VOA文化艺术2024--In Tokyo Neighborhood, Artistic Toilets Get Attention

In Tokyo Neighborhood, Artistic¹ Toilets Get Attention 

　　Tokyo visitors can now join a special tour of one of the Japanese city's modern wonders: its public toilets.

　　Penelope Panczuk recently went on the Tokyo Toilet Shuttle for a two-hour visit of artistic public bathrooms.

　　Panczuk got the idea after seeing "Perfect Days", the Oscar-nominated film about a toilet cleaner in the city's Shibuya district.

　　"In the U.S. or in France where I originally come from, you just don't go," Panczuk said of using public bathrooms.

　　She added that in Tokyo, the bathrooms are "extremely clean, they're very safe and each one is so different it feels like it's a new discovery each time."

　　The shuttle began in March with visitors coming to Japan in record numbers. A drop in the value of the Japanese yen² has made it less costly³ for many lovers of Japanese culture to visit for the first time.

　　Among Japan's most-loved technological⁴ exports in recent years are its toilets produced by TOTO. The devices have cleansing⁵ sprays, heated seats, music, and more.

　　The American animated⁶ comedy show South Park recently had a whole program on the toilets. Hip-hop music star DJ Khaled announced on Instagram that he appreciated a gift of four TOTO bowls from the rapper Drake.

　　The nonprofit Nippon Foundation started the Tokyo Toilet Project in 2020. It asked creators including Pritzker Prize-winning architect Tadao Ando to develop new toilets. The goal was to increase accessibility and artistry in 17 public toilets in the Shibuya district.

　　The project was not meant to be something foreign visitors would want to see. But Shibuya's government saw a chance to increase interest in the area beyond its famous street crossing.

　　"The highlight for visitors is that they can be driven around the less-visited parts of Shibuya and enjoy the entire district while checking out the toilets," said Yumiko Nishi, a tourist association manager for the area.

　　People on the tour pay $32.76 to visit nine different toilets, including one with clear walls that turn opaque⁷ when users enter. Another is operated by voice commands.

　　Takao Karino, visiting from Japan's western city of Osaka, wondered at the wide entrance of a facility created by British designer Miles Pennington.

　　"There's nothing else like this in Japa" 69-year-old Karino said about the tour. "It's unusual, it's unique, it's honestly brilliant."

　　Words in This Story

　　tour –n. a trip taken by people visiting a place on vacation or for pleasure that is led by a guide who tells about the interesting things in the area

　　toilet —n. a large bowl attached to a pipe that is used for getting rid of bodily waste

　　bathroom – n. a room in a public place with a toilet and sink

　　originally – adv. when something first happened or began

　　animated –n. a cartoon using imaginative⁸ drawings rather than filmed pictures of real people

　　accessibility – n. able to be reached or approached

　　opaque – adj. not letting light through

　　unique –adj. one of a kind, not like anything else

1 artistic   

adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的

参考例句：

• The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
• These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。

2 yen   

n. 日元；热望

参考例句：

• He wanted to convert his dollars into Japanese yen.他想将美元换成日币。
• He has a yen to be alone in a boat.他渴望独自呆在一条船上。

3 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

4 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。

5 cleansing   

n. 净化(垃圾) adj. 清洁用的 动词cleanse的现在分词

参考例句：

• medicated cleansing pads for sensitive skin 敏感皮肤药物清洗棉
• Soap is not the only cleansing agent. 肥皂并不是唯一的清洁剂。

6 animated   

adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的

参考例句：

• His observations gave rise to an animated and lively discussion.他的言论引起了一场气氛热烈而活跃的讨论。
• We had an animated discussion over current events last evening.昨天晚上我们热烈地讨论时事。

7 opaque   

adj.不透光的；不反光的，不传导的；晦涩的

参考例句：

• The windows are of opaque glass.这些窗户装着不透明玻璃。
• Their intentions remained opaque.他们的意图仍然令人费解。

8 imaginative   

adj.富有想象力的，爱想象的

参考例句：

• The imaginative child made up fairy stories.这个想像力丰富的孩子自己编神话故事。
• Scott was an imaginative writer.司格特是位富于想象力的作家。