3 JANUARY 1998, Page 19

Up both yours

Sir: Please kindly advise Teresa Gorman (`Water, water everywhere', 13 December) that many of the toilets in Japan do indeed have a hot-air dryer. And it doesn't stop there! With the warm-water jet/spray, you normally have the choice of two 'direction- alities' (to cater for ladies' dual require- ment), the ability to select varying water temperatures, and you can also dial up a feature which has the nozzle moving 'panning the posterium' if you will. In my apartment I have two of these technological marvels. Altogether rather civilised, although of course we realise that this level of hygiene may be somewhat beyond the ken of your average Brit.

Norm Cleland

Motoazabu Garden # 403, 1-2-13 Motoazabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106, Japan