Of all the things that were popular between 1603 and 1868 in Japan, toilet humor is the last trend we'd ever guess was sweeping the nation … but that shows how much we know about Japanese history.

Of all the things that were popular between 1603 and 1868 in Japan, toilet humor is the last trend we'd ever guess was sweeping the nation … but that shows how much we know about Japanese history.

During that time, men competed in he-gassen, or "farting competitions," some particularly valiant ones of which are depicted below. They show men catapulting noxious butt explosions at  other men, women, men on horses, trees, men holding stuff, and… cats. Each of their targets seems to be literally blown away by the force of the flatulence. One strong warrior even breaks through a wooden door with his Grade A ass candy. Real mature, ancient Japanese people.

According to the website Naruhodo, "Similar drawings were used to ridicule westerners towards the end of the Edo period, with images depicting the westerners blown away by Japanese farts." More proof that toilet humor, not bombs, should be the weapon of choice in today's modern world.