The mishap happened to a person who is responsible for protecting Japan's cultural heritage. A man who is a member of the Association for the Preservation of Kyoto's Cultural Heritage accidentally crashed a car into the country's oldest toilet, which belongs to Tofukuji Temple. The BBC quoted the police as saying that he pushed on the gas without realizing that he was in reverse gear. It sounds like a stroke of luck on several levels: no one was hurt and the actual latrines inside remained intact.

The director of the Tofukuji Research Institute Toshio Ishikawa was amazed by the extent of the accident, the article continues. Officials say the damage is repairable. However, restoring it to its original state would require a lot of work.

The latrines, which are no longer in use, date from between the 14th and 16th centuries. The damaged wooden door is 700 years old. Monks once used the latrines. According to the WDR, they are now considered an important cultural asset. Her nickname, according to "BBC", is "hyakusecchin", which means 100-person toilet. The latrines are described as a row of stones with 20 round holes.

What: BBC, WDR