nihonkohden

Community Involvement

Support for the Availability and Improvement of Healthcare

CPR and AED Seminars

In July 2004 Japan authorized operation of automated external defibrillators (AED) by the general public. Following this, Nihon Kohden began offering CPR and AED training to the public. These seminars have helped to educate the public in CPR and AED which have been increasingly used in saving lives.
In FY2021, we held not only face-to-face lectures but also online  to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

●Number of AED lectures and participants in FY2021 in Japan: 
  Face-to-face: 120 lectures /1,229 people
  Online: 105 lectures /1,097 people

AEDs at Business Sites around Japan

Nihon Kohden has placed AEDs at around 100 of its business sites in Japan. All Nihon Kohden employees attend CPR and AED training as part of our effort to ensure safety and preparedness not only of our employees but for the local community as well.

Supporting the Tokyo Marathon

Nihon Kohden has provided AEDs for use during the race every year since the Tokyo Marathon was first held in 2007. Nihon Kohden has also become an OFFICIAL PARTNER of the marathon and each year many employees serve as volunteer staff.
©Tokyo Marathon Foundation

©Tokyo Marathon Foundation

Supervision of Gashapon Miniature AEDs for AED Promotion and Education

Nihon Kohden was involved in supervision of Gashapon Miniature AEDs, capsule toys developed by BANDAI CO., LTD.
We became involved in supervision of the capsule toys from an educational perspective—providing people who have never seen the contents of an AED and never touched one with an easy opportunity to get close to and learn about AEDs. The Gashapon Miniature AEDs enable a wide range of people from children to adults who ordinarily do not have contact with AEDs to experience firsthand their method of use. The capsule toy user manual also explains the actual way to use an AED.

Saving lives through rapid lifesaving activities using AEDs

In July 2021, three employees at sales office in Shizuoka received a letter of appreciation from the fire department for their lifesaving activities using Nihon Kohden’s AED. Three employees commented, “I believed that if I acted calmly, the patient should be resuscitated,” “As the only AED manufacturer in Japan, I was able to help save lives,” and “Using the AED in front of me made me realize once again how amazing AEDs are, and I am glad that our AED was successful in saving lives.” On this occasion, the patient collapsed in front of our office, which is equipped with an AED, so the instant use of the AED and the quick response of the three employees was led to saving the patient’s life.
At Nihon Kohden, all employees participate in training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and how to use an AED to ensure prompt lifesaving activities. In addition, Nihon Kohden has placed AEDs at all of our approx. 100 business sites in Japan to provide the safety and security for nearby residents. As a manufacturer of resuscitation equipment, we will continue to promote CPR education and the widespread use of AEDs with the aim of improving the survival rates.
Commendation by the Chief of Chiyoda Fire Station, Shizuoka City Fire Department

Rendezvous Point for Medical and Disaster Relief Helicopters

Nihon Kohden’s Tomioka Production Center and Tomioka 2nd Factory are designated as a rendezvous point for medical and disaster relief helicopters. As part of this initiative, we cooperate with local fire departments and hospitals to help support regional emergency medical needs.

Donation of Used Medical Equipment to Training Schools for Clinical Engineers

Recently, the sophistication of medical equipment has been increasing at the same fast rate as advances in information and communication technology (ICT). Training schools for clinical engineers have not kept pace, with some schools still using dated equipment for educational purposes. For safety, Nihon Kohden discards or updates a lot of equipment that could be refurbished and used for teaching purposes. In FY2014 we started donating such refurbished equipment to schools in Japan.
Year Recipients Products Donated Total Units
FY2014 8 schools Patient monitors, defibrillators, ECGs 8
FY2015 16 schools Patient monitors, EEGs, defibrillators, ECGs, hematology analyzers 16
FY2017 6 schools EEGs, defibrillators, ECGs 6
FY2018 1 school Ventilator 9
FY2020 1 school Air compressor for ventilator 1
FY2021 1 school Ventilator 1


Adopted as JICA’s Collaboration Program with the Private Sector for Disseminating Japanese Technology for Mexico

The AED Promotion Project proposed by Nihon Kohden was adopted as a Collaboration Program with the Private Sector for Disseminating Japanese Technology for the Social and Economic Development of Developing Countries in the second round of publicly-invited contests organized by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in FY2015.
Electroshocks given through the defibrillator is the only method for treating ventricular fibrillation, one of the causes of sudden cardiac death. This project is intended to widely disseminate BLS* using an AED, an effective method for improving the resuscitation rate, in order to prevent sudden cardiac death caused by acute myocardial infarction, which is increasing in Mexico.
In June 2018, BLS trainers courses were provided for staff at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. In the future, the local trainers who took this course will conduct the BLS provider courses in Mexico. We expect that BLS using AEDs will be disseminated widely and contribute to a decrease in sudden cardiac death in Mexico.

* BLS (basic life support) is an initial lifesaving measure carried out by those present out on site with a potential cardiopulmonary arrest patient before the arrival of an emergency medical service or a doctor.

Initiatives for Promoting Advanced Perioperative Medical Care in Vietnam

Promoting perioperative medical care*1 equivalent to Japanese medical services in emerging countries will have a significant effect on improving cure rates. The project for promoting the use of Nihon Kohden's noninvasive monitor in perioperative medical care was adopted as a three-year project under the FY2016 project to promote international medical development by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. Nihon Kohden aims to improve the quality of medical care by spreading its own technology to Vietnam.
As Vietnam is aging faster than Japan and the number of patients with acute myocardial infarction and intracerebral hemorrhage is increasing, noninvasive monitors (esCCO*2) have attracted a great interest. About 1,200 people, including anesthesiologists and clinical engineers, attended the special lecture by Japanese doctors held at the conference of the Vietnam Society of Anaesthesiologists in Vietnam.
We will continue to engage in activities aimed at contributing to safe and high quality perioperative management in Vietnam.

*1   Perioperative medical care: integrated care across the full patient pathway before, during and after surgery.
*2   esCCO: estimated Continuous Cardiac Output
A technology which can calculate estimated continuous cardiac output non-invasively based on an electrocardiogram and the pulse waves obtained from pulse oximetry.
Special Lecture in Vietnam & Participants Listening Intently

Social Contribution Activities

Environmental Beautification and Preservation Activities

Nihon Kohden Tomioka

Nihon Kohden Tomioka is engaged in various social contribution activities including cleanup of the streets and picking up fallen leaves around its three factory sites as volunteer initiatives. The cleanup activities are planned six times a year and performed using one hour before the start of work hours in the morning. We also participate in cleanup volunteer initiatives at the Tomioka Silk Mill, a world heritage site. Nihon Kohden received words of appreciation such as: “It is really helpful for us, since all of our maintenance activities are performed manually, as we refrain from the use of herbicides in consideration of allergies.” We also actively participate in regional events to encourage communication with local residents.
Cleanup activities at the Tomioka Silk Mill & Tomioka Donto Festival

Minami Kanto Branch Office

As part of its social contribution activities, the Minami Kanto Branch Office has registered as one of the “Hama Road Supporters” since April 1, 2014. This is a program that volunteer groups and the city of Yokohama collaborate for road beautification and cleanup activities. The Minami Kanto Branch Office continues to carry out cleanup and beautification activities for roads in the region. On the morning of the second Friday of each month, 20 to 30 employees voluntarily participate in cleanup of approx. 250 meters of roads and their vicinity. It leads to a contribution to the local community. As a result, the Minami Kanto Branch Office received a letter of appreciation from the city of Yokohama in August 2017, to thank them for their determined cleanup activities over many years. At the summer festival held at the Yokohama Business Park where our Yokohama Office is a tenant, we open a night stall every year to promote interaction with local residents.
Hama Road Supporters A member of "Hama Road Supporters", Tsugumi Ishii, Yokohama Second Private Marketing Group

Neurotronics, Inc.

Neurotronics, Inc. (Florida, USA) conducts cleanup activities in the vicinity of its office every other month as a part of its social contribution programs.
These activities were suspended in FY2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but they resumed in May 2021. We will continue to promote environmental preservation and social contribution through cleanup activities in the future.

Environmental Volunteering Education for Local Elementary Schools in Tomioka City, Gunma Prefecture

Environmental Volunteering Education Environmental Volunteering Education
We received a request from elementary schools to provide lectures on environmental volunteering as part of the environmental education targeting students from the fourth grade of elementary school.
The Environmental Management Office of the Company conducted lectures to students at school morning assembly. We took the theme “What is the environment?” and focused on concepts such as water, trees, and electricity, and included a discussion of the local natural environment. From observing the testing of lake-water quality to inspecting water purification plants and other activities, we adhered to an education policy that cherishes interaction with nature from the perspective of ecological conservation.
We are promoting engagement with the local community through collaborating in the education of strong healthy children with a rich sense of wonder and with a passion to learn that is motivated from within. This activity highlights our belief in the importance of being active in the local region with its rich natural environment.

Tomioka Production Center Receives Factory Greening Award

The Tomioka Production Center received the Chairperson’s Award of the Japan Greenery Research and Development Center at the commendation ceremony for the 37th National Assembly of Factory Greening Promotion Initiatives held in October 2018. This event is hosted by the Japan Greenery Research and Development Center with support from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and factories throughout Japan with exceptional greening initiatives are eligible for the awards.
The Tomioka Production Center received this award in recognition for such factors as having much of its green areas located along the site boundary, the exceptional views of the greenery including 210 Somei-yoshino cherry trees planted in three-way U-shaped configuration, and the good communication with local residents.
Nihon Kohden Tomioka will continue to maintain its green areas and enhance its environmental activities, as well as work to contribute to the local society with the aim of being a business with deep roots in the community.
Tomioka Production Center & Award ceremony Tomioka Production Center & Award ceremony

Support for Kick-off Event for Inochi Student Forum 2019 Kanto

The Inochi Student Forum 2019 Kanto is a voluntary project for students to consider the importance of life and the future, and take action. A kick-off event for the project was held in June 2019 at Nihon Kohden’s Human Resource Development Center.
The project theme in FY2019 was Sudden Cardiac Death that we can reduce. Seven high school and university students toured a model operating room, listened to a lecture on advancements in AEDs and Nihon Kohden’s initiatives. They experienced a realistic, virtual AED training using a large screen to simulate rescue situation at roadsides, train stations, and airports. The students commented that the event was a valuable experience and very educational, and that they wanted to consider ways to reduce sudden cardiac death.
As Japan’s only AED manufacturer, Nihon Kohden will continue to promote the widespread placement of AEDs and CPR education, aiming at improving the survival rate.
AED virtual training experience AED virtual training experience

Nihon Kohden America Volunteer Day

Charity activities hosted by Boys and Girls Club of Orange County
As part of its social contribution activities, Nihon Kohden America organizes an opportunity for its employees to participate in local NPO activities. More than 100 employees attended a volunteer day held in October 2016 to participate in volunteer activities of three regional NPOs (Blind Children Organization, American Heart Association and Second Harvest FoodBank).
Furthermore, employees of Nihon Kohden America and NKUS Lab participated in charity activities hosted by Boys and Girls Club of Orange County, a regional NPO, in December 2016 to present bicycles assembled by employees to children living in low-income or crime-ridden areas.
Nihon Kohden, with the awareness of its responsibility as a corporate citizen in the international community, as well as respect for the culture and customs of each country and region, believes that it is one of its corporate social responsibilities to undertake social contribution activities. Going forward, we will continue to actively undertake initiatives for a better society.

Support Activities in Disaster Affected Areas

Our support in response to the situation in Ukraine

In March 2022, we donated total amount of ¥30 million (approx. 220 thousand euros) to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to support those who are affected by the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and those who have been evacuated to the surrounding areas. We received a letter of appreciation from UNICEF and the Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon from the Japanese government.
In June 2022, at the request of the Embassy of Ukraine in Japan, we donated patient monitors and ventilators to medical institutions in Ukraine through Nihon Kohden Europe GmbH.

Donated medical equipment:     Patient monitors 20 units,
Ventilators 10 units

As a manufacturer of medical equipment, the Nihon Kohden Group will continue to work together as a group to provide the necessary support and cooperation. We will also
Fourteen patient monitors have been installed in nine medical institutions, and eight ventilators have been installed in seven medical institutions in Ukraine by January 2023. The remaining patient monitors and ventilators will be installed in each medical institution sequentially.

Supporting COVID-19 responses in China

In March 2020, we donated medical devices to medical institutions in Wuhan and Shanghai to support measures to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak in China.

(Wuhan)                      China Primary Health Care Foundation
Patient monitors 30 units Defibrillators 20 units
Wuhan Puren Hospital
Ventilators 2 units
(Shanghai)                  Shanghai Minhang District Health Commission
Patient monitors 21 units
Huashan Hospital Fudan University
Patient monitors 12 units
*The value of the donations was ¥136 million.
We have received the following message from Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, one of recipients of our donations. They said, "Huashan hospital is a designated hospital for COVID-19. When the number of COVID-19 patients increased rapidly, we were able to save more lives thanks to the donation of patient monitors by Nihon Kohden. We know that a lot of Japanese institutions and people have donated masks and protective clothing not only to us but also to other regions throughout China. We would like to express our cordial gratitude to Japan."
As a medical equipment manufacturer, Nihon Kohden is doing our best to support medical workers in fighting the COVID-19 outbreak.
Receiving the message of thanks for the donation

EEG Donated to Anutapura Hospital in Indonesia

In September 2018, a major earthquake and tsunami in Sulawesi, Indonesia caused widespread damage, including the collapse of hospitals and many other structures in the provincial capital Palu, which was near the epicenter.
At the congress of the Japan Epilepsy Society held in Yokohama in October 2018, local doctors from Anutapura Hospital, the core epilepsy hospital in Sulawesi, reported that they were no longer able to treat epilepsy patients. In response to this issue, Nihon Kohden donated to Anutapura Hospital a paperless electroencephalograph (EEG) system with video camera, with the aim of supporting the immediate resumption of epilepsy care in Sulawesi.
Donated EEG system Donated EEG system

Promotion of Volunteer Activities

Volunteer systems for Employee Participation

We have some programs to support each employee's participation in volunteer activities.
 Program Detail 
Leave for Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers A program that allows employees to take leave within two years and four months to carry out overseas cooperation activities as a member of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers. 
Volunteer leave A program that allows employees to take paid leave of five days per year when participating in certain volunteer activities.
Leave for bone marrow donors A program that allows donor candidates to take paid leave of up to ten days when they need hospital visits or stays for confirmation tests to provide bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells, and medical inspections after blood drawing.

Bone marrow donor seminars for new employees

Nihon Kohden introduced leave for bone marrow donors in 2015 and we continue to hold seminars to increase awareness of bone marrow bank donor registration and bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cell transplants. In May 2019, we held a bone marrow donor seminar for 70 new employees. On the day of the event, a representative from the Japan Marrow Donor Program gave a presentation. The participants commented, "My image that donating bone marrow was painful has been erased", and "I would like to seriously consider registering with a bone marrow bank, because I know our actions could save lives and the Company supports donors".
Nihon Kohden hopes that the leave for bone marrow donors will help boost awareness of donor registration and lead to a deeper understanding for donor candidates in the workplace.
At Nihon Kohden, we recognize our responsibility as a good corporate citizen and are working to contribute to society from the dual perspectives of a company and as individuals.
At the seminar for new employees

Cooperation with the Blood Program of the Japan Red Cross Society

Blood donors have decreased in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and securing blood needed for transfusions has become an urgent issue. To respond to this social demand, the Saitama Red Cross Blood Center held a blood drive at the Tokorozawa Office of Nihon Kohden in June 2020.
On the day of the event, adequate measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 were taken including air ventilation, disinfection, and providing adequate space between donors. Despite restrictions on office attendance, 53 employees (out of 57 applicants) donated blood. In recognition of our blood donation efforts, we received a certificate of appreciation from the Saitama Red Cross Blood Center in August 2020. We plan to continue blood drives in the future, with due consideration for COVID-19 conditions. At Nihon Kohden, we recognize our responsibility as a good corporate citizen and are working to contribute to society from the dual perspectives of a company and individuals.
Certificate of appreciation from the Saitama Red Cross Blood Center

Donations to the Japan Committee for UNICEF

Nihon Kohden employees spearhead an initiative called “Spoonful of Hope” in order to support the activities of UNICEF. Members of this initiative pay monthly contributions as membership fees, which are in turn entirely donated to the Japan Committee for UNICEF.

Participation in Marathon Charities

Employee volunteers organize and participate in company marathon charity twice a year. In addition, in 2014, employee volunteers took part in other marathon charities associated with health and medical care.

Amount Spent on Social Contribution Activities

  FY2021
Amount spent on social contribution activities  Approx. 6 million yen