- Working in collaboration with Graffiti 21, a planning agency specializing in charcoal products, Kaneyo Co., Ltd. has developed a mosquito net made of nylon mixed with charcoal. Designed to take advantage of the antibacterial and deodorizing properties of the far infrared rays radiated by the charcoal, the net protects infants from insects and sick house syndrome. It also eases the chilling effect of air conditioning, and contributes to sound sleep. Charcoal adsorbs harmful chemicals such as formaldehyde, which is thought to be a cause of sick house syndrome. Having a larger adsorption area than other materials such as coconut fiber, it can be used practically for ever. The mosquito nets are on sale in department stores and stores selling bedding, where they are advertised as offering one of the simplest means of protecting infants. Priced at \15,000 each, Kaneyo expects to sell 10,000 in the first year.
- Kobe Steel, Ltd. has developed a new hard coating that can double the lifespan of cutting tools. By adding chrome to titanium aluminum nitride (TiA-N), currently the most commonly used coating for tooling, Kobe Steel has succeeded in increasing the aluminum content of the metal constituents of the coating, thereby rising the hardness and temperature of onset of oxidation.
- The underwear shopping site launched by Internet portal 7dream.com in September 2001 has got off to a flying start. The membership-based shopping portal affiliated to Seven-Eleven Japan Co., Ltd. established the underwear corner to increase the rate of use by women members and to attract new members. It started out with four brands produced by four companies, and has now expanded to nine brands from eight companies. The number of repeat customers, the bulk of whom are in their thirties, is steadily growing. Popular with women for its rich range of sizes and designs available, reliability of quality and attractive prices, the site currently attracts 30,000-50,000 hits a day, and use is up some 300% compared with last year. And the rapid upward trend in growth continues. Taking full advantage of the unique attractions of net shopping, the site makes use of well-timed sales such as weekend specials to grow its customer base. Offering a wide range of sizes that are normally difficult to come by, providing information to the underwear magazine The Body, and organizing joint campaigns with manufacturers all contribute to attracting new members. Placing a strong emphasis on maintaining the freshness of its lineup, the site updates its products every week, and products appear for two months at the most. The average number of purchases per order is around two or three, and the average spend is about \4,000. Orders can also be placed by mobile phone, which accounts for over 50% of the total. Although purchases can be paid for online by credit card, 90% of orders are picked up and paid for in cash (for no extra charge) at any of the 9,000 Seven-Eleven branches around Japan. Returns and refusals are practically zero, reflecting the accuracy of customer targeting and high level of customer satisfaction.
- Yokohama-based Kazariichi Co., Ltd., which manufactures "super-paper" by impregnating paper fibers with liquid glass to increase water repellency and strength, has developed in collaboration with university researchers a solvent for making washable tatami mat facings. The company supplies the glass liquid to leading tatami manufacturers for \300-400 per mat. The manufacturers then process the mats themselves by impregnating them with the liquid, making it easy to clean off food and other mess. The combination of rush fibers and glass increases the water repellency of the mats. They can then be given a periodic quick clean, greatly reducing growth of mold and also making the mats stronger and more durable. The mats are also effective for combating allergies, as they do not result in microscopic fragments of fiber all over the place
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