Winning Works Published as Toilet Paper-Shaped Senryu Collection: Call for Entries for the 22nd Toilet Senryu

TOTO Ltd. (Headquarters: Kitakyushu, Fukuoka; President: Shinya Tamura) is calling for entries for the 22nd "Toilet Senryu" from June 15 (Monday) to August 25 (Tuesday), 2026.

"Toilet Senryu" is a contest that invites memories and experiences in toilets at home, work, or travel destinations in senryu (comic haiku) form, held annually since 2005. The total number of entries over the past 21 years has exceeded 600,000.

The household penetration rate of warm-water bidet toilet seats in Japan is 82.5% (as of March 2026, Cabinet Office Consumer Confidence Survey), making them a familiar part of daily life. Since TOTO launched the product in 1980, it has been loved by many, and in November 2025, cumulative shipments of the "Washlet" warm-water bidet exceeded 70 million units. Against this backdrop, this year's 22nd edition introduces a new theme award: the "My Washlet Prize."

The judge is Takashi Nakahata, known for the early Washlet advertising catchphrase "Even your bottom wants to be washed." A leading copywriter in Japan, he is also known as the selector for the popular senryu column in the Mainichi Shimbun and has served as a judge for the Toilet Senryu contest since its first edition.

In addition to the "Neorest Prize (Grand Prize)" and the newly established "My Washlet Prize," there will be the "Nakahata Takashi Prize" for originality, the "Kids' Prize" for elementary school students and younger, and the "Junior High and High School Student Prize." We look forward to your smile-inducing verses. The 20 winning entries will be published as a toilet paper-shaped senryu collection titled "22nd Toilet Senryu Grand Prize" (suggested retail price: 350 yen including tax) by TOTO Publishing on November 10, 2026 (Tuesday) (Toilet Day).

*1: "Washlet" is a registered trademark of TOTO Ltd. *2: Cumulative shipments of Washlet seat types and integrated toilet units, domestic and international combined.
*3: Winning entries include Neorest Prize (Grand Prize)/Nakahata Takashi Prize/My Washlet Prize/Excellence Prize/Junior High and High School Student Prize/Kids' Prize. *4: November 10 is "Toilet Day," established in 1986 by the Japan Toilet Association because the date reads "ii toire" (good toilet).

Entry period: June 15 (Monday) – August 25 (Tuesday), 2026.

Reference: 2025 (21st) Neorest Prize (Grand Prize): "Shiran yaro, deta kaikan o AI wa" (Acchan)

Overview of the 22nd Toilet Senryu Contest:

■ How to Enter
Apply via website or postcard.
TOTO website: https://jp.toto.com/knowledge/useful/senryu/top/ (Site opens June 15, 2026, 10:00 AM)
Postcard: Write senryu, address, name, pen name, age, phone number, and occupation (or school year) on a government postcard and send to: 〒101-8977 Japan Post Kanda Post Office, "TOTO Toilet Senryu" Desk. Must arrive by August 25, 2026.

[Entry Guidelines]
- Unlimited entries per person.
- Only original, unpublished works. Use of AI is allowed but must be refined and edited by the entrant to produce their own work.
- Entrants must ensure the work does not resemble previously published works.
- Works must not infringe on third-party rights such as names of celebrities, characters, product names, copyrights, or trademarks.
- If the company deems the work infringes or risks infringing third-party rights or violates public order and morals, the entry will be invalidated, and awards may be revoked even after announcement.
- Except in cases of willful misconduct or gross negligence, the company is not responsible for any complaints or disputes from third parties regarding the entry; the entrant must resolve them personally.
- Works will be announced under the pen name. Age, occupation, and prefecture of residence may be disclosed in a non-personally identifiable manner.
- Copyright of entries will be transferred to TOTO Ltd.
- All expenses such as postage are borne by the entrant.
- The 20 winning works will be published as a toilet paper-shaped senryu collection by TOTO Publishing and sold at bookstores nationwide.
- Personal information will be used only for sending prizes and related communications.
- This project may be changed or canceled without notice.

[Installation of Neorest Prize and My Washlet Prize]
- Pre-installation checks and installation work will be outsourced to TOTO Maintenance Co., Ltd., a TOTO group company. The winner's contact information will be shared with TOTO Maintenance for scheduling.
- Delivery and installation costs are borne by TOTO Ltd., but installation is limited to the winner's home in Japan.
- Installation fee covers only the installation of the prize; other work is excluded. If installation is not possible due to site conditions, the Neorest Prize will be ¥200,000 and the My Washlet Prize ¥100,000.
- Installation timing will be arranged in consultation.
- Prizes other than Neorest Prize and My Washlet Prize will be shipped only.

[Other]
- If the winner cannot be contacted or the prize cannot be delivered due to an unknown address, the award will be invalidated.
- Prize shipment is planned within 2026. Prizes may change without notice.
- TOTO group employees and their families are not eligible.

■ Schedule
Entry period: June 15 – August 25, 2026
Winner announcement: October 2026 on TOTO website
Senryu collection publication: November 10, 2026 (Toilet Day)

■ Judge
Takashi Nakahata, copywriter. Born in Kyoto in 1947. A leading copywriter in Japan's advertising industry. Famous for the Washlet launch campaign "Even your bottom wants to be washed" and "Fill your heart too, Cosmo Oil." Also known as the selector for the popular Mainichi Shimbun column "Nakahata-style Universal Senryu."