Preparedness Alone Isn't Enough: Kobosha Launches Crowdfunding for Improved 'Morasumai' Co-Developed with Kobe Gakuin University

Kobosha Co., Ltd. (pronounced: Koubousha), a company specializing in the design and construction of fire and disaster prevention systems (Headquarters: Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture; President: Shunichi Tsuji; hereinafter "the company"), has launched a crowdfunding campaign on July 15, 2026, for the improved portable disaster toilet "Morasumai ChairBOX." This initiative is part of an industry-academia collaboration project with Professor Nakata's seminar at the Department of Social Disaster Prevention, Faculty of Modern Society, Kobe Gakuin University.

While stockpiling food and drinking water is widely recognized, toilet conditions during disasters remain a serious challenge. In evacuation shelters, health conditions can deteriorate due to toilet shortages and worsening sanitation, potentially leading to disaster-related deaths. The company focuses on the reality that "preparing" and "actually being able to use" supplies are two different issues. Based on interviews with companies and insights from students studying disaster prevention, the company has developed the improved "Morasumai" and is proposing it widely to society through crowdfunding.

"Preparedness" Alone Cannot Save Lives

Portable disaster toilets are increasingly being stockpiled by many companies and local governments. However, actual interviews with companies have revealed numerous challenges: unclear usage instructions, lack of training, poor stockpile management, insufficient consideration for women and the elderly, and difficulty securing storage space. In other words, "stockpiling" portable toilets and "actually being able to use them during a disaster" are entirely different issues.

Industry-Academia Collaboration Leveraging Strengths of Students and Companies

This project was initiated through industry-academia collaboration with Professor Nakata's seminar at the Department of Social Disaster Prevention, Faculty of Modern Society, Kobe Gakuin University.

Aoi Ishizuka, a student participating in the project, holds a Disaster Prevention Specialist certification and has personally experienced the challenges of evacuation shelters through volunteer activities following the Noto Peninsula earthquake. Meanwhile, the company, based in Kobe—a city that experienced the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake—has extensive knowledge and experience gained from on-site activities, including inspection, design, construction of disaster prevention systems, and sales of disaster prevention products. By combining the challenges Aoi felt firsthand with the company's accumulated disaster prevention expertise, the team embarked on product development aimed at "truly usable preparedness supplies."

"Morasumai ChairBOX" Born from On-Site Voices

The greatest feature of the newly developed improved "Morasumai ChairBOX" is that the storage case itself becomes the toilet seat.

During stockpiling, it is stored compactly as a storage box. In a disaster, it can be easily assembled and used as a seat. The design eliminates the need for additional equipment and allows easy adoption even in limited storage spaces. Furthermore, improvements have been made based on issues raised in company interviews, including external labeling for easier management of expiration dates and contents, optional features considering women and the elderly, and a compact design suitable for adoption by companies and local governments.

Gathering Public Voices Through Crowdfunding

The purpose of this crowdfunding campaign is not merely to sell the product.

The company aims to raise awareness about toilet issues during disasters among as many people as possible and to create an opportunity for society as a whole to consider "truly usable preparedness." By incorporating feedback and on-site voices from supporters into future improvements, the product will continue to evolve into a more practical solution. Through this joint challenge between students and the company, the goal is to increase public awareness of disaster preparedness and contribute to improving future evacuation shelter environments.

Crowdfunding Overview

Project Name: "To Protect Loved Ones": Students and Companies Tackle Evacuation Shelter Toilet Issues

Period: July 15, 2026 – August 31, 2026

Platform: CAMPFIRE

URL: https://camp-fire.jp/projects/955546/preview?token=10j3axdy&utm_campaign=cp_po_share_c_msg_projects_show

About Kobosha

Kobosha Co., Ltd. is a company with 17 years of experience creating new forms of disaster preparedness. The company provides a wide range of services related to disaster prevention, including design and construction of fire protection systems, inspection and maintenance, sales of fire and disaster prevention products, and fire drills. Many employees, including founding members, experienced the Great Hanshin Earthquake, and the company is actively focusing on developing disaster prevention products to prepare for the increasing frequency of natural disasters. Fire and disaster prevention products are also available for purchase via the company's EC site. Kobosha aims to contribute to society by providing safe and secure disaster prevention systems and living environments, protecting "lives, property, and living environments."

[Company Overview]

Company Name: Kobosha Co., Ltd. (Koubousha)

Representative: President Shunichi Tsuji

Headquarters: 3-4-3 Higashinadacho, Chuo-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture

TEL: 078-241-3505 (main)

FAX: 078-241-3506

URL: https://kobosha.com/about/

E-Mail: [email protected]

Business: Design and construction of disaster prevention systems; sales of disaster prevention goods