Sensei-asshole Izawa Masana and his "war of excrement"
Today, nature, more than ever, needs the help of each of us, and anyone can make their own contribution. For example, Japanese Izawa Masana has been defecating exclusively in the street for 45 years, breaking the laws of his country, but sacredly honoring the laws of nature. The man takes his work extremely seriously and is even ready to start a "war of excrement" if he is forbidden to go to the toilet in the fresh air.
Izawa Masana is one of the few Japanese who value the health of our planet more than their own comfort and safety. The eco-activist makes a point of relieving himself in the parks and squares of his native Ibaraki Prefecture, thereby returning the benefits received from nature back.
Izawa doesn't just go to the toilet in the bushes and on the lawns, he returns to the place of defecation with a camera. He wants to make sure that everything is going as usual and that his pile is covered with mold, fungi and insect larvae. This sight pleases Masana, as it symbolizes that nature has gratefully accepted his generous gift.
On the hard drive of the eco-philosopher's computer, photos of his good deeds are stored in separate folders, like family photos, and Izawa proudly shows them to journalists. The man also likes to talk about his "way of the shitting samurai" - he is proud of the fact that in 45 years he has defecated in the toilet only 14 times.
Izawa Masana came to his philosophy in 1974. At that time, the young and inquisitive Japanese man became interested in environmental campaigns carried out in his area in connection with the work of a waste processing plant. This enterprise polluted the area and emitted disgusting miasmas for hundreds of meters around.
Around this time, Izawa read the book “Colorful Guide to Nature: Fungi,” from which he learned that the best natural way to dispose of biological waste is to have mold digest it. The microscopic fungi are slow but incredibly efficient, breaking down everything from feces to corpses.
The environmental problems of his native region and new information from the field of biology greatly influenced the 24-year-old guy and he decided to become a friend of nature. Since then, Masana does not depend on recycling stations, as he communicates with nature "on you".
The activist calculated that during his ecological asceticism he had defecated in parks, squares, forests and simply in flowerbeds more than 15 thousand times. Those 14 annoying misfires in his many years of practice are the costs of urbanization. When need presses Izawa in the subway, on a plane or in a shopping center, he is forced to accept it and deviate from the rules.
Izawa Masana is not just a friend of nature, but also a scientist. He writes a treatise on the culture of defecation, in which he clearly and convincingly proves the advantages of his approach. In addition, the Japanese calls himself a "mentor of fertilizer" and the founder of a philosophical school (糞土師, fundoshi).
In 2017, one of the journalists asked the sensei a provocative question: what would happen if his ideas went to the masses and millions of Japanese began to defecate not where they were supposed to, but where their good hearts told them to. The sage answered simply:
Thus, Izawa, relying on figures and facts, nipped in the bud the provocation of the press representative, who was anticipating a long and unproductive discussion. In the conversation, the eco-philosopher also touched on safety aspects. As it turned out, the adherent of fundoshi can face dangers, including fatal ones:
Passers-by can also interfere with meditation under a bush, but the Master, who is not afraid of shield-mongers and bears, does not worry about such trifles at all:
Izawa also had problems with law enforcement. He was detained by police patrols several times, but the man managed to get off with symbolic fines and moralizing talks. But Masana understands that sooner or later a serious conflict with the law may occur. The philosopher is ready for this and claims that even in court and in a prison cell he will do everything not to betray his beliefs.
Izawa turns 70 this year, but he is full of energy and optimism. Life has dealt him some painful blows, but he is not a weakling and endures them steadfastly. In 2013, his wife, who did not share her husband's ideas, left him. Masana has learned to enjoy solitude and devotes his free time, of which he has a lot as a pensioner, to his favorite hobbies.
Photography has always been Izawa's most important hobby. On weekends, if the weather is favorable, the founder of the fundoshi philosophy takes his camera and goes out of town to visit a farmer he knows. There he photographs mushrooms that have grown on piles of horse manure and rejoices at every successful shot like a child. Masana happily shares his photos with anyone who wants them, and regularly posts them on social networks and specialized forums.
But Izawa's fellow countryman, photographer Nakamura, is inspired by diametrically opposed subjects. The man travels around Japan and photographs public toilets with unusual architecture and interiors.