Conventional public toilets have a negative image of being dark, unsanitary and unsafe, and are thought of as places to avoid if possible. In addition, because they were difficult places to identify, graffiti and vandalism were common, and were not used as intended. Furthermore, although they are public facilities, they are often not universally designed, making it difficult for disabled, elderly, and parents with children to use, and are not "places that are accessible for everyone," which public toilets should be. The Tokyo Toilet Project Project was launched to raise awareness of these issues related to public toilets, which have been left unaddressed, and to design toilets that are truly open to the "public”.

17 public toilets in Tokyo were redesigned by 16 globally recognized architects and designers.

A wide range of creators, including not only architects but also interior, fashion, product designers, and creative directors, enabled us to approach the project from multiple angles. This is the first time in which 16 world-renowned creators have participated in a design project. All toilets have been renovated with universal design, and are equipped with warm water washing toilets for highly functional public toilets that is unparalleled anywhere in the world. In addition, the project focuses on maintenance and management by increasing the number of cleaning cycles from once a day to two to three times a day, as well as frequent checks by third-party inspections. The designs of the uniforms of the cleaners were supervised by designer NIGO®.

16 globally recognized architects and designers participated to present an example for public toilets to the world. The 17 public toilets in Shibuya changed from "a place you have no choice but to use" to "a place you want to visit”. With Shibuya as the host city, which annually attracts international recognition as a cultural hub, the project’s intentions were communicated to the world with many domestic and international media covering the topic, and also became a hot topic in social media. By creating an environment where toilets are always kept clean, the project aims to foster the mindset that public toilets are a place that ”belongs to everyone" and encourage maintaining cleanliness for the next person.

These iconic toilets became the new face of Tokyo and the world was watching.Over 2,275 media coverage, 5.3 billion reactions, and 200% increase in use by women. Public toilets in Tokyo were reimagined from a “place people avoided” to “a place people wanted to visit”.