Officials in a Japanese city said toilet instructions posted in public restrooms have successfully reduced messes created by confused tourists. Kyoto officials said the signs, which instruct visitors on the proper use of Japanese-style squat toilets as well as Western sitting toilets, were posted in public restrooms in response to widespread sanitary issues attributed to clueless visitors improperly using the facilities. A sanitation official said, “We have seen an increasing number of people from overseas misuse our toilets based on their own cultural norms. We hope these stickers help people understand . . . the proper way to use bathrooms.” The signs, which feature text in Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean, offer advice including the proper stance for using a toilet and how to dispose of used toilet paper.The city has noticed a significant reduction in the number of bathroom mess incidents since the signs were installed.
An Ohio group supporting marijuana legalization is under fire from critics who say the group’s new superhero mascot appeals to children. ResponsibleOhio, a group supporting the state’s Proposal 3 to legalize marijuana for adults over the age of 21, recently unveiled the superhero mascot, dubbed Buddie, with pictures on Facebook. Buddie features a green marijuana bud for a head and a superhero suit complete with a cape, six-pack abs, and a “B” logo over a picture of a marijuana leaf. Nick Lashutka, president of the Ohio Children’s Hospital Association, accused the group of marketing marijuana to children, adding, “I have four kids and if any of them were to see this, they would draw a conclusion that it’s OK.” Even a rival marijuana-support group said Buddie was a poor choice of mascot. In response, a ResponisibleOhio rep said, “Buddie will only visit college campuses.
