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Books
A handbook for staying healthy and regularPosted by Joel Martinsen, August 31, 2008 7:24 PM
Health books are big sellers in China these days, and a newly-translated Japanese health book might appeal outside the wellness marketplace with its cutesy illustrations. Uncocoro: for Natural Unco Life (大便书) is a book about intestinal health. It's written by Fujita Koichiro (藤田纮一郎), a Manchukou-born health writer known as "Dr. Parasite" for his unorthodox theory that many health problems of the modern age could be solved if people would host parasitic worms in their bodies. This new book focuses on educating readers about what comes out of their bodies: the production, color, consistency, frequency, and uses of their stools. The illustrations are by Yorifuji Bunpei (寄藤文平), a well-known graphic designer. Uncocoro first came out in Chinese translation on Taiwan, like so many cool books (Snow Crash is the most recent example). The new mainland edition is being promoted with endorsements from the heads of various Taiwan health organizations. Wu Jun-ming, head of Taiwan's Bureau of Health Promotion when the Taiwan edition was published in 2005, describes the dismal state of affairs that this book seeks to remedy:
The Chinese title of the book is straightforward: , "the book of feces." As for what "uncocoro" means, Tsai Ying-jie, head of the Taiwan Association for Lactic Acid Bacteria, offers two interpretations spanning three languages:
Here's one of the images from the book, illustrating the various uses of poo: coffee, medicine, power generation, soap, and money, among other things. ![]() USAGE of UNCO (page 56 of Uncocoro, image via Sohu)
Here's the book's answer to the age-old question of why bookstores have a laxative effect: ![]() UNCO PAVLOV (page 146 of Uncocoro, image via Sohu)
More pictures are available on Sohu's feature about the book launch. Links and Sources
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Comments on A handbook for staying healthy and regular
Junk science.
Sounds like the popular American book "Everyone Poops" but with Japanese illustrations and an strange scientific bend.
For reference: Everyone Poops on Amazon
Everything Poops is apparently a Japanese import.
a delayed companion-piece to this?
in my head i read the cover as (shit book?). But "the book of feces" is a much funnier translation.