<p>Giant wooden objects, floating half-spheres: &#8230;&#8230;. Mysterious structures are appearing one after another in Shibuya Ward. What they really are are public toilets. A project led by the Nippon Foundation, with the participation of 16 top-notch creators, will open 17 overly innovative restrooms by the end of March 2010.</p>
<h2>Nabeshima Shoto Park<br>
Kengo Kuma</h2>
<p><a href="#" data-ident_hash="8cadcc0d"><img src="https://gsjebzejhjubm-res.cloudinary.com/image/private/s--ZsDLp-rV--/t_article_image/v1629665935/TZ3_4992_ttegis.jpg" alt=""></a></p>
<figure id="attachment_200840" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 4066px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-200840"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="dd2ddcea"><img src="https://gsjebzejhjubm-res.cloudinary.com/image/private/s--yIUx3-oD--/t_article_image/v1629665937/TZ3_5113_ajmxzw.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-200840" class="wp-caption-text">240 cedar boards are used to create a feeling of being in a small forest. On the other hand, some people seem to be confused by the small display of the purpose of each restroom.</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_200841" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 3189px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-200841"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="de2317d1"><img src="https://gsjebzejhjubm-res.cloudinary.com/image/private/s--oiA0sfsW--/t_article_image/v1629665938/TZ3_5023_ljn951.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-200841" class="wp-caption-text">Unpublished cut from &#8220;Designer Public Restrooms&#8221; Kengo Kuma, Nabeshima Shoto Park</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_200842" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 3189px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-200842"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="70a1acb4"><img src="https://gsjebzejhjubm-res.cloudinary.com/image/private/s--H8BhIfYP--/t_article_image/v1629665937/TZ3_5127_gcq9z5.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-200842" class="wp-caption-text">Unpublished cut of &#8220;Designer Public Restrooms&#8221; in Nabeshima Shoto Park by Kengo Kuma</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_200843" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 3189px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-200843"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="7e5a7df9"><img src="https://gsjebzejhjubm-res.cloudinary.com/image/private/s--A6xlA8o6--/t_article_image/v1629665938/TZ3_5203_rhxlyy.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-200843" class="wp-caption-text">Unpublished cut of &#8220;Designer Public Toilet&#8221; Kengo Kuma in Nabeshima Shoto Park</figcaption></figure>
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<p>This reporter immediately visited the restroom designed by Kengo Kuma (photo above). After passing through a huge space of cedar boards, the largest of which is 4 meters high, five restrooms appear. The rooms are also covered with stumps, and the smell of cedar fills the air. It is a very luxurious space where you can even enjoy the feeling of forest bathing while doing your business.</p>
<p>The toilet, built by famous creative director Kazoo Sato, is equipped with the latest technology. By reading the QR code at the entrance with your smartphone, you can access a special website. &#8220;After calling out, &#8220;Hi Toilet! &#8220;You can then tell the toilet what you want it to do, such as flush the water, and it will do exactly that. By the way, if you call out, &#8220;Play music,&#8221; moody music will be played. I wonder if this was Mr. Sato&#8217;s choice of music. It&#8217;s very stylish.</p>
<p>I asked the Nippon Foundation staff how they came up with the idea.</p>
<p><strong> &#8220;We thought that by changing the image of public toilets as scary, dirty, smelly, and dark, we could create a more livable city. We are happy to hear that people actually feel safe using the toilets even at night.</strong></p>
<p>Why don&#8217;t you take a break when you visit Shibuya?</p>
<h2>Nanago Street Park<br>
Kazoo Sato</h2>
<p><a href="#" data-ident_hash="e4222b30"><img src="https://gsjebzejhjubm-res.cloudinary.com/image/private/s--9IIJHiKW--/t_article_image/v1629665956/TZ3_7312_fq7uet.jpg" alt=""></a></p>
<figure id="attachment_200845" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 4010px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-200845"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="df5c29dd"><img src="https://gsjebzejhjubm-res.cloudinary.com/image/private/s--L8VQgZlW--/t_article_image/v1629665959/TZ3_7398_kws7s7.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-200845" class="wp-caption-text">The design of the pure white half-sphere was inspired by water. &#8220;It took three years to develop the concept of a new type of &#8220;non-contact toilet.</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_200846" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 4024px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-200846"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="d9504615"><img src="https://gsjebzejhjubm-res.cloudinary.com/image/private/s--l0FiLRRW--/t_article_image/v1629665921/TZ1_9330_aq3x6v.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-200846" class="wp-caption-text">Unpublished cut from the &#8220;Designer Public Toilet&#8221; at Nanago Street Park by Kazoo Sato</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_200848" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 6048px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-200848"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="7a51dcdb"><img src="https://gsjebzejhjubm-res.cloudinary.com/image/private/s--poff0tPf--/t_article_image/v1629665959/TZ3_8050_qypixi.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-200848" class="wp-caption-text">Unpublished cut from the magazine &#8220;Designer Public Toilets&#8221; in Nanago Street Park by Kazoo Sato</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Jingu Dori Park<br>
Tadao Ando</h2>
<figure id="attachment_200849" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 3101px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-200849"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="1616acc1"><img src="https://gsjebzejhjubm-res.cloudinary.com/image/private/s--IhLDnhJp--/t_article_image/v1629665921/TZ1_7028_i6ugop.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-200849" class="wp-caption-text">The design was inspired by a small pavilion in the city center. The shape is circular, and the outer wall has a vertical lattice so that wind and light can enter from anywhere.</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_200850" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 6048px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-200850"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="02704af8"><img src="https://gsjebzejhjubm-res.cloudinary.com/image/private/s--RT-baN1a--/t_article_image/v1629665944/TZ3_5373_q9jliy.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-200850" class="wp-caption-text">Tadao Ando&#8217;s &#8220;Designer Public Toilet&#8221; at Jingu-dori Park, which is too bizarre to be published in this magazine</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_200851" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 6048px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-200851"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="513a76c7"><img src="https://gsjebzejhjubm-res.cloudinary.com/image/private/s--w6opAjpN--/t_article_image/v1629665945/TZ3_5420_zi1gce.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-200851" class="wp-caption-text">Tadao Ando&#8217;s &#8220;Designer Public Toilet&#8221; at Jingu-dori Park, too eccentric to be published in this magazine</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_200852" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 4024px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-200852"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="76a76c3f"><img src="https://gsjebzejhjubm-res.cloudinary.com/image/private/s--sehHWCbt--/t_article_image/v1629665946/TZ3_5454_td4hcr.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-200852" class="wp-caption-text">Unpublished photo from the magazine Tadao Ando&#8217;s &#8220;Designer Public Toilets&#8221; at Jingumae Park</figcaption></figure>
<h2>West exit of Ebisu station<br>
Kashiwa Sato</h2>
<figure id="attachment_200853" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 3091px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-200853"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="6fcfa644"><img src="https://gsjebzejhjubm-res.cloudinary.com/image/private/s--H-a71HYd--/t_article_image/v1629665951/TZ3_6613_ea92o9.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-200853" class="wp-caption-text">A giant cube of about 6 meters on each side rises right next to JR Ebisu Station. All five toilets are open to all genders.</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_200854" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 3189px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-200854"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="33785ebc"><img src="https://gsjebzejhjubm-res.cloudinary.com/image/private/s--9nFDc4po--/t_article_image/v1629665952/TZ3_6930_vcquss.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-200854" class="wp-caption-text">Unpublished cut of the &#8220;designer public restroom&#8221; at Ebisu Station West Exit by Kashiwa Sato</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_200855" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2948px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-200855"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="86c9bb86"><img src="https://gsjebzejhjubm-res.cloudinary.com/image/private/s--J-g5ZXS6--/t_article_image/v1629665951/TZ3_6857_qdgve8.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-200855" class="wp-caption-text">Unpublished cut from the magazine &#8220;Designer Public Restrooms&#8221; at Ebisu Station West Exit Kashiwa Sato</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_200856" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 3189px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-200856"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="5f62e72f"><img src="https://gsjebzejhjubm-res.cloudinary.com/image/private/s--bvsRn9Xf--/t_article_image/v1629665952/TZ3_6885_frxo64.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-200856" class="wp-caption-text">Unpublished cut from the &#8220;Designer Public Toilet&#8221; at Ebisu Station West Exit Kashiwa Sato</figcaption></figure>
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<h2>Ebisu Park<br>
Masamichi Katayama / WONDERWALL(R)</h2>
<figure id="attachment_200857" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 3756px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-200857"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="c2e83e79"><img src="https://gsjebzejhjubm-res.cloudinary.com/image/private/s--AttOWU4V--/t_article_image/v1629665921/TZ1_6656_ydoa6i.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-200857" class="wp-caption-text">Fifteen concrete walls are combined to create an image of a &#8220;toilet. One of the earliest to open.</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_200858" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 6048px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-200858"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="661fe86a"><img src="https://gsjebzejhjubm-res.cloudinary.com/image/private/s--wJ6KtK2X--/t_article_image/v1629665930/TZ2_0238_switig.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-200858" class="wp-caption-text">Unpublished cut from &#8220;Designer Public Toilet&#8221; Ebisu Park by Masamichi Katayama / WONDERWALL(R)</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_200859" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 6048px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-200859"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="7a8f1540"><img src="https://gsjebzejhjubm-res.cloudinary.com/image/private/s--69zkJxF_--/t_article_image/v1629665928/TZ2_0263_xxct3m.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-200859" class="wp-caption-text">Unpublished cut from &#8220;Designer Public Toilet&#8221; Ebisu Park Masamichi Katayama / WONDERWALL(R)</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Yoyogi Hachiman<br>
Toyo Ito</h2>
<figure id="attachment_200860" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 3855px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-200860"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="ccc1d9c1"><img src="https://gsjebzejhjubm-res.cloudinary.com/image/private/s--VZ49shMy--/t_article_image/v1629665953/TZ3_7255_cmysjl.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-200860" class="wp-caption-text">The shape of this toilet is reminiscent of a mushroom. Located on the approach to Yoyogi Hachiman Shrine, it was designed to harmonize with the forest in the background.</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_200871" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 3189px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-200871"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="ad8ccc7d"><img src="https://gsjebzejhjubm-res.cloudinary.com/image/private/s--vpc1CJOJ--/t_article_image/v1629665959/TZ3_7496_ipdqlx.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-200871" class="wp-caption-text">Unpublished cut from the &#8220;Designer Public Toilet&#8221; by Toyo Ito, Yoyogi Hachiman</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_200862" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 3189px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-200862"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="90a7294c"><img src="https://gsjebzejhjubm-res.cloudinary.com/image/private/s--F9SfAhWu--/t_article_image/v1629665946/TZ3_6364_enqayl.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-200862" class="wp-caption-text">Unpublished photo of the &#8220;designer public restroom&#8221; at Yoyogi Hachiman.</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_200863" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2126px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-200863"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="32ba21ab"><img src="https://gsjebzejhjubm-res.cloudinary.com/image/private/s--jW6YVimp--/t_article_image/v1629665949/TZ3_6443_ramtoa.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-200863" class="wp-caption-text">Unpublished cut from the magazine, too eccentric &#8220;designer public restroom&#8221; in Yoyogi Hachiman Toyo Ito</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Yoyogi Fukamachi small park<br>
Shigeru Ban</h2>
<figure id="attachment_200864" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 3133px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-200864"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="b2bcb948"><img src="https://gsjebzejhjubm-res.cloudinary.com/image/private/s--iIGxF1JF--/t_article_image/v1629665921/TZ1_6364_tbd2qy.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-200864" class="wp-caption-text">The restroom is surrounded by transparent glass, but it has a special film that makes it opaque when the key is locked.</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_200865" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 6020px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-200865"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="0d9942bb"><img src="https://gsjebzejhjubm-res.cloudinary.com/image/private/s--tlMMaLO1--/t_article_image/v1629665921/TZ1_6838_xqdaxg.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-200865" class="wp-caption-text">Shigeru Ban, Yoyogi Fukamachi Elementary Park, &#8220;designer public restroom&#8221; that is too bizarre to be published in this magazine</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_200866" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 6048px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-200866"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="0dd9df29"><img src="https://gsjebzejhjubm-res.cloudinary.com/image/private/s--Nolws5R3--/t_article_image/v1629665920/TZ1_6188_pctlxk.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-200866" class="wp-caption-text">Unpublished photo from &#8220;Designer Public Toilets&#8221; at Yoyogi Fukamachi Koen Park by Shigeru Ban</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_200867" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 6048px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-200867"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="d462ac5c"><img src="https://gsjebzejhjubm-res.cloudinary.com/image/private/s--J1CTCxAq--/t_article_image/v1629665929/TZ2_0394_brukaf.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-200867" class="wp-caption-text">Unpublished cut from the magazine, too eccentric &#8220;Designer Public Toilets&#8221; in Yoyogi Fukamachi Koen Park Shigeru Ban</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Jingu-mae<br>
NIGOⓇ</h2>
<figure id="attachment_200868" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 3677px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-200868"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="c1b0a1e3"><img src="https://gsjebzejhjubm-res.cloudinary.com/image/private/s--RizLpIC5--/t_article_image/v1629665930/TZ3_4921_yxa5ol.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-200868" class="wp-caption-text">The design is based on the image of a house in contrast to the tall buildings that line the street. The entire building was designed in white and mint green to create a sense of cleanliness.</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_200869" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 6048px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-200869"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="e5e5f7ae"><img src="https://gsjebzejhjubm-res.cloudinary.com/image/private/s--nqwqIMC_--/t_article_image/v1629665929/TZ3_4850_ugi7sj.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-200869" class="wp-caption-text">Unpublished cut of &#8220;Designer Public Toilet&#8221; in Jingumae NIGOⓇ</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_200870" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 2126px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-200870"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="0e1da1a5"><img src="https://gsjebzejhjubm-res.cloudinary.com/image/private/s--LQd4oW0S--/t_article_image/v1629665930/TZ3_4885_z0jieg.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-200870" class="wp-caption-text">Unpublished cut of &#8220;Designer Public Toilet&#8221; Jingumae NIGOⓇ</figcaption></figure>
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<p>From &#8220;FRIDAY&#8221; September 3, 2021 issue</p>
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 Takero Kizuna

 A giant wooden object, a floating half-sphere ....... Mysterious structures are appearing one after another in Shibuya Ward. What they really are is public toilets. A project led by the Nippon Foundation, with the participation of 16 top-notch creators.

Too bizarre…! Comfortable use of the new “designer public restroom” in Shibuya Ward

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