2026-05-03

Toto's AI Pivot

Shares in Japanese toilet maker Toto soar on AI-related pivot

Unlike AllBirds this one is actually real.

Japanese toilet maker Toto’s shares surged 18 per cent to a five-year high on Friday after unveiling plans to boost production of semiconductor components and posting record annual profits.

Its advanced ceramics business has turned Japan’s largest toilet manufacturer into an AI play and caught the attention of activist investor Palliser Capital.

Despite being better known for its bidet washlets that have defined the Japanese toilet globally, Toto is also the world’s second-largest producer of electrostatic chucks used in the manufacturing of Nand memory chips.

Surging sales of semiconductor components — gaining 34 per cent year on year — have lifted the division to account for more than half of Toto’s operating profit, which jumped 11 per cent to ¥53.8bn in the year to March.

2026-05-05

Europemaxxing

this could have been you europe-maxxing this summer but instead you chose to share a 1bdr with four other dudes in sf to walk around the city with your laptop slightly open so your agents won’t stop running.

this is how i convince myself after moving to Europe.