The History of Tochio, the Tin Man, and the Rise of American Plastic Surgery
TOTO, Ltd (TOTO), stylized as TOTO, is today the world’s biggest toilet producer. It was established in 1917 and nowadays is most famous for producing Washlets and related products. The company is headquartered in Kitakyushu, Japan, with production facilities in nine other countries. Some of the countries in which TOTO is popular are Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Italy. It also has production facilities in Indonesia, the Philippines, Egypt, Mexico, Thailand, the United States, and Venezuela.
The origin of Tocho toilet stems from a small, porcelain-enclosed toilet that was invented by Katsuaki Tochio, a Japanese porcelain manufacturer. In accordance with his efforts, Tochio designed the first ever toilet seat that used a porcelain frame, covered with a waterproof liner. The porcelain surface was embossed with beautiful patterns and colors, such as blue, pink, gold, silver, or gray. These designs gave the toilet a futuristic look. This idea became the foundation of Tocho porcelain seats.
Many people associate Tocho with the American rock band Queen. Their song “We Will Rock You” contains the words “rock and roll all our lives” (a quote from their song album called Powerlord). The term “tokotchi” (also written as tokotchi, tokota, toto, tomato, etc.) is derived from the English word tooth (stress) – Japanese – and means potty.
The Tocho toilet became a best known Japanese brand name because of their consistent use of colorful designs, vibrant colors, unique patterns, and unique shapes. These simple yet creative designs became a trademark for the company. Queen’s lead vocalist Freddie Mercury became a fan of the Tocho toilet, which led to the group’s appearance on the cover of their first album “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
Today, Tochio is considered one of the most respected brands in Japan. The Tochio toilet is still popular among many Japanese families, since its basic design is similar to that of the older porcelain designs. However, the best known styles are the ones that incorporate the use of the two sided toilet bowl, with an additional locking mechanism and porcelain overflow tray. This unique combination makes Tochio porcelain one of the most advanced toilet designs in the world.
Following his appearance on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Tochio went on to appear in various other movies, television shows, cartoon shows, and other merchandise. His appearance on the Tin Man, as well as his brief appearances in later American movies helped to establish him as an American icon. His legacy as one of the most recognizable faces in American history is a product of his association with both the music industry and the American automobile industry. Just as importantly, his appearance on the Tin Man helped to establish the image of the American working class.