Lovely Urinal
Hacker, Randi Tsutsui, William Ashworth, William
Hacker, Randi
Tsutsui, William
Ashworth, William
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Abstract
Broadcast Transcript: Tourists from all over Japan are flocking to Kōshū? in rural Yamanashi Prefecture to visit the historic Tanaka Bank. The structure, built at the turn of the 20th century, has been lovingly restored by a group of preservation-minded local residents. But many tourists seem less interested in the classic architecture and antique fittings than in the building's unique--some would say stunning--period toilets. A urinal in the men's room looks much like a porcelain vase, decorated with an intricate pattern of birds, leaves, and flowers. Such facilities bowl visitors over: a guide reported 80 sightseers taking photos of the urinal during just one shift. In short, toilets can hardly be pooh-poohed as tourist attractions. #ashworth #ceas #japan #tsutsui
Description
This is one of hundreds of 60-second radio spots created by the Center for East Asian Studies (CEAS) for Kansas Public Radio (KPR). The purpose of this outreach program is to introduce the people of Kansas to the culture and current issues of East Asia.
Date
2007-08-22
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Publisher
Center for East Asian Studies, University of Kansas
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Keywords
Japan, Yamanashi Prefecture, Koshu, Tanaka Bank, Toilet, Urinal