[AUTHENTIC JAPAN Co., Ltd.] Starts a demonstration project aiming for a 100% safe rescue rate during water disasters
Collaboration with “Seabird Japan” (Nippon Foundation grant project) *AUTHENTIC JAPAN Co., Ltd.*
Press release: August 26, 2024
*To all members of the press*
Launch of demonstration project aiming for “100% safe rescue rate” during water disasters, collaborating with “Seabird Japan” (subsidized by the Nippon Foundation)
*This fiscal year, 10 Seabird Japan bases across the country will be equipped with search support equipment, taking the first step in building a private “water search network”*
Left) Receiver for “Coco Heli Marine” Right) Transmitter for “Coco Heli Marine” Small portable terminal with a width and height of approximately 5 cm and a thickness of approximately 1 cm
AUTHENTIC JAPAN Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Representative Director and President: Kuga
Total
Seabird Japan (hereinafter referred to as “our company”) is a volunteer organization that carries out patrols, rescues, and water-related activities, with a focus on ensuring the safety and security of waterside areas using personal watercraft.
In collaboration with Jun (Chairman of the NPO Personal Watercraft Safety Association), we will begin a demonstration project aiming for a 100% safe rescue rate in the event of a water accident.
* Initiative overview *
This is a demonstration project targeting Seabird Japan’s 10 locations nationwide (coasts, beaches, etc.). Each base is equipped with a dedicated receiver for our marine sports search support service, “Coco Heli Marine,” and is staffed by registered Seabird members who are proficient in search methods using Coco Heli Marine. This allows Sea Bird registered personnel to quickly respond to search and rescue when a user with Coco Heli Marine is in a water crisis.
In the past, water accidents have occurred in the waters under the jurisdiction of each base. Through this initiative, we aim to achieve 100% safe rescues in the event of a water disaster at the base.
Cocoheli Marine is a service launched in April 2024 by our company, which provides Cocoheli, a mountain search service used by 170,000 people. Using two networks: dedicated radio waves emitted from a transmitter and GPS, we can pinpoint the location of a person lost on the water and find them at an early stage.
* Aiming for a 100% rescue rate during water disasters *
According to the FY2020 Water Accident Summary released by the National Police Agency, the number of incidents of water accidents and the number of people drowning nationwide have remained flat for the past few years. The National Police Agency recommends wearing life jackets as an additional measure to prevent water accidents. From next fiscal year onward, we will gradually expand to other Seabird Japan bases, which have 54 locations nationwide, with the aim of building a nationwide “private search network,” as well as conducting activities to raise awareness of the use of life jackets and installing life jackets that can store Coco Helimarine. We plan to build
infrastructure to enjoy the sea safely.
*National Police Agency “Overview of water disasters in 2025”
https://www.npa.go.jp/publications/statistics/safetylife/chiiki/r05_suinan_gaikyou.pdf
* Implementation bases: 10 bases (FY2024) *
– Seabird Kamaishi (Nehama Coast, Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture) – Seabird Edogawa (Chiba Prefecture, Edogawa, Shin-Nakagawa, Nakagawa-Arakawa, Sumida River, Keihin Canal, Tokyo Bay)
– Seabird Futtsu (Futtsu Cape, Futtsu City, Chiba Prefecture) – Seabird Hayama (Hayama Town, Kanagawa Prefecture, Morito Coast, Isshiki Coast, Ohama/Chojagasaki Coast)
– Seabird Niigata Port (West Coast, Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture) – Seabird Omaezaki (Omaezaki City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Omaezaki Marine Park and surrounding waters)
– Seabird Awaji (Awaji City, Hyogo Prefecture, east side of Awaji Island) – Seabird Tosa (Kochi City, Kochi Prefecture, Niyodo River Estuary, Tosa Bay) – Seabird Imari (Imari Bay, Imari City, Saga Prefecture)
– Seabird Ashikita (Tsurugahama Beach, Ashikita-cho, Ashikita-gun, Kumamoto Prefecture)
* “Kokoheli Marine” website *
https://www.cocoheli.com/marine
* Seabird Japan Overview *
Representative: Jun Takenaga
Secretariat: 302 Sugishita Building, 1-8-6 Nishiazabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo Activities: Patrols, rescues, water activities, etc., centered around ensuring safety and security at waterside areas using personal watercraft.
* AUTHENTIC JAPAN Company Profile *
AUTHENTIC JAPAN Co., Ltd.
Representative Director and President: Kazuso Kuga
Head Office: 1-6-15-4F Akasaka, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture URL: https://www.authjapan.com/
Business content: Development of mountain distress prevention system “Kokoheli” etc.
* What is “Kokoheli” *
“Cocoheli” lends transmitters that emit dedicated radio waves to members, and in the event of a mountain distress, it dispatches privately affiliated helicopters with receivers, drones, and private ground search teams, and uses “direct communication between
transmitters and receivers.” This is a service that can significantly reduce search time by identifying the location of a climber. In mountainous areas where accidents occur, it is not uncommon for smartphones to have no signal reception. However, “Cocoheli” uses “direct communication” that does not rely on mobile phone
communication networks, making it possible to conduct searches quickly in mountainous areas. This high level of performance in “protecting lives” has been strongly supported by mountaineers, and the number of members has reached over 170,000.
* Biography of Representative Director Kazuso Kuga *
Born in Fukuoka in 1978. After graduating from Seinan Gakuin University, joined Panasonic Corporation. Seconded to UK subsidiary. After returning to Japan, he transferred to the product planning department and planned wireless equipment for North America. In 2012, he retired from the company and started AUTHENTIC JAPAN Co., Ltd.