A month has gone by since the 33rd Home Care & Rehabilitation Exhibition has ended. I have gone back to my usual work, but I think this time has been essential in being able to look back objectively and comment on the 4 days (1 day before and 3 days of the exhibition) where I had single-mindedly gone back and forth from the “press room” to the Panasonic Booth “watching, hearing, experiencing, and writing” as if it were a repetitive regulatory cycle of “eating to excretion (excuse my expression!).”

By no means am I saying that it was monotonous when I describe it as a regulatory cycle.

I just mean to say that it was a 4-day period in which I was completely devoted to my mission and my body naturally responded to it.

It was my first time witnessing and experiencing the world of care equipment.

You can sense the hope and expectation with which the visitors viewed the various products, and the seriousness in which the docents of the booth who have been sincerely engaged with the day to day research and development responded to the inquiries.

I had expected this, but, when I actually saw it with my own eyes, I felt a fresh “stimulus” and “responded” quite honestly to it.

Disabilities vary in kind and gravity, and the evaluation of care products vary according to such disparity.

At times the products were showered with praise, words of gratitude, and smiles, and at other times it was marked with confusion and aggravation, and became a topic of heated discussions.

I could not help but sense a different “atmosphere” than what I have been used to at the IT exhibitions.

What is demanded of this Cyber Showcase Blog is for me to go see the exhibited products on behalf of people who would like to go but can't, and to provide them relevant information and to talk about my impression, and not my personal opinion or “feelings.” But, there were times when I was very tempted by my “feelings” of wanting to “communicate” and to “write.”

One day during the exhibition a docent of the booth, Mr. A, who was a developer, and a particularly passionate fellow, came rushing into the staff room expressing his complicated feelings, a mixture of sense of pathos and regret.

It seems that a visitor had asked a question about the specifications of the product, and during the conversation there was a misunderstanding, which he was unable to resolve.

Mr. A had developed his product drawing from his own experience of taking care of a family member requiring care; so he is a man of conviction. What is more, in order to make improvements to the product, he has reflected the advice received from people with disabilities, and that is how he has arrived at the present product, which may even be used by people who can only move the “tip of their fingers or toes.”

It seems though, that the visitor who was inquiring about the product had a very stern view accusing Mr. A of “believing that people with disabilities can't do anything” or that he “had developed such products without knowing anything about the disabled and purely from imagination.”

Mr. A tried earnestly not to offend the visitor, and was careful in choosing his words when describing the product. But it seems he was not successful in communicating that “it wasn't based on imagination, and that he actually has a family member with a disability,” and that “people who have already used this product are very happy with it.” But I supposed he tried to refrain from starting a “counterargument” with this customer.

It seems that although Mr. A acted sincerely as he possibly could, this did not get across to the visitor, who became quite angry saying, “You won't listen to my advice?”

Mr. A apologized to the visitor immediately, but the customer left the booth with the words “This product is useless” trailing behind him.

Why didn't he understand?

Mr. A repeatedly said, “It was so frustrating” and “miserable.”

“But as a Panasonic employee, I endured it and apologized.”

I almost cried when I heard him say that.

There may be some people who may look on with indifference thinking that although inadvertently, talking about one's frustrations even if other customers aren't present may not be “appropriate.” And there may be others that may say that “There are always going to be some customers who are like that, so there is no sense in getting angry each time you run into one.”

But I was quite touched. I could relate to his passion.

This is because Mr. A's strong feelings are truly a representation of his “love towards people who have disabilities” and the “passion for manufacturing.” He has endeavored more seriously than any to think about the situation the “people giving and receiving care” were in and that is why the discussion of “efficiency” which was at the root of the misunderstanding was agonizing and sad.

The Home Care & Rehabilitation Exhibition is a special exhibition where products which are the fruit of such passionate feelings may be seen.

And as I have indicated in the beginning of this blog entry, I did not have a conscious awareness and was quite indifferent initially, but during the 4-days work in this world I was very much emotionally inspired. But I am not certain as to what changed how yet.

But this is my simple impression. Manufacturing is a wonderful job.

There must be many people like Mr. A, who are devoted to their creed, who put their heart and soul into making wonderful products. This of course applies not only to the world of care.

They uphold their conviction whilst they work so that they can't help feeling frustrated and miserable when their work is misinterpreted. I hope to select and wholeheartedly trust the products such people have created.

The 33rd Home Care & Rehabilitation Exhibition blog has lasted for approximately 2 months. But I have written above about my honest impression of it. Thank you those of you who have read my entries over this period for your patronage.

There is another exhibition on the way, but I hope to describe it to you with a fresh mind. I look forward to seeing you again soon.

The probability that families receiving assistance from a helper have an electric care bed is quite high. Although housing in Japan tends to be quite small, there are many families that manage to fit an electric care bed inside the small rooms. But because the rooms are small to start with (as big as 6 tatami mats or a less than 10 square meters), the bed takes up most of the space; some houses only had enough space left for people to barely pass each other.

The beds also normally require space to swing when adjusting height. But Panasonic's electrically-operated adjustable bed “Soi-ne” doesn't require this swing space as it can move straight up and down.

I tested the “Soi-ne” myself and found that it moves very smoothly. It can adjust its height from 23 cm to 60 cm slowly, and you hardly notice the noise. At its lowest height of 23 cm (31 cm if you include the special 8 cm mattress) over 98% of all users' heels reach the floor. And because their heels are touching the floor, their seated posture is very stable. It felt a lot lower (closer to the ground) than the other care beds I have sat on. On the other hand, at its highest (60cm), my toes didn't even touch the floor. With this great height range, helpers can choose a height that is most comfortable for their backs when changing the sheets or changing the care recipients postures.

For the demonstration the bed has been set at 30-40 cm, a height that facilitates movement off the bed onto the wheelchair.

There are many people that work in the care industry that have chronic back pains. I also experience pain in my back. On a bad day, it is excruciating getting up off the futon mattress in the morning, so when I saw “Soi-ne” I seriously considered ordering one for myself. How painless would it be to set the bed at 50cm and to get off the bed grabbing onto the bars…

Nevertheless I feel closer to the elderly persons who require care because of my back pains.

You will find many types of wheelchairs on exhibition at the Panasonic booth. And the stylish wheelchair and the wheelchair mainly used as a walking aid with an orange frame and cushions stand out from among them. These 2 chairs and the cane are called the “Going-out Series,” which will be introduced to the market on the 21st of October.

(Wheelchairs that offer walking assistance have the functions of both a rollator and a wheelchair. This product is being used by people who require walking assistance or the elderly who need the extra reassurance, but don't need to be in a wheelchair all the time. Although the rollator is taxable, this new product with the functions of a wheelchair is tax free.)

I had a go at “Refit (petit),” a wheelchair that offers walking assistance, and I was surprised to discover that it is much more comfortable than it may seem. The back cushion fits snugly against your body, and the side pipes which may appear small in the photograph support your upper body from the sides with a surprising firmness. If you can push the “Refit (petit),” you should not have any problems with its seating stability.

And with “Refit (petit)” you can also move around while seated by pushing with your legs. It may not give you the mobility offered by wheelchairs, but because it has an extremely stable and sturdy build, it hardly wobbles or shakes.

When working as a helper, the main reason for going outdoors with people who use wheelchairs that offer walking assistance is to go for a walk, to go shopping, or to go to the hospital. I try to recommend walking with such walking aids to the people I take care of so that they can get more exercise. Wheelchairs that offer walking assistance like “Refit (petit)” come in handy when we take a break before we reach the nearby park, or waiting in the queue at the grocery store. With a stylish design like “Refit (petit),” people who thought that using such walking aids would be embarrassing may become more open to using them.

When I think about what a hearing aid looks like, I think of the kind that you hook on your ear lobe. These are the types of hearing aids you often see.

But the lady at the Panasonic booth told me that “now 70% of the people use in-canal hearing aids.”

When she saw my look of surprise, she smiled at me and showed me the inside of her ear. As she said, “You didn't notice, did you (laugh)?.” I realized she had on an in-canal hearing aid.

	Obviously it is harder to notice if someone is wearing a hearing aid inside their ear canal, so there are many more people who wear it than we actually realize.

Even if the hearing aid sits in the ear canal, if you have short hair, other people will see it. In principle, the hearing aids are mainly made in “skin color,” however, recently there are parts available that actually daringly shows off the ear piece. The top part of this hearing aid, “AYA PASSION,.” is a “lid” to the battery. And numerous color variations of this lid have been made available so that people can color coordinate with their nail polish or outfits.

It's not only very compact and hardly visible, but you can also have some fun with it. Now, the number of people who use the kind of hearing aid that hooks on the ear lobe has decreased to 30%, but with the in-canal type available, why do people still choose the traditional kind?

The woman at the booth was able to answer this question for me as well.

“The in-canal type hearing aid is very small, so it has a small battery. And this, according to some elderly users, makes it difficult to change the battery. That is one reason why people still choose the other type.”

I can appreciate that as a manufacturer, it is important to respond to the needs of various uses.

When you hear that this digital hearing aid is custom-made, you imagine something that has been tailored to fit a person's ear canal to offer maximum comfort, but there's actually much more to it.

This hearing aid may also be customized to compensate for each user's individual auditory deficits.

I went to take a closer look at this product, “AYA PASSION,” immediately after the doors opened. The hearing aid fitted to the ear canal is really compact. When I saw this small hearing aid, I felt renewed awe for “the excellent craftsmanship involved to make micro adjustments by hand, putting together amps, receivers, microphone, and battery.,”

The ,“dedication to making products for each individual,” and sophisticated manufacturing technology to crystallize this devotion - great products are only created when these two elements are present.

The first area you will see when you visit the Panasonic booth is the Living Exhibition Zone. And there are 4 other areas of the home, namely the Bedroom, Living Room, Bath Utility Room, and Kitchen.

Actually, the whole entire Living Exhibition Zone environment, including home appliances and health care equipment, is made from products and materials manufactured by Panasonic. Like the "Eco & Ud House" introduced in my earlier entries, Panasonic and its group companies provide a wide spectrum of products that together can produce an entire environment in a home. So it doesn't come as a surprise that they can recreate 4 rooms.

A demonstration using the “Living Room” found on the right side of the stage, and “Bedroom” on the left side, takes place on the center stage of the Living Exhibition Zone.

	Here is a picture of the “Living Room.”
	And here is a picture of the “Bedroom.”

The main stage uses visual imagery and actors to introduce Panasonic's product, which have been developed to help offer a comfortable lifestyle for every member of the family, including people requiring and giving care.

If you have a chance to visit the Panasonic booth, please take a look at the realistic demonstrations on the main stage!

10:00 a.m., the 33rd Home Care & Rehabilitation Exhibition has begun!

And over this 3-day period, I would like to communicate to as many people as possible, the latest health care equipment and facilities as well as Panasonic's passion for “manufacturing.”

The Panasonic booth immediately after the exhibition began

	The panoramic view of the Panasonic booth. Its global slogan, “Panasonic ideas for life” is highly visible even from afar.
	Frontal view of the booth. The main stage is located in the center; product demonstrations have been incorporated in the presentation on stage.
	Information about research on universal design and a wide array of health care equipment is exhibited here.
	There are already many visitors inquiring about the exhibitions.

In preparation for tomorrow’s opening at 10:00 a.m., Panasonic is setting up its booth at amazing speed. I have worked on site at exhibitions so I have witnessed set up since the ancient times when the structures were still made of wood. Although we hardly hear the sound of hammer on wood, the tension involved in dealing with unexpected problems while fighting the clock to create a magnificent booth is still the same; I am impressed by it every time.

This is truly the site of professional “manufacturing.” Fixtures, hangers, electrical wiring, sound systems, lights… Professionals from various fields with different skills come together to create another “world.” It’s so awesome!

After 4:00 p.m., the main stage rehearsals begin; and when they begin, you are made to realize that the real deal is waiting right around the corner. The professional set up crew all the sudden begin working even more rapidly thinking, “Wow! It’s already time for rehearsals?!”

By 10:00 a.m. tomorrow, the energy and skill the professional staff devoted to the preparation will have taken form to welcome everyone to the exhibition.

The Home Care & Rehabilitation Exhibition is an established exhibition with a 33 year history. Although its name may have changed over the years, it originates in the equipment exhibition held in 1974 to modernize social welfare facilities.

Back then, everyone working in the welfare facilities was experiencing “back pains.” So this exhibition began introducing the latest equipment in order to modernize the equipment at facilities to mitigate such pain.

More than thirty years have gone by. The time-honored welfare “equipment” exhibition, as its origin and name indicate, steadfastly remains to be focused on facilities and equipment that enrich the field of welfare. Today, many companies from differing industries are even emerging into the area of “social services,.” however the “Home Care & Rehabilitation Exhibition.” is essentially an equipment exhibition. I can sense a strong commitment in this respect.

With over 30 years of history under the belt, the 32nd exhibition held last year had the participation of 562 domestic companies, 68 companies from 16 different countries, and 25,000 items of health care equipment was exhibited; the exhibition also welcomed 135,000 visitors.

I hope that we will have many more visitors this year and that through the equipment aspect, the understanding for care will broaden.

The introduction video of the “Eco & Ud HOUSE” may be viewed on Panasonic's broadband broadcast website, “Channel Panasonic”. (Please accept our apologies as the footage is only available in Japanese, but we still hope you will enjoy the video imagery.)

If the Panasonic Center in Ariake is a little out of the way for you or you would like to learn about it before visiting it, please check out our website! You can take a virtual tour of the Panasonic Center, and you will also find numerous interesting and easy to understand content.

• Eco & Ud HOUSE

The other day, I visited the “Eco & Ud HOUSE”, which is located next to the Panasonic Center in Ariake, Tokyo, to prepare for “The 33rd Home Care & Rehabilitation Exhibition”.

The “Eco & Ud HOUSE” (“Eco” stands for Ecology; “Ud” for universal design) was built last December by Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Matsushita Electric Works Ltd., and PanaHome Corporation, which offer a wide array of products and services based around the home. These affiliated companies amassed their technology, products, and services to build this case study housing.

I would like to refrain from going into too much detail now, and leave that for my blog entries to follow (laugh) but yes, I greatly enjoyed my visit and I learned a lot! Before my visit, I only had a general, vague image of what “universal design” was, but afterwards it all became clear; universal design is the spirit of and the technology involved in “people-friendly manufacturing”, all the while thoroughly and clearly imagining how each and every person would be using such products.

These products must be the fruit of, for example, the extra work and processing employed for example to improve by a mere 7% the gripping power of people whose gripping strength has deteriorated; or the commitment to getting the way a drawer closes just right, which is inexpressible in terms of “cm” or “g”; or making refinements such as the vertical hanging sliding doors which not only enables barrier-free passage, but which also does not rattle in its frame. I could not help but be impressed with the infinite consideration and care that went into envisioning who would be using the products, and thoroughly investigating which parts would be inconvenient and difficult to use for each and every user, and with the inexhaustible amount of time spent to resolve such obstacles.

I will try my best to express the amazement and sensation experienced from the visit when writing my entries for the blog.

*If you register beforehand, you may visit the “Eco & Ud HOUSE” on the weekends and on public holidays.

• Eco & Ud HOUSE

My work as a writer has offered additional insight about care on countless occasions. For starters, being a helper mainly involves taking care of people, so helpers don't really have much time to study about the wide range of health care equipment available and to learn how to use them (well, at least this was the case in 1994).

But because I began working as a writer for a health care product catalogue, I became quite acquainted with health care products I had never been introduced to in any of my training courses.

And now, because of my work as a writer, I have been given another opportunity to be involved with health care equipment.

That is, I will be communicating information about the Panasonic exhibition at the 33rd H.C.R. on the website.

I can't wait to discover what new technologies have been applied to health care equipment and what extraordinary health care equipment Panasonic creates.

I hope to keep writing entries so that I can be the eyes and ears for people who want to but can't come to the exhibition such as caretakers from coast to coast, people receiving care or their families giving care at home!

I see… It seems obvious now that you have explained it to us, but a lot of hard work goes into enhancing ones skill in the world of care. I empathize with the dilemma you face in trying to balance writing with care taking.

But here is what I think.

As you said, because you have time constraints you may feel humbled by helpers who specialize in what they do, but on the other hand, I feel as though there is something only you can offer because you look at the world of care from a writer's perspective, to efficiently communicate information and knowledge to many people, and you also practice what you see and hear. Wouldn't you agree, utunomiya-san?

I did manage to get my license as a home helper, but that was when my professional career as a writer was just taking off. I love to “write” so being a writer is my true calling. So I wanted to balance the two professions (writer/helper), and this became possible to an extent by working as a “registered helper”.

For those people in the care industry, the explanation may be redundant, but “registered helpers” are helpers that are employed on a part-time basis and called when needed to work in the homes of people requiring care. I was able to work as a writer on the weekdays by working as a helper 1 day a week on Saturday.

However, as a “helper with 2 jobs”, you face the dilemma of not being able to become a fully professional home helper.

Being a helper or a writer is a specialized profession that requires infinite experience and attainment of skill. But as a “registered helper”, I can never seem to achieve the necessary hours to obtain a higher certification　as a care taker or care manager. That is why I had asked not to be referred to as a “specialist in the field of care.”

Nevertheless, because I have experience in both fields, I was able to work for something I have interest in, as a writer for Panasonic for the “33rd Home Care & Rehabilitation Exhibition.”

I can't wait to see what kind of home care and rehabilitation equipment and surprises that I may find there.

I am already excited about the fact that through this blog, I get to tell everyone who, like myself, have interest in the world of care and welfare, but who can't come to Tokyo Big Sight about the exhibition. satoru-san, I've never written entries for a blog, but I look forward to working with you!

utsunomiya san, welcome to the “Cyber Showcase blog”. I just wanted to welcome you as an early settler!

I look forward to working with you in creating excitement around the exhibition blog!

Hi everyone! My name is Masako Utsunomiya and I am a writer. I am honored to have been invited to join the “Cyber Showcase Blog”.

As you know from satoru-san's previous entry, I have a second-level home helper license and care equipment counselor license and I write and conduct interviews in the field of care. But that is as a “writer whose forte is in care” rather than as a “specialist of care”.

I acquired my second-level home helper license in 1994. Back then, the “home helper” profession wasn't well known; it was a period when the concerns associated with an aging society were still ambiguous.

It all started when I thought I wanted to do something for other people. So I told an acquaintance who worked for a welfare organization that “I want to volunteer”.

I had hoped that she would say something along the lines of, “You want to volunteer? We're short-handed right now. Can you start immediately?” But to my surprise, she just simply said, “You won't be much use to us unless you have a specific qualification or skill”.

I felt like I was hit over the head. The “thump” was from the realization that I had underestimated things because I thought I was just volunteering, and I would be working for free.

Therefore I realized that “In order to be of use to other people, I have to first acquire a skill”.

That is when I found a brochure for the “Second-Level Home Helper Qualification Class” in the library. I thought that the need for home helpers and their skills will certainly increase as society ages, and that may be this is something I could do. So I applied for the classes. I also began studying Braille at the same time. I had thought that if I tried to learn 2 skills, at least 1 should stick.

But I didn't know then that I would become deeply immersed in the world of care.

In the previous blog entry, I wrote about my perspective with respect to writing the blog about the Home Care & Rehabilitation Exhibition. I would of course like for as many of you to come visit the Panasonic booth at the exhibition. And in order to intrigue and spark your interest, it isn't enough to only write entries from the “I'm not an expert so I don't know!” angle.

So, we have asked for the cooperation of a reliable guest writer to provide insight on this blog.

Her name is Masako Utsunomiya, and she is a professional writer. She copywrites ads, writes articles/interviews for magazines, radio scripts and scripts for stage performances.

She has had a brilliant career, but that is not the only reason why we are introducing her as our “reliable partner” of the Home Care and Rehabilitation Exhibition blog.

Actually, Utsunomiya san has a second-level home helper license and care equipment counselor license. And she draws upon her valuable experience as a home helper to write myriads of articles in the field of care. With the plentiful experience and knowledge that she brings to this blog, she will certainly augment the value of information provided on the blog.

From now on, both Utsunomiya san and I will be making entries.

Utsunomiya san can supplement my articles/information with her expertise in care, while from time to time also zestfully describing the products from her perspective.

I am very much looking forward to this new collaboration with Utsunomiya san.

Let us enliven this exhibition blog together!

In all honesty, as I continue as a writer for the Home Care & Rehabilitation Exhibition blog, I was at first a little uncertain as to whether I was the best person for this job, especially since I am not an expert on home care.

But there was 1 factor which motivated me to be the writer for this blog, and that was my parents.

Currently I live with my parents who are both 73 years old, and fortunately they are in great health so they don't need my assistance. In fact, more often then not they take care of me (laugh).

Having said that, the issues regarding elderly care is something I will probably face in the near future, and without any prior warning at that. The necessity for such care does vaguely cross my mind from time to time, but I haven't done anything about it so far. That is why I have decided to approach this blog as a great opportunity to prepare for the “future”.

I neither know anything much about these products nor the circumstances of the people who need such care. Yet, I have come to think that it might be quite meaningful for someone like me, a tabular rasa about the field of care if you will, to learn about the world of care and rehabilitation from observing, touching/testing the products, and from experiencing them for the first time in my life, and writing about it.

I believe that there are many people out there like myself who have not prepared for the eventuality of “caring for aging parents.” So I would like to go visit and experience the Home Care and Rehabilitation Exhibition on behalf of those people.

Reading my blog entries, some people who have been involved in the field of care for a long time may think, “You're surprise by such commonplace knowledge?” or “That technology isn't impressive at all.” However, my surprise or queries may reflect the voices of the people who are “curious about care, but never had an opportunity to come in contact with it.” So I would be grateful if you could read the blog while keeping this in mind.

The theme, universal design, which Panasonic has steadfastly pursued, also plays an important role in the field of care and rehabilitation equipment. By introducing “commitment to user-friendliness” unique to Panasonic, which requires more than just expert knowledge about care and rehabilitation, I am confident that I can bring new wonder and excitement not only to the people who have just been introduced to this field, but also to those who have been involved in this field for a long time.

I hope that many people will develop a deeper understanding about home care and rehabilitation equipment and about “universal design”, an aspect inseparable from care and rehabilitation, and that many will also be able to use the information provided herein as background knowledge for the future when faced with care.

Information about the Panasonic Booth for the 33rd Home Care and Rehabilitation Exhibition has been uploaded on the Cyber Showcase website (the parent-site of this blog).

Please take a look at the contents of the exhibition Panasonic will be presenting.

The “Cyber Showcase blog” will bring to you dynamic and real-time information about the Panasonic exhibition booth. And the first exhibition introduced on this blog will be the Home Care & Rehabilitation Exhibition!

According to the organizer's website the 3-day Home Care & Rehabilitation Exhibition held at Tokyo Big Sight from September 27 (Wed) to 29 (Fri) is an “international exhibition where home care and rehabilitation equipment ranging from hand-made self-assistance equipment and tools to welfare vehicles utilizing the latest technologies converge”.

Panasonic will also demonstrate its commitment to universal designs that are user-friendly to all members of the family, focusing on home care and rehabilitation products while bearing its theme, “People-Friendly Manufacturing”.

We will provide you advance information leading up to the opening of the event, and during the 3 days of the exhibition, we will bring to you on-site reports from our secret cell located near the booth.

We will be transmitting a wide-array of information about the exhibition through our website and audio-visual reports as during Interop; however, I will try my hardest to make the blog the most useful source of information to you (laugh).

So don't forget to check for new entries!