Int.Home Care &
Rehabilitation Exhibition

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H.C.R. 2004 News No. 4 (January/20/2005）

• Moving Towards H.C.R. 2005
• Report on H.C.R. 2004
  ･645 Exhibitors Participated From 14 Countries & 1 Territory
  ･Rise in Visitors From Social Welfare Institutions and Home Care Services. New ･Construction/Design Sector Established This Year Accounted for 5%.
  ･Rise in Use of Home Care & Rehabilitation Equipment Due to Long-Term Care Insurance. Wider Range of Products Displayed.
  ･104.9% Increase in the Market
• Visitor Questionnaire Results (6,229 Respondents)
• Domestic Exhibitors Questionnaire Results (228 Respondents)
• Overseas Exhibitors Questionnaire Results (62 Respondents)
• H.C.R. 2005 Schedule and Details

Moving Towards H.C.R. 2005

Aim Towards Independence by Furtherance of Development and Distribution of Home Care & Rehabilitation Equipment

Since the time we held our exhibition with the participation of overseas exhibitors, our 31st Int. Home Care & Rehabilitation Exhibition was held for the 15th time as an international exhibition. We owe the success of our event to the 645 exhibitors from 14 countries and 1 territory and the over 130,000 visitors that were in attendance.

Home care and rehabilitation equipment supports the elderly and persons with physical challenges and enables them to maintain independent lives. Moreover, it provides persons in need of support with safe, sustainable care. With the falling birthrate and aging population, in addition to the trend in nuclear families, home care and rehabilitation equipment will be indispensable and the demands for such equipment is steadily on the rise. Among the people that visited H.C.R. 2004 were those looking forward to further ensured safety in equipment and to be provided pertinent information on home care and rehabilitation equipment. To meet the increasing demands, it is our greatest hope that companies supplying home care and rehabilitation equipment will undertake the task of developing equipment with a wealth of ideas and new technologies.

Today, in the 21st century, in preparation for the super-aged society, it is necessary to continue developing and distributing home care and rehabilitation equipment, as well as to have further progress in developing support systems for the physically challenged and the long-term care insurance. The aim of these goals is to attain “normalization,” which means that everyone lives independently in the place they are familiar with and participates in society.

We, together with the Japan National Council of Social Welfare, will persevere in our efforts to provide comprehensive information on home care and rehabilitation equipment, knowledge to be able to choose and use equipment properly, and a place for interchanges and information exchanges among users, professionals and providers through our exhibitions. We await your participation in the largest comprehensive home care and rehabilitation equipment exhibition in Asia.

We look forward to everyone’s continued cooperation and support of our H.C.R. exhibitions.

Akira Suetsugu, President
Health and Welfare Information Association

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Report on H.C.R. 2004

645 Exhibitors Participated From 14 Countries & 1 Territory

There were 568 domestic exhibitors in participation, the same number as last year, including 100 new exhibitors. The number of exhibitors outside the industry has continued to increase and an overall expansion in both the quality and quantity of the home care and rehabilitation equipment that was displayed could be seen.

There were 77 overseas exhibitors from 13 countries and 1 territory in participation. In comparison to last year, there was an increase of 16 exhibitors from Europe and Taiwan. Overseas companies entering the Japanese market are progressing as there has been a rise in the number of companies establishing offices in Japan, as well as those companies having contracts with Japanese agents.

Exhibitors: 645 Companies From 14 Countries and 1 Territory

(Japan: 568, Canada: 3, Denmark: 13, Finland: 1, France: 4, Germany: 10, Mexico: 1, Netherlands: 4, Norway: 3, Spain: 3, Sweden: 10, Switzerland: 1, Taiwan: 5, UK: 6, USA: 13)

Rise in Visitors From Social Welfare Institutions and Home Care Services. New Construction/Design Sector Established This Year Accounted for 5%.

The total number of visitors for the three-day exhibition was 138,726. Visitors from social welfare institutions and home care services related sectors have continued to increase since the previous year. Visitors from social welfare institutions increased by 0.2% and visitors from the home care services related sector increased by 0.2% over last year’s figures. Visitors from the construction and design sector that we have added to the visitor categories this year accounted for 4.6%.

As a trend in recent years, we saw more end users of home care and rehabilitation equipment at the exhibition, as well as a good number of social welfare related students who will be leading the next generation. The number of wheelchair users in attendance was a total of 3,000 for the three-day period.

Total Number of Visitors: 138,726 (Increase of 716 over last year)
Wednesday, October 13 (Rainy, cloudy later): 41,256 persons
Thursday, October 14 (Cloudy): 54,810 persons
Friday, October 15 (Clear): 42,660 persons

Rise in Use of Home Care & Rehabilitation Equipment Due to Long-Term Care Insurance. Wider Range of Products Displayed.

At H.C.R. 2004, there was an increase in the number of companies that exhibited manual wheelchairs, powered wheelchairs, lifts, beds, slopes, and home care and rehabilitation related computer systems. Along with the usage of the long-term care insurance, the range of home care and rehabilitation equipment for home care services has also expanded. Products displayed at the exhibition were seen to have improvements in functions, quality, and design.

Additionally, an outstanding feature of this year’s exhibition was the increase in “rehabilitation equipment for walking” and other rehabilitation equipment which was in response to “care prevention,” a future challenge.

104.9% Increase in the Market

According to our survey taken on the business trends of exhibitors conducted just prior to H.C.R. 2004 (187 respondents), the sales of the home care and rehabilitation equipment market in Japan was 104.9% over last year, with a steady increase for the 3rd consecutive year (105.9% for 2003, 100.6% for 2002).

The category that had the largest increase in sales was the "diapers," followed by "equipment for home and institutions," "beds," and “cars for wheelchair users and others” categories.

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Visitor Questionnaire Results (6,229 Respondents)

1. Purpose for visiting H.C.R. 2004 (Multiple responses)

2. What types of products were you looking for? (Multiple responses)

3. In regard to home care & rehabilitation products, what would you like to see? (Multiple responses)

4. Are you using overseas products?

◆ Comments on Selecting & Using Home Care & Rehabilitation Equipment

• Would like to see a wider range of rental products to be covered by the long-term care insurance. If most of the home care and rehabilitation equipment are covered under the rental program, the usage of such equipment may grow.
• Would like to have a place close to home where we can see equipment and receive counseling anytime.
• Would like to see uniform product safety standard codes established within the industry. There are concerns especially about equipment that uses electricity and products from overseas.
• It would be good if there is equipment with minimal functions that can be easily operated and maintained to reduce overall costs.
• Would like manufacturers to provide local community-based seminars on how to choose and safely use home care and rehabilitation equipment, in cooperation with the shops that deal with such equipment.
• Even if we obtain information regarding home care and rehabilitation equipment, it is not possible to evaluate such equipment without being able to try them. We would like to see a system where we can easily try out equipment (like the golf club rental system).
• It would be good if there is a recycle system to obtain secondhand items. It is especially a financial burden to buy new products as a child grows out of them.
• There are very few places that we can go to ask for advice regarding the usage of home care and rehabilitation equipment. Even if there are such places, the level of the clerks are varied. Establishing systems to provide counseling and to train related personnel are problems that the industry should work on.
• The other day I was surprised to find that the price of a product I had bought overseas was double the price in Japan. It is understandable that such products require costs for importing and maintenance, however.
• More safety and ease of operation are still required.
• It is good to buy new products, however, the product I am familiar with has become like a part of my body. I feel that more efforts should be put into maintenance services for products that are no longer being manufactured.
• I strongly felt that the institution I am working for is behind the times and that we should introduce more home care and rehabilitation equipment.
• When the condition of our body changes, we have to buy new home care and rehabilitation equipment. Wouldn’t the recycling and systemizing of the distribution of secondhand items make the prices of such equipment lower.
• This was the first time for me to visit the H.C.R. exhibition and I was surprised at everything I saw. Everything I had imagined was completely different.
• The cost to be spent on a certain part of a product should be taken into consideration when being developed. For example, the control units for wheelchairs may take up a larger portion of the cost to ensure safety.
• Whether a product may be rented or not varies depending on the area and we find difficulty in using such a system.
• In regard to home care, the age of care givers is also progressively getting older. Careful consideration of this situation should be given when developing home care and rehabilitation equipment.
• When users begin using a product, a courteous explanation on usage is expected from the seller. Additionally, it is the seller’s responsibility to also explain the advantages and risks involved (aspects that the equipment is not able to make up for).
• By visiting the exhibition, we were able to see that equipment that may be tailored to an individual’s needs had increased.
• It is good to see the progress in the development of equipment. On the other hand, the level of workers involved in consulting when choosing equipment is lagging way behind.

◆ Comments Regarding H.C.R. 2004

• Year by year, the signs have become more informative and have improved. Next, more information counters and more attendants are needed.
• It would be easier to distinguish if the carpet color of each hall was different.
• We understand that the aisles are made wider than those of other exhibitions. However, it is still difficult to pass through the aisles because there are so many people.
• The signs to the parking lots were hard to understand.
• Efforts were made to be able to find exhibits easily by separating the categories into zones. However, it would be nice to have a zone for exhibitors dealing in a comprehensive range of products.
• Although there are many lounges at the exhibition site, it appears that there should be more.
• It was good that parking spaces for wheelchair users were secured.
• Exhibitors that plan to have product demonstrations should secure space within their own booths for their audience. There were so many people in the aisles that it was hard for wheelchair users to pass through.
• The changing room for visitors was very helpful.
• Would like Saturday and Sunday included in the exhibition period. Also, it would be good if the exhibition period is 4 days long as it is impossible to see everything in one day.
• Each year the number of exhibitors and the variety of exhibits have been increasing. On the other hand, the aisles are getting smaller and more crowded.
• Would like to see areas set up within each category where we can try out products.
• Would like the exhibition to be open until 7:00 p.m.
• Not only the displaying of products, but also holding seminars like "How to Choose and Use Home Care and Rehabilitation Equipment" were very helpful.
• This year there were attendants near the elevator to guide and assist people which made it easier for us to get in and out of the elevator.
• The BGM and announcements made using microphones were too loud in the booths. Although we would have liked to take the time to look at and try the equipment, it was just not possible.
• The exhibitors were distributing their pamphlets in the aisles and it caused a disruption for visitors.
• During the H.C.R. exhibition, we were able to talk directly to many overseas exhibitors and this is an advantage that is not available at other exhibitions. I hope that the participation of overseas companies will continue to increase.
• I was trying out products in a booth exhibiting hearing aids, however, I could not tell if the products were suitable for me because the demonstrations were so loud.
• Usually, we rarely have an opportunity to see such a variety of equipment at one place and to be able to make comparisons. Also, it is great to be able to talk directly to the people that develop the products. I felt these points were significant at this exhibition

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Domestic Exhibitors Questionnaire Results (228 Respondents)

1. Was it beneficial to participate in H.C.R. 2004?

◆ 97.3% of respondents replied "very beneficial" or "somewhat beneficial".

2. In specific, how was it beneficial? (Multiple responses)

◆ Domestic Exhibitors' Comments

• We were able to ascertain aspects to improve and obtain feedback of our current products. We were able to hear users' needs which we can reflect in the planning of our new products.
• We were able to hear valuable comments from users about our sample products that were exhibited.
• We had many people at our workshop and company seminar.

3. What did you think about the zoning by product categories?

◆Domestic Exhibitors’ Comments

• Would like to see a little more zone classifications.
• As our product range overlapped several zones, we thought an all-around zone would be good.
• We thought the signs that were hung from the ceilings were not informative and insufficient.

4. Does your company handle overseas products?

◆ Suggestions and Comments on H.C.R

• It is our feeling every year that one day should be aimed exclusively for the supplier’s side (distributors / manufacturers) and have 2 days for users, as it would be easier for us to conduct business negotiations.
• So many people were seen taking photos without the permission of the exhibitor that it stood out and the situation should be remedied.
• We were able to provide information not only at the exhibition, but also to those persons that were not able to go to the exhibition through the H.C.R. internet.
• From this year the move-out instructions changed, but as the responses were not unified and were not thorough, there was confusion. Please extend the time for automobiles to enter.
• Please include Saturday and Sunday in the exhibition period.
• As the voices of the announcements and demonstrations in the booth next to us were so loud that we had difficulty talking to visitors in our booth. We hope strict adherence to the rules will be enforced.
• As there were exhibitors distributing pamphlets in the aisles, we hope the rules will be enforced.
• It was good that the aisles within the halls were made wider than those of other exhibitions, as there were also many more visitors.
• If possible, we would like the exhibition period to be fixed in mid-October. When it is held sometimes in October and sometimes in September, it is difficult for us to schedule, and development of our products is also affected.
• Would like to see workshop lectures, etc. and company seminar areas increased.
• Each year we anticipate your ability to attract many visitors as the largest exhibition of its kind in Japan. Our company would also like to take full advantage of the opportunity by further enhancing our exhibits.

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Questionnaire Results for Overseas Exhibitors (62 Respondents)

1. Participation in H.C.R. 2004:

2. By participating in H.C.R. 2004, our company: (Multiple responses)

◆ Overseas Exhibitors' Comments:

• Far more potential buyers than in 2003.
• Would like one day for persons inside the industry only.
• We were able to further develop a solid relationship with our agent.
• We were able to consolidate our existing business.
• Sales in Japan are stable.
• We were able to hear users’ opinions regarding our products and decided on development of new product variations.

H.C.R. 2005 Schedule and Details

For the Elderly and Physically Challenged-32nd Int. Home Care & Rehabilitation Exhibition to be Held Next Year From September 27

H.C.R. 2005 will be held from Tuesday, September 27 to Thursday, September 29. Application processing will begin from February 1, 2005. Pertinent information will be posted at our H.C.R. home page as it becomes available. In reaffirming the role and significance of H.C.R., we will persevere in our efforts to further the development and distribution of home care and rehabilitation equipment. We look forward to the participation and cooperation of many companies and related organizations at H.C.R. 2005.

2005 Schedule

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