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Politics of the Pissoir

One of the clearest markers of Britain’s civic downslide in recent decades is the slow cancellation of its once plentiful provision of public toilets. But in Asian countries like Japan and Taiwan, another loo is possible.

A public toilet designed to look like a turtle by the side of a road.

A turtle themed public toilet in Omaezaki, Japan (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

I was outside a museum, in the suburbs of a large capital city. The museum had closed; there were very few shops or cafes nearby, and there was a park on the edge of the museum site. I had a sensation which, as someone with Crohn’s disease, I’m very familiar with — that is, the sudden […]

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