“As far as toilets go, we think this is top of the line,” said Banse Katsuya, project sales manager for Toto China, standing proudly over a $5,900 Neorest series bowl in the company’s flagship store in Beijing.

Outfitted with buttons labeled “rear cleansing” and “front cleansing” (and it’s not referring to the bowl), the Space Age device features a heated seat and a water-saving, but powerful, hands-free sensor flush…

In one television spot broadcast here, an actress touts the product by saying, “It’s just like a spa.” Then, using computer-generated animation that’s short on subtlety, the commercial demonstrates how the bidet function works.