１）Co-founder’s Message (Martin Cannavo, HyCare Paris)
I would like to take this opportunity to extend my best wishes to all of you. My name is Martin Cannavo, CEO of Hycare Akarui.
Hycare Akarui began as a non-profit organization, founded by a group of friends dedicated to supporting Japanese tech companies impacted by the economic downturn following the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011. Since our establishment in May 2014, we have been creating and offering small-scale yet highly original products that blend traditional Japanese craftsmanship with HyCare Akarui’s innovative spirit. Co-founders, Christian and I, would like to thank the tremendous support from Jay Penske and Derik Mills.
All of HyCare Akarui’s members have fortunately visited Japan at a young age, making unforgettable memories by experiencing its unique culture. Though time has past, our professional relationship and friendships have deepened and solidified. We are constantly discussing new products and ideas, with innovative conceptions of a hydrogen energy-based society, which shows promise, and is expected to become a reality in the near future. We are focused on hydrogen utilization in niche fields beyond energy, exploring innovative and forward-thinking applications based on zero-emissions that have yet to be seen.
We would humbly like to offer our social contribution via providing our long-lasting and passionately built products, with adherence to repair and recycling, which are different from mass produced products. We sincerely appreciate your continued support for HyCare Akari.
２）Co-founder’s Message (Hans Christian Ørnholt Jørgensen, HyCare Denmark)
Dear valued partners and friends,
At HyCare, we’ve always believed in the power of innovation, and our journey with hydrogen has been at the core of that belief. From the outset, our goal has been to design and manufacture products that harness hydrogen’s unique properties to advance industries and improve everyday life. Hydrogen’s exceptional characteristics have enabled us to develop solutions that deliver tangible results and enhance daily experiences.
As we continue to explore the vast potential of hydrogen in our innovative devices, I remain fully committed to ensuring that HyCare leads the way in this exciting field. Our products, proudly made in Tokyo, embody the precision, craftsmanship, and dedication that are central to who we are. Each innovation reflects our passion for bringing advanced hydrogen technologies to our customers.
Thank you for your ongoing trust and support as we continue this journey of discovery and innovation together.
Warm regards, Hans Christian
３）Exective Producer’s Introduction (Trayko Mladenov, HyCare Bulgaria)
Hi, I’m Trayko Mladenov. In January 2012, not long after the Great East Japan Earthquake, while many of my friends were still avoiding coming to Japan, I visited Japan for the first time. After more than ten years, I found myself completely captivated by Japan and had become a “foreigner” who loved Japan. I had heard about the company from Martin, the representative, as we were both under the same agency in Japan, but I didn’t actually start working with them until around 2018, when I had my car keys repaired by the craftsmen.
In my home country of Bulgaria, I enjoy DIY on a regular basis, and one day I bought some tools made by Makita in Japan and brought them back home to use, and they were so easy to use that I became a big fan. Furthermore, I realized that the quality of products made in Japan by the same Japanese manufacturer was outstanding, and the main tools I use now are made in Japan by Makita.
It was a very natural progression for me to become interested in Japanese craftsmanship. There is a district where craftspeople gather about 30 minutes by bicycle from where I usually stay in Japan, and I heard that I could get anything repaired there, so I had a member of HyCare take me there. While we were chatting for a short while, my key was repaired to look brand new. From then on, whenever I had time, I would visit this area to meet the various craftspeople and deepen my friendship with them, while at the same time learning about their skills and sometimes even helping out with their work. In this way, I gradually came to understand the aims of the activities being carried out by HyCare.
By the way, did you know that these wonderful Japanese artisans are in danger of disappearing? The artisans who help to make the products for HyCare are all also company representatives, but many of them are worried about the problem of finding successors and are prepared to close their businesses when they retire. If the wonderful skills and traditions that have been developed over half a century are lost without anyone knowing, it would be a great shame.
From what I’ve heard, it’s not impossible to replace the skills of these artisans with the latest cutting-edge technology, the latest equipment, and specialized machinery, and even if they were to be lost, it wouldn’t cause any serious problems (of course, there are also some one-of-a-kind artisans with unimaginable superhuman skills). However, these craftspeople are able to use well-maintained general-purpose equipment that is 40 or 50 years old like an extension of their own limbs, and they are able to carry out work that is equivalent to that of 10 or even 20 types of the latest equipment and specialized equipment. In addition, the craftspeople are always striving to provide even better products by setting their own standards for quality that far exceed the required specifications.
My Japanese friends say things like “Manufacturing is a thing of the past, now everything is made in China, Taiwan is the clear leader in cutting-edge semiconductors, and South Korea is the world leader in beauty products”, and “Japan used to pursue meaningless over-quality, which is why it doesn’t sell as much anymore”. While it may be true that this is one aspect of the situation, I think that the diligent and sincere attitude of Japanese artisans towards improving their skills and quality has underpinned the quality of “Made in Japan” products for many years, and I think that artisans around the world, not just in Japan, are working hard to support manufacturing in the same way. However, if the good qualities demonstrated by these artisans were to be lost, I feel that the tradition of Japanese craftsmanship would truly come to an end.
I see. There is also a great appeal to products made in cutting-edge AI-controlled factories that pursue efficiency to the extreme, and they also give us a sense of the future and excite us. That is probably the driving force behind the rapid progress of China, Taiwan and South Korea. However, when it comes to everyday items that we grow to love the more we use them, I would choose something special that has the heart and soul of the maker, like a product made by a Japanese craftsperson.
I was a long jump and triple jump athlete up until high school. After graduating, I went on to the National Sports Academy, where I studied exercise physiology, rehabilitation, and other subjects, and obtained a teaching license in sports coaching. I also started working as a fashion model when I was 18, and after graduating from the academy at the age of 23, I expanded my activities overseas, and to this day I make my living as a model. Because of the nature of my work, I am proud to say that I have more than average knowledge and experience when it comes to beauty. Throughout my career, I’ve had a number of ideas, and I’ve tried to turn them into reality with hycare products, but it’s really difficult to actually create a device that works as you envision it, and unfortunately, I haven’t been able to commercialize any of them yet. But I really enjoy working with my colleagues at Hycare and the craftspeople to turn my ideas into reality, and even though I’ve made countless mistakes, my enthusiasm just keeps growing.
I have the good fortune to be on friendly terms with a certain welder. He is famous for his skill, and he once told me that “it takes at least 20 years to become a fully-fledged welder. The only way to improve your skill is to keep at it, making mistakes and learning from them.” I will continue to persevere in my challenges, and one day I will definitely provide a product that everyone will come to love and use. Please look forward to it!
４）Introduction of Tim (Director) Hycare Belgium
Hi, I’m Tim. I have been in charge of the assembly of the Hydropod 10. Additionally, I collaborated with Trayko and Saule to create the Hydroeye. The promotional video and stills were shot at my home with my dog. The products in the video are the ones I actually use, so I would be happy if you guys can get a little bit of my hydrogen lifestyle.
I would be really honored if everyone could use HyCare products. Thank you for your continued support of HyCare.