Some stories we have posted here on JAPUNDIT (here, here, here, and here) may lead folks to the conclusion that Japan is alone in their pursuit of the perfect toilet. Actually nothing could be further from the truth.

It seems that toilet technology is serious business. There is WTO (World Toilet Organization) with members from around 40 countries, and all the power plays, subterfuge, and maneuverings of a truly global organization.

At the WTO’s annual meeting in Moscow recently, there was a power grab by Sim Dae-Juk, chairman of the South Korean Toilet Association, who announced that he was forming a rival group called the World Toilet Association. Sim claimed that his move had nothing to do with politics, going so far as to say: “I am a representative of toilet culture, not a politician.”

The members of the WTO take their work seriously. They point out that most complaints by tourists visiting other countries are about toilet facilities. Others say that inadequate public toilets can interfere with people’s lives and even lead to diseases. Some go so far as to claim that the toilet is the “competitive edge of a nation.”

When all is said and done, however, one thing is for certain. . . Toilets are the only thing in life about which everyone gives a sh*t.

Thanks to Mr. Pink.