Oizumi Factory Announces Its 'Everyone's Toilet' Initiative in Response to MLIT Guidelines

Oizumi Factory Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Kawaguchi City, Saitama Prefecture; President and CEO: Kojiro Oizumi; hereinafter 'Oizumi Factory') announces its 'Everyone's Toilet' initiative, operated since 2023 within its headquarters premises 'OKS CAMPUS (O-K-E-S Campus)' in Kawaguchi City, Saitama, in response to the 'Guidelines on Standards and Application Methods for Toilet Fixture Counts' recently published by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT).

The 'Everyone's Toilet' is designed to provide a safe and comfortable restroom environment for everyone, regardless of gender, age, parenting, or caregiving needs. Amid growing societal attention on restroom congestion and usability issues, Oizumi Factory goes beyond mere facility upgrades by continuously operating the space as a 'toilet created by everyone, for everyone,' incorporating user feedback.

MLIT Releases Guidelines to Address Restroom Queue Issues

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has released the 'Guidelines on Standards and Application Methods for Toilet Fixture Counts' (※1), prompted by persistent issues such as long queues for women's restrooms. These guidelines aim to ensure that all individuals—regardless of gender—can safely and comfortably use restrooms. They provide recommendations on fixture counts for new and renovated facilities and strategies to reduce waiting times.

While toilets are essential daily facilities, they significantly influence people's decisions on where to go outside, especially for parents with young children, individuals requiring assistance, and those concerned about women's restroom congestion. In response to this growing social awareness, Oizumi Factory is sharing its 'Everyone's Toilet' initiative launched in 2023 as a model for creating inclusive and comfortable public environments.

(※1) MLIT 'Guidelines on Standards and Application Methods for Toilet Fixture Counts': https://www.mlit.go.jp/report/press/sogo09_hh_000437.html

Background Behind the Creation of 'Everyone's Toilet'

Oizumi Factory's headquarters site, 'OKS CAMPUS,' is an open community space developed on a former factory site of approximately 3,000 tsubo (about 9,900 m²) in Kawaguchi City, Saitama. The campus features a plant-based café '1110 CAFE/BAKERY (Ichi-Ichi-Ichi-Maru Café Bakery),' a dedicated brewery for fermented sparkling tea '_SHIP KOMBUCHA (Ship Kombucha),' a micro-farm, a recycling station, and gardens, and hosts events such as farmers' markets.

As the number of visitors—including café patrons, event attendees, families with children, and individuals requiring assistance—increased, the existing restroom facilities became inadequate, leading to discomfort and inconvenience. Feedback highlighted issues such as limited toilets inside the café causing congestion, long queues for women's restrooms during events, difficulty with diaper changing and breastfeeding, and challenges when assisting family members of a different gender.

In response, and in line with its vision of 'creating wonderful environments,' Oizumi Factory launched the 'Everyone's Toilet' initiative in 2023 to ensure a safe and comfortable experience for all visitors.

Beyond Gender Separation: Designing Toilets for Everyone

'Everyone's Toilet' is designed to move beyond traditional gender-based restroom concepts, creating a space that feels natural and accessible to all users.

The restroom area consists of two zones: an 'All-Gender Area' accessible to all, and a 'Women's Area.'

The All-Gender Area includes private toilet stalls, a diaper-changing space designed for use by both parents, and a multi-functional accessible toilet. The Women's Area features female-only stalls and a spacious nursing room for comfortable use. Additionally, each stall is decorated with a unique theme color inspired by earth (green), sea (blue), and sun (orange), symbolizing the acceptance of diversity as a natural part of the environment.

User Feedback

Since its launch, the initiative has received positive feedback from users and staff regarding reduced congestion, cleanliness, and thoughtful design for families.

'When attending events, there used to be long lines for women's restrooms, but since the launch of 'Everyone's Toilet,' congestion has significantly eased. The environment now feels much more comfortable and reassuring.'
User, male in his 40s

'At first, I felt a bit hesitant about using a gender-neutral restroom, but it's always kept clean, has many stalls, and the color scheme is pleasant. Now I use it without hesitation.'
User, female in her 20s

'The diaper-changing space is spacious and enclosed, so I feel safe even when my child moves around. Having a sink nearby is also very helpful. The nursing room chairs are comfortable, allowing me to relax while feeding.'
User, female in her 30s

'Previously, we only had one unisex toilet inside the café, which often caused delays during busy times. With 'Everyone's Toilet' now available, we can confidently guide guests to clean and comfortable facilities, even during events.'
Staff, 1110 CAFE/BAKERY

'When women are nearby, I sometimes wait a moment to enter. We aim to use the space considerately, not just relying on the design but also showing mutual respect.'
User, male in his 50s

Comment from Kojiro Oizumi, President and CEO of Oizumi Factory

'The release of the MLIT guidelines on restroom environments marks a significant step toward building a society where everyone can go out with peace of mind.

While toilets are everyday facilities, they can greatly influence people's choices about where to go. At Oizumi Factory, guided by our vision of 'creating wonderful environments,' we have been developing OKS CAMPUS as a space where visitors can enjoy not only food and events but also the time they spend on-site. During a visit to Northern Europe, I was impressed by how gender-neutral 'shared restrooms' are naturally integrated into daily life. Inspired by this, we wanted to adopt similar ideas at OKS CAMPUS—a place where everyone can smile and feel comfortable—and launched 'Everyone's Toilet' in 2023 as part of this effort.

We believe toilets are not just facilities, but essential elements in shaping environments that improve relationships between people and between people and places. Moving forward, we will continue to listen to user feedback and create spaces where everyone can feel safe and at ease.'

Kojiro Oizumi
President and CEO, Oizumi Factory Co., Ltd.

Media Inquiries

'Everyone's Toilet' is open for media visits and photography. We welcome coverage of the restroom facilities alongside the broader environmental initiatives at OKS CAMPUS, including the café, garden, and farm.

The following content can be provided during media visits:

- On-site photography of 'Everyone's Toilet'
- Introduction to the All-Gender Area, Women's Area, nursing room, diaper-changing space, and multi-functional toilet
- Comments from management or designated representatives
- Overview of OKS CAMPUS's overall environmental design
- Sharing of user testimonials

About OKS CAMPUS

OKS CAMPUS is the headquarters site of Oizumi Factory Co., Ltd., located in Ryoke, Kawaguchi City, Saitama Prefecture. The campus transforms a former industrial site into a vibrant, community-oriented space that promotes sustainability through food, agriculture, and circular economy practices.