【Disaster Relief Crowdfunding】 WOTA Expands Bathing and Hygiene Support for Medical and Welfare Facilities Facing Water Outages in Kumamoto; Provides Equipment Free of Charge and Launches Crowdfunding Campaign to Cover Maintenance and Operational Costs

— All required equipment fully secured. Supporting the “funding gap” unaddressed by public schemes through private-sector solidarity —

WOTA extends its heartfelt sympathies to all those affected by the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake.

WOTA Corp. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director & CEO: Yosuke Maeda; hereinafter “WOTA”) on Monday, August 10, 2026, launched a crowdfunding project titled “Delivering Water to Support Medical and Welfare Facilities Facing Water Outages in Kumamoto Through the Power of Everyone” on the “READYFOR” platform. The project aims to raise 10 million yen to support ongoing bathing and hygiene assistance for medical and welfare facilities experiencing water outages due to the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake. WOTA will loan the necessary “WOTA BOX” and “WOSH” units free of charge and raise funds to cover maintenance and operational expenses for as long as support is needed due to water outages, damage to hot-water supply equipment, and other circumstances.
Facilities in the affected areas urgently require assistance, and all necessary equipment is already fully stocked in Kumamoto. WOTA provides the equipment units free of charge. However, under current public frameworks, there is no designated entity responsible for covering the delivery, setup, maintenance, and operational costs throughout the required support period. WOTA initiated this project to bridge this gap in cost coverage with private-sector funding.

Public-Private Partnership Responds with 80 Units Across 41 Evacuation Centers

To date, WOTA has deployed 80 units across 41 evacuation center locations.
This response was made possible through the collaboration of numerous public and private stakeholders, including equipment support from local governments nationwide via JWAD, personnel support from private corporate partners, cost coverage under the Disaster Relief Act, push-type and operational support from the Cabinet Office (Disaster Management) and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), transport support from the Ministry of Defense and the Air Self-Defense Force, and water supply support from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) and the Japan Water Works Association (JWWA).
Each of these support efforts operates under distinct frameworks and roles. WOTA expresses its deepest gratitude for the immense support provided by the national government, local municipalities, relevant organizations, and private companies.

13 Days Since the Earthquake: Equipment Is in Kumamoto, Yet Support for Medical and Welfare Facilities Cannot Be Fully Expanded

Now 13 days after the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake, hospitals and welfare facilities in affected areas continue to struggle with maintaining bathing and hygiene standards due to ongoing water outages and damaged heating systems. Facilities needing support have been identified through DMAT (Disaster Medical Assistance Team) and other channels, and the equipment required for assistance has already arrived at WOTA’s hub in Kumamoto.
However, while bathing support for evacuation centers progresses under official public support frameworks, certain areas of disaster water support remain uncovered by current public schemes—most notably and urgently in medical and welfare facilities. With each passing day of water outage, the hygiene of patients and residents is compromised, and the physical and emotional wellbeing of healthcare workers is eroded.

<Status Confirmed by DMAT as of August 8, 2026>

*The number of facilities and units requiring support may fluctuate based on water restoration and changing local conditions.

Why Crowdfunding Now?

While relevant government agencies are considering measures, and DMAT, local governments, and private companies are taking action, certain areas remain difficult to cover immediately under current public schemes alone. WOTA is therefore mobilizing private-sector resources to support the areas that public frameworks cannot fully reach. This crowdfunding campaign serves as a mechanism for everyone to join hands in providing that private-sector support.

At Uki General Hospital (Uki City, Kumamoto Prefecture), where systems have already begun operating, a patient who had been unable to bathe for 10 days became the very first user of the installed shower. At this hospital, only a few patients can bathe independently with supervision, while the vast majority require bathing assistance. This is why private, enclosed shower units that can be used safely inside or right next to the facility are urgently needed. It is not only patients and residents who need access to bathing facilities; healthcare and caregiving staff—who continue to commute from homes without running water—require them as well. In addition to crowdfunding, WOTA is soliciting corporate sponsorships to widely gather private-sector support and expand assistance.

What Your Support Will Achieve

With the target goal of 10 million yen, WOTA will deliver 8 shower units and 7 handwashing stations to approximately 6 new facilities/locations, supporting their operation throughout the required period due to water outages or damaged heating equipment (bringing the total to 11 locations, including the current 5). The equipment is already in Kumamoto; the faster funds are raised, the sooner deployment to the next facility can begin.

*The number of units and locations are estimates based on converting support amounts into standard deployment and operational costs. Actual deployment sites, unit counts, and operational periods will be determined based on facility conditions, water outage status, and facility acceptance capabilities. The number of requested units may decrease or change due to water restoration or shifts in local conditions.

<Primary Uses of Funds>

①Delivery & Setup
Assessing installation environments at each facility and setting up operational bathing conditions—from equipment delivery to hot water supply and private booth setup.
②Consumables Replenishment & Maintenance
Establishing operational frameworks tailored to each facility’s structure, supplying consumables (such as filters), conducting inspections and patrols, and providing technical support to ensure stable operation throughout the required period.

<Handling of Funds>

Contributions to this project will not be used to purchase equipment units (which WOTA loans free of charge), but will instead cover operational expenses—such as delivery, setup, consumables replenishment, and maintenance—for medical and welfare facilities where public cost coverage is currently unassigned. If public funding is subsequently applied to expenses previously covered by this project, contributions will not be applied to the same actual expenses a second time, but will instead be redirected to assist facilities and activities that have not yet received support. Furthermore, if initial planned support becomes unnecessary due to water restoration or other factors, funds will be utilized for ongoing daily-use water and hygiene support for the Kumamoto Earthquake or similar disaster relief activities. Any specific adjustments will be announced via the READYFOR project page and other channels.

WOTA Is Already in Action

On July 30, two days after the earthquake, WOTA began providing bathing support in Uki City upon receiving an official request from Kumamoto Prefecture, and has since deployed 80 units across 41 evacuation center locations. For medical and welfare facilities, WOTA received a request from DMAT on August 1 and has been progressively installing units based on priority levels regarding risks to life and medical continuity caused by water outages. Currently, 10 showers are operational across 5 locations. For facilities with extremely high medical urgency where support cannot be halted, WOTA has continued assistance by loaning equipment free of charge and absorbing the maintenance and operational expenses itself.

However, many facilities are still waiting for help. The necessary equipment is already secured in Kumamoto. What is currently lacking are the maintenance and operational funds required to deliver equipment to the next facilities and sustain stable use for as long as needed.
WOTA and its existing private corporate partners cannot continue expanding support to every facility in need on their own. That is why WOTA is mobilizing further private-sector support through crowdfunding and corporate sponsorships.
To deliver showers and handwashing facilities to waiting facilities as quickly as possible—and to sustain a safe, reassuring environment for as long as it is needed—we earnestly ask for your support.

Comment from Representative (Yosuke Maeda, Representative Director & CEO)

“Facilities need support, and the equipment to help them is already in Kumamoto. The reason we cannot fully expand support yet is that maintenance and operational costs in these areas cannot be fully covered by current public schemes alone. The situation on the ground cannot wait. By bringing together the power of the private sector, we will fill this gap and continue delivering bathing and hygiene environments for as long as necessary until water outages and equipment damage are resolved. Furthermore, we will build upon this experience to establish pre-disaster preparedness frameworks and public-private partnership models for medical and welfare facility support in future disasters.”

Project Implementation Overview

About “WOTA BOX” and “WOSH”

The Portable Water-Regeneration System “WOTA BOX” is a water-regeneration shower system that regenerates and recycles up to 98%* of used water on the spot, securing access to bathing facilities even during water outages. With 100 liters of water, it enables approximately 100 people to take individual showers.
The Water-Regeneration Handwashing Stand “WOSH” recycles up to 98%* of used water on the spot and can be installed in locations without running water. With just 20 liters of water, it allows for up to 500 handwashes.

*Regeneration rates, usage counts, and capacity may vary depending on usage conditions and raw water quality.
Details:https://wota.co.jp/en/wota-box/ / https://wota.co.jp/en/wosh/

【About WOTA Corp.】

WOTA is a private enterprise aiming for structural solutions to global water issues. Since its founding in 2014, WOTA has developed “Decentralized Water Regeneration Systems” and “Autonomous Water Treatment Control Technology” to reuse domestic wastewater to the maximum extent, addressing problems caused by unequal distribution, scarcity, and pollution of global water resources. WOTA has brought two products to market, contributing to emergency water access during disaster outages and improving public hygiene. WOTA has also developed a “Residential Water Regeneration System” for daily water use and begun supplying water in select regions in Japan and abroad.
Details: https://wota.co.jp/en/

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