result?  New commodes with Sound Princesses.

I may not have all the facts straight in exact sequence, but the gist of the story is true.  Toilets in Japan are heated, spray "front and back," cover up odor as well as sounds.  Some toilets have lids that open automatically.  The sounds made while women do their business range from an automated, electronic flushing sound to gurgling brooks with chirping birds.  I kid you not.  Here's proof.

The button on the right (FLUSHING SOUND), in Japanese reads "Sound Princess."  I do love this about Japan.  No mocking, no judgment here.  I think it's fun.  I have yet to enter into the men's room in any given building to see whether or not the men's commode is labeled "Sound Prince."  Perhaps some day I will be bold enough to make that trek.

That's the history of how and why Japan's commodes have become the best in the world.  Indeed, a "normal" commode is now boring for most of us who have had the pleasure of using these fancy thrones.  The story, of course, does not end there.

Yesterday, I saw this sign for the first time ever.

This was one of those rarely-seen "normal" commodes.  The sign says, "Please refrain from flushing the toilet to cover sounds.  Please help conserve water."

Interesting.  Here is yet another example of energy conservation in light of post-March changes in how Japan has had to deal with energy usage.  All kidding aside, I do believe this is a bold move for Japan to make, considering how common place sound-eliminating bathroom etiquette has become over the past thirty or so years.  Here again is more proof of the country's efforts to join forces and maintain efforts at environmentally responsible behavior.