Water reclamation and treatment technology utilized in the Noto Peninsula earthquake and and the social implementation process of toilet cars The 8th Japan Open Innovation Awards Selection Committee's Special Award

Uni-Trike Corporation (headquartered in Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture; Hideki Murakami, President), with the support of industry-academia-government collaboration through Niigata Prefecture's "Niigata Disaster Prevention Station," commercialized a purification system using bio-based technology developed jointly by Nagaoka University of Technology (hereinafter referred to as Nagaoka University of Technology) and The Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Incorporated (hereinafter referred to as TEPCO HD). (Head office: Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture; President: Hideki Murakami) received the Selection Committee's Special Award at the 8th Japan Open Innovation Awards sponsored by the Cabinet Office, in recognition of the process that led to the commercialization and social implementation of the system.

The award ceremony was held on February 9, 2026 at Toranomon Hills Forum in Tokyo.

Group photo of the award winners

Group photo

Selection Committee's Special Award

Social implementation process of the "Water Changer(R)" disaster prevention research through industry-academia-government collaboration

～The birth of "Re-Bio," a toilet car born from a Niigata Prefecture company that played an active role in the Noto Peninsula earthquake-stricken area.

This initiative is based on the "Water Changer(R)" water reclamation and treatment technology developed by Nagaoka University of Technology and TEPCO HD. Using this technology, we have commercialized "Bio Laundry," a hand washing device that never runs out of water, with the support of Niigata Prefecture's "Disaster Prevention Industrial Cluster Formation Project. This product contributed greatly to the provision of a hygienic hand-washing environment and the securing of water for daily use in areas where water was cut off and at evacuation centers after the Noto Peninsula Earthquake.

Furthermore, we developed and commercialized a self-contained toilet car "Re-Bio" equipped with this technology in collaboration with NITK Corporation, which had been providing toilet cars.

Key Points of the Award

A model case of regional collaboration:

The Nagaoka University of Technology and other companies and local governments in Niigata Prefecture worked together as an "all-Niigata" team and continued to carry out steady activities.

Rapid social implementation:

The research results were promptly commercialized and directly linked to solving problems at the actual site of the Noto Peninsula earthquake.

Awardees (joint winners) 1.

1. Hideki Murakami (Representative Director, Unitriq Co., Ltd.)

2. Takahiro Watari (Associate Professor, Nagaoka University of Technology)

3. Atsufumi Yoshizawa (Fellow, The Tokyo Electric Power Company, Incorporated / Visiting Professor, Nagaoka University of Technology) 4.

Nur Adlin Binti Abu Bakar (CEO, AQVANA Corporation / Assistant Professor, Nagaoka University of Technology)

Kazutaka Arai (Director, NITK Corporation)

Comment from Hideki Murakami, Representative Director

It is a great honor to receive the prestigious Japan Open Innovation Award. It is thanks to the strong partnership between industry, academia, and government, including Nagaoka University of Technology, that our company's manufacturing has been able to be useful to the people in the disaster-stricken areas. We will continue to provide innovative solutions from Niigata to the global issues of water and disaster prevention.

Outline of the Re-Bio self-contained toilet car

Re-Bio" is equipped with a "circulation-type" system that purifies and reuses hand-washing wastewater with the power of biotechnology, enabling long-term use even in the event of a disaster when the water supply and drainage infrastructure has been disrupted.

Selling price: 9.8 million yen and up (excluding tax)

*Price may increase or decrease depending on the type of vehicle, optional configurations, etc.

＜Main Features

Water-saving: A water purification and circulation system for hand-washing water reduces the need for water supply and drainage work,

　　　　　　The water previously reserved for hand washing can be diverted to the toilet, increasing the number of times the toilet is used by 20%.

　　　　　　The number of times toilets are used is increased by approximately 20%.

Hygienic: Comfortable private spaces are provided without the odor and discomfort associated with conventional temporary toilets.

Mobility: Can be driven with a standard driver's license. The size of a light truck, it can be quickly transported to disaster-stricken areas.

Toilet Car Re-Bio

How ReBio works

https://unique-office.com/category1/re-baio/

Company Profile

Company name: Uni-Trike Corporation

Location: Terao City 7, 2-4-46 Terao-dai, Nishi-ku, Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture

Representative ： Hideki Murakami

Establishment : February 2004

Capital ： 5 million yen

Business : Planning, sales, and rental of environmental improvement products

URL ： https://unique-office.com/