According to toilet vehicle manufacturer Montelion, annual orders surged in fiscal year 2025 – from just a few units to about 250 units in around 150 municipalities. Municipal governments with toilet vehicles have signed an agreement to dispatch them to one another when a disaster strikes. In the two months immediately following the Noto earthquake, around 15 toilet vehicles were sent to affected areas where roads were still intact. Nevertheless, toilet vehicles alone will not be enough to meet the needs of evacuees. “It’s important to gradually put into place a system where toilet vehicles can be used in combination with temporary and portable toilets,” Kato said.

Source: The Star February 16, 2026 14:51 UTC