For over a century, Jakuets has used cutting-edge research and design to make early childhood as educational and enjoyable as possible. A manufacturer and distributor of early childhood play and education products, the company traces its origins back to 1916, when Tatsuo Tokumoto opened the Samidori Kindergarten – the parent body of the Jakuets Group – in Tsuruga City, in Japan’s central Fukui Prefecture. After devising and building the kindergarten’s teaching tools and materials, Tokumoto expanded into the manufacture and sale of early childhood education products, becoming the first CEO of Jakuets.
‘The future is in play’
For young children, play is much more than just fun and games. As well as encouraging communication, creativity and problem solving, it is essential to their social, psychological and even neurological development. Recent scientific research has shown that a child’s brain activates its mirror neuron system to mimic the actions and behaviors of others during play. This mirroring is fundamental to the development of empathy and the ability to establish lasting relationships in both children and adults. Without play in early childhood, the social bonds that hold families, friends and entire societies together would simply not exist.
Inspired by this research, Jakuets’ mission is to encourage the development of empathy and cooperation in young children by designing and manufacturing safe, high-quality play environments. Its products include toys and playground equipment as well as teaching materials, furniture, uniforms and tableware. The company firmly believes that the value of its products is realized not just immediately, as children use them to play and learn, but for many years to come, as those children become cooperative and compassionate members of society. This belief is encapsulated in Jakuets’ slogan: ‘The future is in play’.
Combining design and research expertise
To achieve this aim, Jakuets not only designs and manufactures its play environments, but runs a research institute, the Play Design Lab, to explore the educational possibilities of play. The Play Design Lab combines in-house knowledge of child safety and play with external expertise in education, design, architecture and art, and its findings are incorporated into the company’s designs and manufacturing. This combined approach is represented in Jakuets’ ‘two loops’ model of product research and design.
The company’s customers include nurseries, kindergartens and city authorities, which purchase Jakuets products for their playgrounds. In addition, the company is often asked to take a more active role in the creation of these play environments. Applying the latest developmental psychology and infant physical education theories, as well as expertise in urban development, Jakuets designs spaces that encourage active, social play while matching the characteristics and culture of the surrounding area – be it a kindergarten playground or an inner-city park. The company also provides consulting services for the design of food and housing facilities, ensuring that they support children’s health and development.
A design-centered IP strategy
The scope of Jakuets’ work is reflected in the breadth of its intellectual property (IP) portfolio. In total, the company has filed 23 patent applications, of which 8 are still registered. These include patents for inventions that reduce static electricity and friction on slides, make climbing surfaces easier to grip, and others that focus on children’s behavior and safety, while early childhood play products generally incorporate well-established technologies, meaning that there is limited scope for the company to patent its products.
