Do You Know Where Your Poop Goes? The 'Jokaso' Water Infrastructure, Equal to Sewers, Comes to Life in the Poop Drill Educational Book

Bunkyosha Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Shuketsu Yamaoka) has jointly developed an educational booklet titled 'Poop Drill: Life and Sewage – Jokaso Edition' with Daiki Axis Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture; President and CEO: Hirotaka Oikame), a company aiming for a sustainable society through environmental and water treatment businesses. This booklet enables elementary school children to enjoyably learn about the role of 'jokaso,' a water infrastructure usually unseen in daily life, and the mechanisms that protect water environments.

▪️ The lesser-known water infrastructure supporting our environment: 'Jokaso'

The water from toilets and baths we use daily is properly treated before being returned to nature. While 'sewer systems' are widely recognized as the mechanism behind this process, they are not the only infrastructure supporting Japan's water environment.

In many areas of Japan, sewer systems are difficult to install due to geographical conditions or cost constraints. In such regions, 'jokaso' (septic tanks) treat household wastewater and contribute to preserving water environments. Alongside sewer systems, jokaso are a crucial part of Japan's water infrastructure. However, because they are installed underground, their roles and mechanisms remain largely unknown to the general public.

This booklet was conceived to help children clearly understand the water cycle and how domestic wastewater is treated, while deepening their understanding of jokaso as a vital water infrastructure equivalent to sewers. It aims to foster awareness of the connection between daily life and the environment, the importance of protecting water environments, and interest in the social infrastructure that supports our society.

▪️ Adventure with Poop Sensei! The secret of 'jokaso' that cleans water underground

The story begins with Poop Dog and Poop Cat enjoying their peaceful daily lives, exclaiming, 'What a great poop, meow!' and 'What a nice bath, woof!'

The children are shocked when Poop Sensei reveals, 'Water continues its journey even after you've used it!' They then discover the existence of a secret device called 'jokaso,' which cleans used water and returns it to nature in areas without sewer systems.

The booklet clearly illustrates, in a quiz format, how the 'jokaso' hidden beneath homes cleans dirty water, revealing its surprising mechanisms and functions. With humorous illustrations, it engagingly teaches children about the incredible role of jokaso, which silently protects our daily lives 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, without seeking recognition.

▪️ Making complex environmental education fun with the unique humor of Poop Drill

The booklet condenses seemingly difficult topics—such as the history of waste treatment and the mechanisms by which jokaso purify water—into one volume using the uniquely humorous approach of Poop Drill.

Beyond simply explaining mechanisms, the booklet concludes with a profound moral and social message: 'How one treats water reflects how one lives.' It has been carefully crafted with engaging visuals and storytelling to spark children's interest in jokaso and water environments.

▪️ Learning about the water cycle and the role of 'jokaso' to become future stewards of the environment

In Japan, both sewer systems and jokaso serve as essential infrastructures supporting water environments.

Through this booklet, we hope children will correctly understand how the water they use daily returns to nature, sparking reflection on water and global environments. We also hope that by learning about the role of jokaso—usually unseen—and the people who maintain it, children will deepen their interest in social infrastructure and cultivate a sense of responsibility as future guardians of the environment.

Daiki Axis Co., Ltd. will distribute this booklet to elementary schools nationwide as part of its initiatives toward achieving a sustainable society. Bunkyosha will continue to create content that contributes to children's futures, guided by its vision of 'delivering essential knowledge for a healthy and fulfilling life in an enjoyable way.'

About Poop Drill

'Poop Drill' is an educational learning series for children with over 13 million copies sold cumulatively. Leveraging the impactful word 'poop' as an entry point, it creates fun educational content and has produced numerous collaborative booklets with corporations and local governments. Bunkyosha will continue to develop enjoyable content that conveys 'essential knowledge for life' to help children lead healthy and fulfilling lives.

<Reference URLs>

Poop Drill Official: https://unkogakuen.com/

Bunkyosha Co., Ltd.: https://bunkyosha.com/

Daiki Axis Co., Ltd.: https://www.daiki-axis.com/