The 2026 NEW Environmental Exhibition was held at Tokyo Big Sight on May 21, 2026. ShinMaywa's special stage at the booth was filled with excitement of many visitors even before the show started. Their favorite performer was Shuichi Takizawa of the comedian "Machine Guns," who has a 14-year career as a waste collector.

On this day, Mr. Takizawa and Mr. Kiyokami, Director of the New Business Promotion Department at Special Purpose Truck Division, one of the creators of "G-SUPPORT," held a special talk show on the theme of "G-SUPPORT," a system for streamlining waste collection operations jointly developed and offered by ShinMaywa and LECIP CORPORATION.

Mr. Takizawa talks about real "problems" in the field. How will "G-SUPPORT" solve them? The talk show was full of laughter and surprises!

Today's guest, Shuichi Takizawa of the comedy duo Machine Guns!

Hi there!

Mr. Takizawa

Mr. Kiyokami, one of the creators of "G-SUPPORT," will join us from here.

Kiyokami-san, aren't you incredibly popular?

Mr. Takizawa

Mr. Kiyokami

I wish, but thank you very much.

First of all, Mr. Takizawa, as a waste collector, what kind of work do you usually do?

I've been a comedian for 29 years and a waste collector for 14 years, and until about 4 or 5 years ago I used to go to work 5 times a week. I would get up at 5:00 a.m. and come to work at 6:30 a.m.. Even if you are not a driver, you do an alcohol check and start your collection duties at 8:00 am.
One of those garbage trucks (refuse compactors) that you see on the street collects about 2 tons of garbage, and it repeats this process about 6 times a day. So, we collect about 10 to 12 tons per truck.

Mr. Takizawa

12 tons a day! That's really hard work early in the morning....

It is thanks to being a collector in that way that I have the opportunity to speak in front of you like this. Can I talk for about four hours now?

Mr. Takizawa

I would like to ask, but please make it a little more compact!

We asked Mr. Takizawa to fill out a questionnaire in advance about "problems that hinder business efficiency. You listed many of them. Can you tell us about some of them in detail?

The amount of plastic bottles we have to collect from now on in the summer is huge. The collectors also drink, but everyone drinks more than expected, so the box (hopper) inside refuse compactors fills up quickly. Even when we compress the bottles, they bounce back like bullets, and it can be dangerous.

Mr. Takizawa

Refuse compactors is full, what do you do?

We can't collect any more, so once we do, we have to go to the processing plant to dump it or ask other refuse compactors for assistance. But so far, we have had to call the management office, and then the office checks with the various other refuse compactors s one by one to see how much is in there, so it can take a long time to find backup. It sometimes takes a long time to find support.

Mr. Takizawa

Mr. Kiyokami, can this be solved by "G-SUPPORT"?

Mr. Kiyokami

Yes. "G-SUPPORT" is the solution.
On the map on the computer screen in the management office, the current location of all vehicles and "whether there is still room to load garbage" are displayed in different colors, making it easy to see at a glance.

Oh, you even know that!

Mr. Takizawa

Mr. Kiyokami

Yes, the manager can send a car to the back-up car. Therefore, the manager can immediately give instructions as to which vehicle to send for backup. In addition, the driver only needs to tap the in-vehicle touch panel monitor to complete the request for backup. This eliminates the need for phone calls, which leads to safer driving.

From the management side, this is extremely convenient. From the driver's point of view, it does mean that they can't skip work.
In waste collection work, there is a sense "of everyone working together" to finish the job. "G-SUPPORT" is the embodiment of the idea of working as a whole team.

Mr. Takizawa

How about other problems?

The "rookie" problem is a big one. When we don't have enough staff, we sometimes have to work with new drivers and workers who are new to the area or new to collection work in the area. We work while looking at a map, but sometimes we can't read the map well and forget to pick up an entire street....

Mr. Takizawa

Driving while looking at a map is dangerous and time consuming.

Moreover, waste collection is not just a matter of going around the route. There are many unspoken rules and know-how that only veterans know, such as "enter this collection point backwards," "the key number here is 00," and "there are railroad crossings that cannot be opened. It is really hard to remember them, and some people even quit because they can't remember them.

Mr. Takizawa

Mr. Kiyokami, is this...?

Mr. Kiyokami

It can be solved.

Is it for real?

Mr. Takizawa

Mr. Kiyokami

The navigation function of "G-SUPPORT" displays the next point to be collected in order. And when you arrive at that collection point, if there are "cautions" or "know-how" that you have registered in advance, the icon on the screen changes color to notify you, and you can simply tap it to pop up the information.

What, then, are there requests from residents, like "you can't press the switch on the turntable in front of this house", or key numbers?

Mr. Takizawa

Mr. Kiyokami

Yes, everything can be registered.
If a driver knows that a railroad crossing is not open at this time of the day, he or she can create a route in advance that avoids the crossing. In short, your know-how can be incorporated into "G-SUPPORT," so workers do not need to memorize anything.

That's great! So you're saying that someone who drives for the first time today can work just as well as a veteran? This would be a huge help to a place that is short on staff!

Mr. Takizawa

Mr. Kiyokami

The time taken by senior staff to teach newcomers can also be greatly reduced, leading to a reduction in training man-hours.

Also, there are times when residents complain, "You're not collecting!" I'm sure I went there, but I don't have any proof, so I have to go back and look again. I am absolutely sure that I did, but I have no proof, so I end up going back to look at it again....

Mr. Takizawa

Mr. Kiyokami

"G-SUPPORT" automatically records the time of arrival at each collection station via GPS. This system also helps protect drivers by providing objective evidence of the time and date of arrival.

It's evidence! That's reassuring.

Then there's the daily report, which is also a lot of work. For example, if an appliance is put out on a burnable trash day, we put a sticker on it and leave it there because we can't collect it, but we don't know the exact address, so we have to look around for a sign on a telephone pole. I have to write that report in the daily report after returning to the office.

Mr. Takizawa

Mr. Kiyokami

With "G-SUPPORT," that hassle is unnecessary. When something irregular happens, simply tap "what" or "how many" on the screen on the spot to complete the record.

Just tap!?

Mr. Takizawa

Mr. Kiyokami

Yes, the information is sent to the office in real time along with the GPS location. The information is sent to our office in real time, along with GPS location information. There is no more need to go back to the office to prepare a report.

Real-time evidence is left behind, and the reporting is done. Isn't it great?

Mr. Takizawa

Now, my last question. Mr. Takizawa, what are your expectations for "G-SUPPORT"?

After all, it's all about thorough efficiency.
Even inexperienced people will be able to go around in the most efficient way, just as experienced people do, and that is the best. If work is made more efficient, work can be completed safely in a shorter time. The risk of heat stroke can also be reduced, and I think it will make a big difference in the way we work.

Mr. Takizawa

Mr. Kiyokami, I heard that "G-SUPPORT" is a "customer-oriented system.

Mr. Kiyokami

Yes, we do. Most of the features I have explained today are the result of requests we have received from our customers.
"G-SUPPORT" is not complete. We will continue to listen to our customers and incorporate their requests as standard features as we continue to evolve together with them.

Mr. Takizawa, thank you very much for your valuable talk today!