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In 1980, a Japanese company called TOTO released the Washlet — the first mass-market toilet seat with a built-in bidet and warm water function. At the time, the concept seemed absurd to most of the world. Today, over 80% of Japanese households own one. TOTO has since filed more than 2,000 patents related to toilet technology alone — covering water pressure, seat temperature, noise reduction, and even air quality. What started as a luxury became the new normal.