It looks like renovations are moving ahead to clean up the toilets at public elementary and junior high schools in Nishinomiya and replace Japanese-style toilets with Western-style ones.
According to the Mainichi Shimbun, the rate of Western-style toilets in Nishinomiya is 46.8%, the second worst in the Hanshin area (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology survey, September 2020).
Western-style toilet installation rates at public elementary and junior high schools in the Hanshin area↓↓
| Municipality | Western-style toilet rate (%) |
|---|---|
| Itami City | 82.5 |
| Ashiya City | 76.3 |
| Takarazuka City | 70.6 |
| Kawanishi City | 68.0 |
| Inagawa Town | 65.1 |
| Amagasaki City | 56.9 |
| Nishinomiya City | 46.8 |
| Sanda City | 46.1 |
| Kobe City | 74.7 |
Nishinomiya ranked No. 1 among cities people want to live in, and Nishinomiya ranked 13th nationwide in the 2020 City Livability Ranking.
Even amazing Nishinomiya like that is the second worst in the Hanshin area when it comes to Western-style toilet rates 😭So sad
Nishinomiya City has reportedly allocated 88.21 million yen starting in 2021 to renovate toilets at municipal elementary and junior high schools and replace them with Western-style toilets using a simplified construction method!So happy!
Here’s what the work will involve↓↓
- An estimated 3 million yen per paired boys’ and girls’ toilet area
- Converting two or more toilets to Western-style
- Replacing tiled floors with sheet flooring
- Carrying out work at 35 locations in 7 elementary and junior high schools during summer vacation
The city’s Board of Education says it wants the renovations to help improve the “5 Ks” of school toilets: kusai, kitanai, kurai, kowai, kowarete iru (smelly, dirty, dark, scary, and broken).
The 5 Ks of school toilets😫😱
Of course school toilets should be “not smelly, clean, bright, safe, and not broken,” right?
The toilets targeted are apparently toilets more than 40 years old that are not expected to be renovated for the next 15 years or so.
Hopefully the toilets at elementary and junior high schools in Nishinomiya will get cleaner, and the Western-style toilet rate will keep climbing.
Here’s hoping the environment becomes even better for the kids.
Sources: Mainichi Shimbun/Kobe Shimbun NEXT
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