Sandra Savaya

Hey guys. My name is Sandra Savaya, a P2 at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy. I am so excited for our study abroad trip coming up in Japan. There are many reasons to why I chose to join the trip to Japan. For starters, traveling is a passion for me, and more importantly, learning about the cultures of the place I visit to. The biggest reason why I decided to join the trip to Japan is because I get to combine 2 of my biggest passions together: traveling/learning about cultures, and pharmacy. I am really excited to learn how pharmacies operate in Japan and get to see differences between America and Japan. I am most looking forward to meeting my penpals/faculty and getting to learn about their pharmacy program, as well as visiting the pharmacies, site-seeing, and trying new foods. Once concern I have is that I don't know how to speak Japanese. I have been to non-English speaking countries before and there's always a little bit of anxiety due to the language barrier. Although this is a concern, I do not see it interfering with my wonderful experience I will be getting in Japan. See you all soon :)

How to Use an Electronic Japanese Toilet

Definitely one of the highlights of Japan

The high-tech Japanese toilet. That's what so many of you may have heard about Japan.

While others of you might be wondering why I'm writing this as a how-to. But considering how many blog posts I've seen by people who travel to Japan and inevitably get doused by one of these toilets, I believe a "how-to" is in order.

My first encounters with these toilets weren't much to speak of, except for the fact that I sometimes spent far too long trying to figure out how to flush, as I assumed if there was a panel with that many buttons, one of them must be the flush button. After desperately pressing them all and being surprised or nearly squirted, I later saw, embarrassed, a normal-looking handle on the back of the toilet itself, just like in the States.


I found out later that some panels (the square ones, usually) have flush buttons, but more often than not there's a handle or an automatic flush sensor.

Sometimes the toilet controls will be labeled in English along with the Japanese, but many of them don't. And the control panels appear in different forms as well, so the functions and icons can vary per model.

The basic functions you should be aware of, though, are the bidet and "oshiri" functions--oshiri meaning a wash for your behind. These wash functions can replace toilet paper, although in restrooms with these toilets, toilet paper is provided.

Some public toilets, such as at certain parks or outside of the ticket gate at a train station, don't have toilet paper, so you should always carry some tissue with you.

Words to Know

Japanese	Hiragana	English
おしり	--	wash for your behind
ビデ	--	bidet
やわらか	--	a gentler wash for your behind
止	とまる	stop
停止	ていし	stop
水勢	すいせい	water pressure
弱	よわい	weak
強	つよい	strong
音量	おんりょう	volume (for the sound)
音停止	おとていし	stop sound
流す	ながす	flush
パワー脱臭	パワーだっしゅう	power deodorizer

The image below shows an example of a toilet control panel, which already has the English translations. If you want to play a flushing sound to mask any "noises", per the norm in women's restrooms, press the button with a music note or look for something like 

If you dare to try a refreshing, cleansing spray in lieu of toilet paper, press either おしり, for men or women, or ビデ, for women. Not to be sexist, men, as you can also use the bidet--I'm just not sure you'd want to.

Before you press either button, make sure you are sitting on the seat. I also highly recommend pressing the minus button or "weak" button (弱) under 水勢 (water pressure), usually on the left side, as far down as it goes. You can adjust the water pressure to your liking later, but I would liken the typical "normal" pressure setting on many models to a Waterpik. Fine for your teeth, not your nether regions.

To stop the stream or spray, press the 止 button firmly. It's usually a red/orange color or is outlined in that color, in case you forget the kanji.

A simple control panel here.

Another example of an electronic Japanese toilet's controls.

Some models have a "dry" function to use after your spray, if desired: 乾燥 (かんそう)

And another example--the flush functions on top as well as buttons for the toilet lid

If, while doing your business, you chose to listen to the soothing sounds of a fake toilet flush, be sure to press 音停止 to turn the sound off. If the sound turned on automatically, it will turn off by itself.

You might see this strange-looking box--it's a sensor to automatically play music or a flushing sound.

And now it's time to flush. Sometimes you'll see an automatic sensor. Sometimes a handle. Sometimes a handle with two kanji: 大 and 小. Switch the handle in the direction of 大 for a "big flush" and 小 for a "small flush" (the latter saves water).

If the buttons are on a square panel, look for 流す (ながす, flush). Or you might come across a push button or a hand sensor, like the one below. Just hold your hand over it until the toilet flushes.

Hold your hand over the sensor to flush.

Now go use the modern restroom with confidence and behold all the great wonders of the incessantly marveled over, high-tech Japanese toilets.

Andria Torborg

Hello! My name is Andria, and I am a third-year pharmacy student at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy. I am very excited for our study abroad trip to Japan in just a few short weeks from now. I chose to join in this trip because it is an excellent opportunity to gain a more global perspective on pharmacy and healthcare while also learning about another country and culture. While I have enjoyed traveling to many cities within the US, I have never had the opportunity to travel abroad. I figured this would be a great (and safe) first international experience. There are so many aspects of this trip to look forward to, including (but not limited to) meeting the students and faculty at our host university, getting an inside look at pharmacy curriculum and practice in Japan, attending the fireworks festival, sight-seeing, and of course, the food. Traveling with a large group including faculty who are very familiar with the area and the language has really alleviated any concerns or anxiety about the trip. Fun times ahead!

Our photo op banner

UACOP is going to Japan (again)!

On August 2, 21 University of Arizona College of Pharmacy students (2nd and 3rd year) will be arriving in Kobe, Japan for the College's 5th annual pharmacy study abroad experience.  Our first such trip, in 2014 was also to Japan (last summer we went to Thailand), and the 18 students who participated had a great experience.  We will again be hosted for 10 days by the faculty and students of Kobe Gakuin University Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences (KGU, http://www.kobegakuin.ac.jp/english/faculty/pharmaceutical.html), with special thanks to Drs. Sari Nakagawa and Sho Shirakawa for their help in making the arrangements. We will also spend a day with faculty and students from Osaka University, hosted by Dr. Etsuko Uejima.

Why a study abroad trip?  One of my goals as the College's Director of International Programs has been to provide a variety of international opportunities to our students to help prepare them for practicing pharmacy and living in our global community. This trip allows the students to gain some perspective about the health care system, pharmacy practice and pharmacy education, and also to learn more about the culture of the host country. Why Japan?  The easy (and selfish) answer is that Japan is the country, other than the US, that I am most familiar with--I have been to Japan over 100 times.  Also, I know the faculty at KGU  very well, having served as a Visiting Professor there several times.  Pharmacy practice and education is significantly different in Japan compared to the US, allowing the students to gain some insight into the US healthcare system and pharmacy practice. Japan has great public transportation making it easy to get around, and it is one of the safest countries in the world.

The 21 PharmD students from Phoenix and Tucson campuses who are participating in this trip will post to this blog frequently so they can share their experiences, thoughts and feelings about their time in Japan.  I have asked them to post their thoughts and expectations before we depart from the UA on August 2.

I hope you enjoy reading about the Japan experiences from the best student pharmacists in the US.  I look forward to seeing Japan through their eyes.

Welcome party at our 2016 visit