【Daily-Use Water Support for the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake】 Expands Equipment Deployment to Medical and Welfare Facilities and Other Sites with Sponsorship from a Total of 25 Companies and 1 Individual
— Deployed to medical and welfare facilities, children’s facilities, and support facilities for children with disabilities experiencing ongoing water outages and hot water equipment damage —
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”) began accepting sponsorships and launched a crowdfunding project titled “Together, Delivering Water to Sustain Medical and Welfare Services at Facilities Facing Ongoing Water Outages in Kumamoto” on Monday, August 10, 2026, to sustain and expand bathing and hygiene support for medical and welfare facilities experiencing ongoing water outages and hot water equipment damage due to the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake.
By the first deadline, sponsorships had been received from 14 companies and 1 individual (as of August 14), including financial contributions and in-kind support in the form of personnel, equipment, supplies, vehicles, transport, and services provided at the contributing companies’ expense.
Since the first deadline, new sponsorships have continued to arrive from companies and organizations aligned with the purpose of these activities, bringing the current cumulative total to 25 companies and 1 individual.
We express our deepest gratitude to all companies, organizations, and individuals who have rendered their support to this initiative.
Background of Sponsorship and Crowdfunding Efforts to Support Medical and Welfare Facilities and Other Sites
Following the disaster, WOTA began deploying Portable Water-Recycling Shower “WOTA BOX” and Water-Regenerating Handwashing Stand “WOSH” units to evacuation centers and other sites in areas affected by water outages upon receiving an official request from Kumamoto Prefecture. These activities are conducted under public frameworks such as the Disaster Relief Act, as well as through partnerships with the national government, local governments, relevant organizations, and private companies.
However, for support to medical and welfare facilities and other sites, arrangements for covering the necessary maintenance and operating costs with public funds have not yet been clarified, despite the existence of support requests and available equipment. These costs include equipment delivery and setup, replenishment of consumables such as filters, maintenance, inspections, site visits, and technical support throughout the support period.
Against this backdrop, sponsorships and crowdfunding contributions received from supporters are utilized for equipment delivery, setup, consumables replenishment (such as filters), maintenance, inspections, patrols, and technical support required to deliver “WOTA BOX” and “WOSH” units to medical and welfare facilities and other sites and sustain their continuous operation.
Private-Sector Sponsorships Expand to 25 Companies and 1 Individual
From the launch of sponsorship recruitment on Monday, August 10, through the first deadline, 14 companies and 1 individual provided sponsorships. Through continued recruitment efforts, cumulative sponsorships reached 25 companies and 1 individual as of August 25.
In addition to monetary sponsorships, in-kind contributions drawing on the expertise and resources of each company or organization—including personnel, equipment, vehicles, supplies, and services—are becoming more widespread. WOTA also collaborates with operational partner companies who handle on-site delivery, installation, and operation, with expenses covered by WOTA.
Furthermore, many supporters have contributed donations to the crowdfunding project running concurrently since Monday, August 10. The initial target goal of 10 million yen was achieved within 5 days of launch, and the campaign continues, with over 500 individuals and corporate entities currently participating. Sponsorships from corporations and /individuals and donations raised via crowdfunding are being applied toward delivering “WOTA BOX” and “WOSH” units to an growing range of recipient facilities, including medical and welfare facilities and nursery schools, —and to sustain their ongoing operation.
Details regarding the utilization of received sponsorships/donations and the latest deployment metrics will be published in the upcoming “WOTA 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake Response Fact Sheet (Fourth Preliminary Report).”
Additionally, activity reports are continuously posted on the crowdfunding website.
We invite you to view regular updates reporting on disaster relief operations enabled by your contributions:
https://readyfor.jp/projects/WOTA2026/announcements
＜Sponsoring & Partner Companies＞
＜Equipment Installed at Medical and Welfare Facilities Through Sponsorships and Donations from Private Companies, Individuals, and Other Supporters＞
Deployment to Medical and Welfare Facilities, Children’s Facilities, Support Facilities for Children with Disabilities, and Other Sites: A Total of 98 Units Across 41 Facilities as of August 19
Full-scale deployment to medical and welfare facilities and other sites began on August 11, reaching a cumulative total of 98 units across 41 facilities (45 “WOTA BOX” units, 53 “WOSH” units) as of August 19. WOTA is enabling bathing and handwashing within facilities, primarily medical institutions, senior care facilities, children’s facilities, and support facilities for children with disabilities.
Continuing Corporate Sponsorship Recruitment and Crowdfunding
While water outages are gradually being resolved in affected areas, medical and welfare facilities and other sites requiring support due to ongoing outages still remain. Therefore, WOTA will continue soliciting sponsorships from private companies and other supporters, as well as donations through ongoing crowdfunding efforts.
WOTA will continue to assess local needs and use future sponsorships and donations to deploy equipment to new recipient sites and sustain maintenance and operations for as long as support is needed.
Comment from Yosuke Maeda, Representative Director & CEO:
“We express our deepest gratitude to the many companies, organizations, and individuals who supported the purpose of this initiative and continued to provided sponsorships and donations after the first deadline.
In addition to financial sponsorships, companies and organizations have contributed their resources and expertise—including personnel, vehicles, supplies, transport, and on-site installation and operation—enabling us to provide access to showers and handwashing at medical and welfare facilities and other sites facing ongoing water outages.
However, facilities requiring assistance still remain in the field. We will continue accepting corporate sponsorships and running the crowdfunding campaign, working closely with DMAT, local governments, public health centers, and other relevant organizations to ensure that the sponsorships and donations entrusted to us reach as many sites as possible.
Once again, I extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who kept the disaster-affected areas in their thoughts and contributed to these efforts.”
【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/