“WOTA BOX” Used in Evacuation Center Drill at Kochi Prefectural Ogata High School
From Friday, August 28, to Saturday, August 29, 2026, the Water-Recycling Shower “WOTA BOX” was used during the “Nighttime Evacuation Center Experience,” an overnight training exercise at Kochi Prefectural Ogata High School simulating life in an evacuation center during summer.
This training was conducted as part of disaster preparedness education included in the school’s course curriculum. . It aimed to give high school students firsthand experience of life in an evacuation center and deepen their understanding of the knowledge and actions necessary during a disaster. Supporting these aims, the Information and Disaster Prevention Division of Kuroshio Town, Kochi Prefecture, lent the disaster preparedness equipment and supplies needed for the training.
On the day of the event, various training exercises simulating actual evacuation center life were conducted, including an evacuation drill from locations within the town to the high school, setting up evacuation facilities such as toilets and tents, using portable toilets, having a dinner consisting of emergency rations, identifying hazards on campus, and sleeping in tents inside the gymnasium.
Experiencing the Setup and Use of Temporary Showers Using “WOTA BOX”
During the training, participants practiced setting up and using “WOTA BOX” equipment owned by Kuroshio Town.
WOTA staff also participated on site, helping the high school students gain hands-on experience in setting up, operating, and packing away “WOTA BOX.”
By handling the equipment firsthand, participants learned how showers can be provided with limited water, as well as the procedures for setting up and maintaining hygienic water-use facilities water outages.
The overnight experience also helped participants deepen their understanding of the challenges of living in an evacuation center during hot summer weather and the importance of ensuring access to bathing and maintaining hygiene during disasters.
WOTA remains committed to collaborating with local governments and communities to establish arrangements that enable local residents to independently establish and operate water-use facilities themselves during disasters.