A "smart" toilet that opens when you approach it and cleans itself when you flush is on display at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
The toilet also cleans the user with an aerated wand, which delivers hot water and warm air “in a seated position,” the spokeswoman said.
Despite costing $9,800 (£6,704), more than 40 million older versions of the Neorest toilets have been sold.
Toto said the new standard was still in development.
Its self-cleaning process uses a combination of disinfectant and polish – made of zirconium and titanium dioxide – that coats the surface.
“As soon as we flush the toilet, the interior is sprayed with electrolyzed water,” explained Toto spokesperson Lenora Campos. “It’s regular tap water that goes through a special process that uses an anode-cathode, essentially creating a kind of disinfection that whitens the interior while killing anything.”
Meanwhile, an ultraviolet light in the lid scans the surface. This makes it super-hydrophilic, so nothing can stick to it – but also photocatalytic, allowing oxygen ions to destroy bacteria and viruses. “You won’t have to clean the toilet bowl for over a year,” Ms. Campos said.
The BBC asked several hotels in Las Vegas if they would be interested in such a product, but all declined to comment.
However, one expert said the device proved there was still room for innovation beyond things dealing with the internet.
Potential buyers should be warned, however, that the device does not completely relieve them of cleaning duties, since the cleaning techniques it uses do not extend to any spills.
