The Hokuriku region, where the Noto Peninshula Earthquake occurred on January 1, 2024, was hit by a torrential rainstorm in September of the same year and was devastated by extensive damage, which has cast light on such pressing issues as how to secure drinking water and temporary toilets in areas struck by natural disasters for protecting the health and lives of disaster victims. There is no telling when natural disasters emerge. The importance of daily provisions against emergency and disaster is emphasized.

According to Tajima, the Circular Bio-toilet that they provide to the venue of the Expo will be carried to the venue by using a trailer for installation there, which means that it can be dispatched in response to emergency calls at the time of disaster. He expects that the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, during which their Circular Bio-toilet will be used, will be an opportunity that allows a number of people to learn that it can be used whenever the need arises. During the Expo, it will be installed around the boarding area for chartered buses at Yumeshima Transportation Terminal 2. He said that he was excited that visitors would see and experience their system of circulating water, which is friendly to both nature and people and suited for the venue of the Expo, which will be held under the theme of SDGs. They, thus, cooperated with designers and have put a lot of thought also into the appearance and interior of the Circular Bio-toilet in order to make it attractive and enable visitors to grasp the concept that it is an interesting toilet.

　“People in Japan have taken it for granted that water is available abundantly and they only have to turn on the tap to have clean and ready-to-drink water. Since ancient times, we have shared an understanding that water moves around the sky and the earth and human beings benefit from it,” said Asakawa. Looking back into the history of the Japanese language, there is a theory claiming that the original meaning of “kawaya,” which means a restroom or toilet, is a hut built over a river. This tells of the fact that humans lived as part of the cycle of great nature. The mechanism of the Circular Bio-toilet is that the natural cycle is created within the system that can be carried using a trailer.

It, therefore, has a potential to be installed in every corner of the world, including areas being reconstructed after disaster or conflict, and areas in such environments as the one where it is not easy to draw water.

Saying that his company can work with many people in case of an emergency if they are aware of the system, and that it can be used as one of the daily provisions against emergency and disaster, Tajima is eagerly waiting for the day when people recognize the potential of their Circular Bio-toilet.

Mr. Yasuhiro Tajima, Manager in charge of Regional Development and SDGs, W TOKYO INC.

Ms. Kazuha Asakawa, Solutions Business Section, W TOKYO INC.