- The following is content from the press release -
(Head office: Higashi Osaka City, Osaka; Representative: Ichiro Kawakita), an OEM of plastic products and a planner, manufacturer, and seller of carrying bags, is developing a "future carrying bag" equipped with health check functions such as temperature measurement for its "NORUN" series carrying bag brand. A prototype of the bag will be exhibited and visitors will be able to try it on at Expo 2010 Osaka-Kansai from September 5 to 8.
Burden on child-rearing households caused by temperature checks before going to preschool
For families raising children, taking their child's temperature before going to preschool is a daily stressful experience. Many local governments and preschools still require parents to take their child's temperature before sending the child to daycare centers and kindergartens. This is because fever is often an early symptom of an infectious disease and is an essential confirmation for early detection and prevention of the spread of infection. On the other hand, it is not uncommon for children to be reluctant to take their temperatures during the hectic hours before going to school, or for the values to be unstable and to need to be re-taken. Even when using non-contact thermometers, which are quick to measure, the child may have to take another measurement under the armpit, resulting in a daily accumulation of small burdens. Against this backdrop, there is a need for devices that make temperature checks smoother in order to protect children's health.
Evolution of carrying bag to help busy mornings
We are developing our own brand of carrying bags, "Norn" and "Nornmani". Normally, these items can be used as shoulder bags or body bags, and when carrying is necessary, they can be quickly transformed into hip seats, with a cross-structured belt and waist belt to distribute the burden on the lower back.
Based on the "Norummani" model, we have now begun development of a new model "future swaddling bag" equipped with a new temperature measurement function and other features. This new model enables parents to measure body temperature using a non-contact sensor simply by carrying the child in their arms, reducing the stress of temperature checks for parents even during busy morning hours. Even when the health check function is not used, the child feels secure and stable in the swaddling position, which facilitates measurement using a conventional thermometer. This system reduces the worries of parents and their children during temperature checks, such as "they don't like it" or "they move," and allows parents and children to naturally deepen communication through carrying the child in their arms. Although the product is still in the prototype stage, we will continue to improve it to make it more practical by reflecting users' opinions through exhibitions and trial wearing experiences.
Future Carry Bag" makes childcare "easy".
The background of our entry into the swaddling bag business was our desire to challenge ourselves in the area of childcare products, which have potential for overseas expansion, in view of the shrinking domestic market due to the declining birthrate. In addition, the representative of the company himself realized the difficulty of carrying a child in his arms during child-rearing and, reflecting on the fact that he had left child-rearing to his wife, he was also conscious of the issue of creating products that would reduce the burden of child-rearing. As a company specializing in plastic molding, we did not have the know-how to manufacture bags. However, taking advantage of our fabless system without our own factory, we completed the first model "Daccolino" in collaboration with various people, including a leather goods manufacturer, a fabric trading company, and an early childhood education teacher.
Having commercialized Japan's first carrying bag that emphasizes safety, functionality, and design, our next step was to seek a form of health care that would make child-rearing more enjoyable and easier. We came up with the idea of a bag that allows for easy health checks, and began development of a new model in collaboration with Osaka International Technical College and a sensor manufacturer. In addition to a temperature check function, the prototype is equipped with a pressure sensor that enables weight measurement just by carrying the child. The "Carry-a-Bag of the Future" prototype will be on display at the Osaka/Kansai Expo/ Osaka Week - Autumn Special Exhibition in September, and visitors will be able to try it on for themselves.
Let's go to Higashi-Osaka Brand Kooba! Exhibitions, workshops, etc.
Date: Friday, September 5, 2025 - Monday, September 8, 2025
15:00-19:00(*Goods sales only) 10:00-19:00
10:00-15:00
Venue: Gallery EAST 1F (East Gate Zone E13) at Expo '70 Osaka
Reservations: No reservations (free admission)
Organized by: Higashiosaka City
Details: https://www.expo-osaka2025.com/osakaweek/regular/event/0905_higashiosaka.html
N/ORN Mani* Current model product overview
The repetition of "walk as much as you want" and "hold your child for a moment" supports "Hoiku", which nurtures the child's body and mind, as well as the parent-child relationship, together. The "a" in N/ORN Mani has an acute accent. (Excluding)
Body size: 45 cm (W) x 18 cm (D) x 16 cm (H), 681 g (W) x 18 cm (D) x 16 cm (H), 681 g (W)
Material ： Polyester, cowhide (natural leather), iron ring
Target age: from after sitting up (approx. 7 months after birth) to 20 kg (approx. 5 years old)
Price ： 22,000 yen (including tax)
URL : https://norndacco.jp/
About Us
Company name: Kawakita Corporation (Representative: Ichiro Kawakita)
Head Office : 2-4-6 Arakawa, Higashi-Osaka, Osaka 577-0843, Japan
Business activities: OEM of character goods and stationery,
Planning, manufacturing and sales of "N/ORN" carrying bags
URL : https://www.k-kawakita.com
