On several occasions in the past, I witnessed that people with strollers or in wheelchairs waiting on the second floor of a department store, couldn’t find space to fit in the elevator to go downstairs, as it tends to be full of people coming down from the upper floors. Seeing this, I had an idea for a solution using the latest technology. One could use AI to monitor a camera placed on each floor to see who is waiting so that it could control which floor to stop at first. I felt the latest technology, such as image recognition and artificial intelligence, should be used first for solving the difficulties we face every day, and I also explored the possibility of proposing such a solution to elevator manufacturers.
However, I came to the conclusion in the end that such an issue can be solved if everyone takes a little bit of courage and shows generosity to offer their space in the elevator. It is a lot less complicated and free.
We are often captivated by the pace of technological progress and the new conveniences it brings these days. But sometimes we need to stop and think what we want most and what truly matters in our lives.
I would like our company to focus on working in harmony, followed by technological advancement and company growth. I also hope our employees find the job they do fulfilling, and that is the basis for our technological development and company growth.
We are committed to contributing to society as we progress in our business, following the ethos from our founder,
“世のため人のため―work for betterment of society and humanity”.

Atsunori Hashimoto
Representative Director
Wako Co. Ltd