Japan's Poop-Powered, Three-Wheeled Motorcycle Leaves Tracks Across Country
Japanese toilet company Toto Ltd. (Tokyo: 5332) debuted its one-of-a-kind poop-powered, three-wheeled motorcycle, christened Toilet Bike Neo, this week by sending it on a tour around the country.
Toilet Bike Neo, or as we like the call it, the poop-mobile, is powered by biogas fuel, which Toto says is a combination of fertilized, purified livestock waste and gray-water. While the Toilet Bike Neo does prominently feature a comode that the driver rides upon, Toto was careful to note that the driver does not actually provide the fuel for the trike, rather, the excrement soup is provided by the livestock of Shikai-oi township in Hokkaido. Each tank of excrement can take the Toilet Bike Neo up to 180 miles, according to AFP.
Toto does not currently plan to sell the Toilet Bike Neo. The company made the doo-doo-driven vehicle as a way of showcasing the company's "environmental efforts." Either way, the rolling poop-mobile has been a huge hit in Japan and has even spawned a fan video on YouTube of a singing toilet. The Toilet Bike Neo has been on a road trip around the country, and it seems that many people have wanted a ride on the passing turd-ster.
Toto documented the passing of the poop-powered motorcycle with exceptional thoroughness and provided photos of the the Toilet Bike Neos adventures along the way with a surprisingly engaging and witty blog. For instance, here's the beginning of the blog post for what the Toto website lists as Nov. 1 (it seems the Toto blog's dates and the debut dates provided by AFP are more than a year apart, but no matter).
"Good evening, everyone. It's Neoyama, the staff. When I woke up in the morning, an unknown man was sitting on Neo. This is not good. My instinct was telling me that.
Starting Neo, everyone was freaking out, and no one was able to ask him who he was and what he wanted from us.
What shall we do?
I, Neoyama, decided to talk to him.
I am really not courageous at all. I was probably freaking out the most among everyone. I was so scared that I was about to pee in my pants. Thank goodness I had used the 4.8L Neo Rest bathroom earlier.
'Uhm h-h-h-h-h-hi...'
Then he answered,
'It's Captain★Zako. I will be the rider starting today.'"
The little vehicle is only the latest stunt from Japan's preeminent toilet manufacturer. Toto has a yearly tradition of printing special rolls of toilet paper with fans' toilet-themed poems on them.
Check out pictures from some of the poop-powered Toilet Bike Neo's adventures around Japan.
Photo:Toto
Hipster On Toilet Bike Neo
A hipster sits on the seat of the Toilet Bike Neo.
Photo:Toto
Toilet Bike Neo Rider With A Mohawk
A Toilet Bike Neo rider with a mowhawk
Photo:Toto
Dog On Toilet Bike Neo
A dog sits on the Toilet Bike Neo.
Photo:Toto
Parked Toilet Bike Neo
The Toilet Bike Neo is parked for some admirers.
Photo:Toto
A Baby On Toilet Bike Neo
A baby sits on the seat of the Toilet Bike Neo.
Photo:Toto
The Toilet Bike Neo crosses a bridge.
The Toilet Bike Neo crosses a bridge.
Photo:Toto
Toilet Bike Neo
A fan sits happily on the Toilet Bike Neo's seat.
Photo:Toto
Toilet Bike Neo
A driver poses with the Toilet Bike Neo.
Photo:Toto
Toilet Bike Neo Crew
The Toilet Bike Neo crew poses.
Photo:Toto
Hood Ornament Of Toilet Bike Neo Holding A Fish sausage
The hood ornament of the Toilet Bike Neo holding a fish sausage.
Photo:Toto
Toilet Bike Neo Down A Tunnel
The Toilet Bike Neo zooms down a tunnel.
Photo:Toto
The Toilet Bike Neo In A Living Room
The Toilet Bike Neo rests in a living room leftover from 1950, apparently.