Cannot write about a tech innovation without dissing America and comparing us to cavemen. The “leapfrogging” phenomenon he writes about is real, and when the climate is right, no doubt some developers in the U.S. will make it cost-effective to bring the technology and price in line with mass-market acceptance. No need to beat his breast about how lame we are.
Noah Smith is woefully uninformed. The Kohler (Wisconsin) Numi Toilet is much more advanced that the Japanese toilet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8jCP_-oBgQ
The less fancy Kohler jap style toilets for the peasants. ; )
http://www.us.kohler.com/us/C3-Toilet-Seat-with-Bidet-Functionality/content/CNT2400393.htm