Transportable Independent Power Supply “N3 N-CUBE” Adopted as a Disaster-Relief Container Toilet at the Disaster-Resilient Roadside Station “Shimotsuke”
March 10, 2026
- First deployment of “N3 N-CUBE” at roadside station, contributing to strengthening disaster prevention function
NTN Corporation (hereafter, NTN) has had the Transportable Independent Power Supply “N3 N-CUBE” adopted as a disaster relief container toilet at the Michi-no-Eki (roadside station) “Shimotsuke” in Shimotsuke City, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. It is a fully self-contained, water-circulation flush toilet system (hereafter, the circulation-type flush toilet system) that operates entirely on 100% renewable energy and can be transported by truck. It serves daily users at the roadside station during normal times and can be deployed to affected areas during disasters, contributing to solving one of the most critical issues in times of emergency—securing toilet facilities.
During disasters, disruptions to water and power infrastructure often lead to severe toilet shortages and deteriorating sanitary conditions. These circumstances sometimes cause evacuees to reduce food and water intake, which may result in dehydration, infectious diseases, or even deep vein thrombosis (“economy-class syndrome”).
To address these issues, NTN developed a restroom model using the Transportable Independent Power Supply “N3 N-CUBE,” a container-equipped power supply system that integrates a compact wind turbine, solar panels, and storage batteries. Inside the container, it houses both a restroom and a treatment tank that breaks down and purifies wastewater. Its ability to function without external water supply or drainage, maintain sanitary restroom conditions using only renewable energy, and provide “phase-free” utility across both normal and emergency situations has earned high recognition. The system has already been adopted by municipalities throughout Japan*1 and was utilized in recovery efforts following the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake*2.
As disaster preparedness becomes an increasingly important national priority, Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) has designated 79 roadside stations as disaster-resilient roadside stations (as of February 2026), providing focused support to help them function as wide area disaster-response hubs. In April 2024, MLIT also issued the “Guidelines for Utilizing High Value-Added Containers at Michi-no-Eki”*3 to advance regional revitalization during normal times and enhance disaster-management functions during emergencies.
In line with these guidelines, NTN has conducted demonstration tests*4 to verify the effectiveness of “N3 N-CUBE,” showcasing a full sequence of disaster-response operations—from transportation and installation to power generation. Building on these efforts, “N3 N-CUBE” has now been installed and commenced operation at the disaster-resilient roadside station “Shimotsuke,” marking the first deployment of the unit at any roadside stations nationwide. The installed unit features a circulation-type flush toilet system that purifies wastewater using electricity generated by solar panels and recirculates the treated water for continuous use.
NTN will continue to promote “N3 N-CUBE” to disaster resilient roadside stations across Japan and will further expand its applications to address a variety of social needs, including pet protection during disasters*5, passive smoking prevention in tourist destinations, and heatstroke mitigation.
- Press release on March 6, 2026:
NTN Installs World's First 100% Renewable-Energy Circulation Type Flush Toilet with Separated Restroom and Treatment Tank in Oyodo Town, Nara to Address Disaster Related Sanitation Issues
https://www.ntnglobal.com/en/news/new_products/news202600013.html - Press release on January 30, 2024:
NTN, in Collaboration with Gojo City in Nara Prefecture, Provides Circulation Type Flush Toilet (nicknamed the “Flying Toilet”) Free of Charge to Areas Affected by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake.(Japanese Only)
https://www.ntn.co.jp/japan/news/press/news202400009.html - Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism: Enhancing the Functions of “Michi no Eki” through Container Utilization— MLIT Establishes the Guidelines for Utilizing High Value Added Containers at Michi no Eki — (Japanese Only)
https://www.mlit.go.jp/report/press/road01_hh_001798.html - Press release on October 9, 2024:
NTN Has Held Demonstration Test for Transportable Independent Power Supply “N3 N-CUBE” in the Event of Disasters
https://www.ntnglobal.com/en/news/press/news202400082.html - Press release on January 6, 2026:
NTN Starts Initiative to Protect Lives of People and Pets during Disasters Using “N3 N-CUBE,” Which Generates Electricity from Renewable Energy
https://www.ntnglobal.com/en/news/new_products/news202600003.html
The “N3 N-CUBE” installed at the disaster-resilient roadside station “Shimotsuke”
Access map of the disaster-resilient roadside station “Shimotsuke”
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