Breaking up pavement and waking the neighbors, the Hitachi does it all and more with a mere two levels of steady vibration. Have a knot in your shoulder that massaging simply won't fix? Press the Hitachi to it for a full-body experience unlike anything you have ever and will ever feel. Have an aching for sexual release and in need of an intense orgasm? Hitachi's got you covered like a banana peel on a banana (or something like that). It's an out and proud vibrator that refuses to be silenced; when it's on, it's on. How could a piece of construction equipment be so damn good at relieving sexual tension? The only one who knows its secrets is the Hitachi itself.

At the end of the Hitachi is a plushy, lightly textured head. This is the part that makes contact with whatever its user is massaging. It can be squeezed, pressed on, and poked, and since it has a flexible neck attached to the shaft, it can even be bent during use. The handle/shaft of the Hitachi (where the controls are located) is a hard, smooth, shiny plastic that's easy to grip even with lubricated hands.

Since the Hitachi is plastic, it has no taste or scent, but you'll want to take good care of it due to it being a very, very bright white. White has a tendency to yellow or stain, so make sure to either use saran wrap or other form of covering (dental dam? Condom?) on the head if sharing.

The Hitachi is basically a regular massager. It has a six foot long cord, a plush, bendable head, and a long shaft where the controls are. The length of the shaft and head together is about one foot, the head portion being 2 1/8" long and 2 1/4" wide. On the head is this little ridge about halfway on its side, and I do not know its purpose, but thankfully, it doesn't tamper with use in any way. I will admit that it's somewhat hefty, but it should be alright for most adults to hold. A person with arthritis or other hand condition may have difficulty keeping a hold of it once it's turned on, however.

Only the neck and the control pad are blue; every other part of the Hitachi is white, white, white. The little switch is black. Overall, it's pretty discreet in design as it looks just like any other massager would look. Nothing special to it, really. The only time that it becomes indiscreet is when you use a head cover on it, but even then, some of the covers look like nubs used for deep massage.

The Hitachi only has two modes that work with a flip switch: high and rumbly or high and buzzy. It calls these "low" and "high." Some people might prefer the feelings of the low and some may like the high only due to the fact that each has a different timbre. Both, however, are very high (hence why I called them each high). I would personally describe the vibrations as deep and penetrating, which make them perfect for people with stronger clitorises that require more heavy play.

You can feel this thing shaking from the end of the shaft it's so strong. Thankfully, it doesn't numb the hands during use, but don't think that the body part it makes contact with is so safe; it can very well numb due to its strength. It is also fairly loud, but not so loud that it would be a problem with the neighbors. Don't count on using it in a home where you feel discretion is needed, though—roommates or other housemates will definitely hear it.

I wouldn't advise using the Hitachi in water considering the fact that it's a corded massager. It simply doesn't seem like a good idea to me.

Unlike a sex toy that can be used for penetration, the Hitachi will only be used externally. Therefore, cleaning is a lot simpler. It can be wiped down with a soapy washcloth or sprayed with disinfectant; either method works, and though neither will sanitize the Hitachi, both will keep it clean between uses. The head can always be covered with a stretched condom or with saran wrap for safety between use of multiple partners. I suggest keeping the head covered with some form of plastic wrap for storage so that it doesn't yellow over time.

The Hitachi came in a thin cardboard box and was wrapped in a plastic baggie. I recycled the box, but some might appreciate the fact that the box is not over-sized and only fits the actual Hitachi in it, meaning that it doesn't take up any more storage than the Hitachi would itself. Since the Hitachi is marketed as a massager, the packaging is pretty discreet to onlookers; it has photographs of people using the Hitachi for massaging purposes, and it says that it "relaxes sore muscles."