Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on August 2009

Courtesy of Epoch

It’s a testament to the refinements of the age we live in that the sound of urination is considered so vulgar that many Japanese women feel compelled to conceal it by flushing the toilet as they pee. If this doesn’t strike you as utterly bizarre, you might fall within the intended audience of Epoch’s Eco-Otome. This tacky plastic keitai fob emits the sound of running water at the push of a button, meaning that you can now preserve your feminine dignity without wasting a few liters of water in the process. Consider it a cheap and easy solution to a problem that we never even knew existed.
Eco-Otome, ¥315. Available from pharmacies, toy stores and Amazon Japan.