In the Gimpy House of the Future every bathroom will have a hi-tech Japanese toilet/bidet with heated seat, warm-water rinse, warm-air drying and electric lift.

For today, however, we must be content with viewing the Washlet Web site, which flashes the viewer with a lovely array of perfectly shaped smiling rear-ends.

While sanitizing toilets have been used in Japan for years, the phenomenon is new to the United States. And what better way to sell something to an American than to market it as making us HAPPIER!

“I never thought my toilet could be an oasis of comfort and happiness. Who knew,” gushes one customer at www.cleanishappy.com.

The Washlet made by Toto Corp. - Japan’s largest toilet maker - and similar models from rival Inax Corp. and NAIS Corp. do hold benefits for the Gimpy, which you’ll see on the Washlet web site.

Models in use in Japan include arm rests and electric lifts that tilt the seat up and forward to help the user stand. Others include sensors that measure blood sugar in the urine and calculate the user’s pulse, blood pressure and body fat through sensors in the seat.

We especially want the one with air conditioning below the rim for hot summer days. (We are not making this up!)

Click here to learn why women especially appreciate these toilets and why some of Inax’s toilets play the opening of Felix Mendelssohn’s Op. 62 Nr. 6 Fruhlingslied.