With cutting-edge surge technology, global SDG initiatives, and Japan’s only lightning research facility, Otowa Electric safeguards critical infrastructure in a climate-challenged world.
Climate change has had lasting effects on our planet, including a rise in lightning strikes, intensified wildfires, and significant damage to infrastructure—alongside tragic loss of life. For example, the 2023 wildfires in Canada contributed to a 30% surge in U.S. insurance claims, underscoring the growing risks. Experts predict a 10% increase in fire risk for every degree of warming, highlighting the urgent need for safety measures and resilient infrastructure. Why is lightning protection more important now than ever before?
Lightning is a natural phenomenon, it is by extension, caused by climate change, which heavily influences human activity. This has a significant impact not only on outdoor environments but also on industrial settings, such as factories where networks and robotics are in use. Thus, enhancing surge protection is a critical mission for us.
While incidents of people being directly struck by lightning remain relatively low, they still occur. Because the risk isn’t zero, we’ve developed a system that provides alerts when lightning is approaching—another area we are actively working to improve.
Lightning is closely linked to global warming, and as temperatures rise, so too does the frequency of lightning strikes. That’s why advance protection is essential—particularly in areas where large numbers of people gather. There have been incidents where people were struck directly, or where lightning hit a tree that then caused injury. There are even recorded cases of surfers being electrocuted when lightning struck the sea. These examples show just how critical advance detection is. Without it, infrastructure is at serious risk—and these preventive measures are a major focus of our business.
A good example is the Ise Shrine, which is fitted with many lightning rods to protect its wooden buildings. Given its cultural and religious significance, safety measures are essential to preserving such heritage sites. These rods are, in essence, protecting our history.
Of course, the nearby mountain is a different matter—we can’t place rods everywhere—so in some cases, we simply have to hope nature is kind. Interestingly, most lightning strikes actually occur over the sea, which is why people need to be extremely cautious during storms.
Otowa Electric was founded in 1946 as a manufacturer of electrical safety devices and has since grown into a pioneer in surge protection. You also operate Japan’s only lightning research facility and are currently expanding globally. What would you say are the core strengths of Otowa Electric that have enabled the company to become what it is today?
This year marks our 79th anniversary, and our core strength, simply put, lies in our specialization in lightning. Over the decades, we’ve accumulated a vast amount of know-how in this area. While our products are not typical consumer goods, we’ve built our expertise around understanding and addressing lightning in a comprehensive way. As a manufacturer, we don’t just sell a product—we analyze the entire path of a lightning strike, from entry to exit, and select the appropriate solution for each specific scenario. This depth of knowledge must be essential for effective protection against such a powerful natural force.
Our new research center, established in 2008, plays a central role in this. Inside, we have a custom-built tester and a device capable of generating artificial lightning. We conduct testing not only for our own products but also on behalf of clients. One of our unique strengths is the ability to design and build one-of-a-kind, handmade testers. In addition to testing, we offer a wide range of surge protection products from high voltage to low voltage, and we also make a core of surge protective devices, and ‘varistor’ from zinc oxide.
Lightning intersects with multiple academic fields. Electrical devices fall under electrical engineering, lightning itself is studied in meteorology, and there are also aspects related to atmospheric science and geography. Each discipline views lightning from its own lens, but at Otowa, we work to integrate all of these perspectives into our research. This ability to coordinate across disciplines and translate that research into real-world solutions is, I believe, one of our company’s greatest strengths.
Lightning Photography Contest: https://www.otowadenki.co.jp/contest/
Your company operates across a wide range of essential sectors—including defense, renewable energy, and telecommunications—all of which are vital to national infrastructure. How does your surge protection technology outperform competitors when it comes to mission-critical applications in these high-stakes industries?
While many companies view lightning protection purely as a business, our approach is fundamentally different. As our company motto states, we “Live with Lightning.” For 79 years, we’ve embodied this philosophy, developing a comprehensive understanding of lightning behavior—from entry to exit. This depth of expertise allows us not only to provide products, but also to offer consulting services, which are a critical part of our operations.
For example, we visited a client whose facility had been damaged despite using a competitor’s surge protection. Upon inspection, we discovered that the placement of the device was incorrect—positioned in a way that actually amplified the lightning’s impact. This kind of insight is invaluable to our clients, and it's one of the key areas where we differentiate ourselves.
In addition, we operate Japan’s only lightning testing facility, which sets us apart. While other companies often rely solely on simulations, we provide clients with real-world data—even up to the point of destruction. This level of testing builds strong trust with our customers, as they can see firsthand how our products perform under actual lightning conditions. We’re able to reproduce artificial lightning that is 99.9% comparable to real-world strikes, offering an unmatched level of accuracy and reliability.
Your Amagasaki Lightning Technology Center is Japan’s first lightning research facility capable of simulating strikes for surge protection testing up to 220 kilovolts (kV). What recent innovations or advancements can you highlight that have been developed at this facility?
The ability to accurately reproduce lightning is extremely important. While a direct lightning strike can have a massive impact, our artificial lightning system allows us to precisely adjust the size and intensity of the strike to meet each client’s specific testing needs. This flexibility is a key strength of our research facility.
Are there any particular sectors you currently serve that you believe will see increased demand for your services in the future? Additionally, are there any emerging segments you anticipate will require your specialized expertise in lightning and surge protection?
Globally, the number of data centers is rapidly increasing, and these facilities require surge protection. Additionally, we are seeing a rise in factory automation, where robots are now playing a key role in assembly processes. We anticipate continued growth in demand for surge protection within this sector as well, as automation becomes more widespread.
Otowa Electric’s Lightning Surge System is an advanced, award-winning solution that monitors electrical storms in real time. Beyond providing early alerts to safeguard critical infrastructure, it also minimizes downtime by protecting power grids, transportation networks, and energy installations from lightning-related disruptions. As weather patterns become increasingly unpredictable due to climate change, how does your system ensure continued effectiveness in protecting these critical systems?
Our detection system is currently capable of identifying lightning as it approaches, but in many cases, installation requires some construction work, such as attachments to buildings. That’s why we are working on making the system smaller, allowing it to be used in a wider range of applications. Expanding its usability will also improve detection accuracy, which is critical—at the end of the day, our goal is to enhance precision so that our products can continue to protect lives.
What sets us apart from other companies in the industry is our ability to detect lightning activity in the atmosphere and an electrical field in clouds. This gives us a significant advantage in accuracy, as our technology can identify phenomenon occurring in electrical fields in clouds before lightning even forms and strikes. Our system has a long detection range, capable of identifying potential lightning activity from 20 to 50 kilometers away.
Your surge protection systems will play a key role in the infrastructure of Osaka Expo 2025, ensuring critical systems remain protected. What challenges have you faced in integrating your system into the exhibition’s infrastructure, and how are you addressing them?
As mentioned earlier, our system detects approaching lightning before it strikes, and at the Osaka Expo, there is a raised ring walkway where people will be moving around. This structure presents an increased risk, as elevated areas are more vulnerable to lightning strikes. Since our products are designed to protect people, we will be providing our services to alert the expo in case of lightning risk.
If an alert is triggered, we will instruct people to move indoors for safety. This approach is similar to how our products are deployed in schools, parks, and other public facilities to ensure public safety in storm-prone environments.
Are you looking to collect any specific data or insights from your collaboration with Osaka Expo 2025? How do you plan to use the information gathered to further enhance your lightning protection products and services?
In the future, we aim to continue improving the accuracy of our lightning detection technology, which will inevitably advance alongside AI. Our involvement with the Osaka Expo will provide valuable insights, particularly in identifying the optimal locations for placing surge protection equipment and devices. Given the expo’s proximity to the sea, it is a prime location for lightning strikes if electrolysis forms in the clouds above.
However, data collection is not our primary focus. Our main—and only real—mission is to protect people from lightning. This has been the core purpose of our company for a long time, and our participation in the Osaka Expo is simply another step in fulfilling that mission.
What is your current lightning detection accuracy rate? Do you have a specific target you are aiming to achieve in the near future?
Our current radar system has limitations—it cannot always detect when a storm cloud moves away instead of approaching by wind, which can sometimes prevent an alert from being triggered. This highlights an area for improvement.
That said, our system is highly reliable in detecting significant lightning risks and issuing timely alerts. While our accuracy rate is already quite high, we are continuously striving for even greater precision and reliability.
By protecting hospitals, schools, and urban infrastructure, your company makes a significant contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is particularly evident in initiatives like the Rwanda African Business Education Initiative for Youth (ABE). Additionally, in 2025, Otowa Electric was recognized as a Hyogo SDGs Certified Company (Advanced Stage) under Hyogo Prefecture’s SDG certification program. Looking ahead, how do you plan to expand your SDG initiatives over the next decade? In the future, what role do you see Otowa Electric playing in smart cities and climate adaptation projects?
As society moves toward greater sustainability, we still encounter many people who are unfamiliar with the concept of SDGs. Within our company, we proudly wear SDG badges, but when we’re outside, people often ask what the badge represents—showing that general awareness is still lacking. We believe that developing more environmentally friendly products will be increasingly important moving forward, and this is an area that has yet to be fully addressed by any company in our industry.
Regarding smart cities, while we can’t share too many details at this stage, it’s clear that our products will play a vital role in future projects—especially those involving high levels of electricity, communication infrastructure, and data exchange. As societal needs evolve, our technologies will remain highly relevant and applicable.
Our work in Rwanda is a perfect example of our SDG commitment in action. Through the African Business Education Initiative for Youth (ABE), we are supplying lightning alert systems and surge protective devices to rural communities. In Rwanda, approximately 100 people are injured or killed by lightning each year. One of the major causes is housing built directly on the ground, which leaves residents vulnerable—even indoors. By introducing lightning detection systems and providing safe shelters, we believe we can help save lives.
There is a global lack of awareness about lightning safety. Many people, for example, mistakenly believe it’s safe to shelter under a tree during a storm—when in fact, it’s extremely dangerous. To combat this, we provide educational programs for school children and internships for individuals from Rwanda. This focus on education is central to our SDG mission.
Even in regions where lightning protection systems are present, such as hospitals in some African countries, maintenance is often overlooked. If devices break, they are rarely repaired. While these countries may be advancing in areas like IT, they often remain underprotected against lightning—something we are working to change.
Your Rwanda project began in 2016 with the goal of installing lightning arresters and providing technical training. You’ve emphasized the importance of improving safety for the country’s 13 million citizens, particularly given that block houses—commonly built directly on the ground—are especially vulnerable to lightning strikes. What have been the biggest challenges in implementing lightning protection systems in Rwanda, and how have you overcome them? Additionally, are there any plans to expand these initiatives to other countries in the future?
Before launching the project, we had never set foot in Africa, so our first major challenge was taking that initial step into a region where we had no prior experience. The lightning risk in Rwanda is significant, with around 200 strikes per year, posing a serious threat to residents—particularly those living in block houses built directly on the ground.
As I mentioned earlier, we hosted an intern from Rwanda who trained in Japan and has since returned home to establish his own company. We’ve now formed a partnership with that firm and are collaborating to develop products and services tailored to the region’s needs. What started as a challenge has evolved into a meaningful opportunity for us to contribute to the local community.
Looking ahead, we’re also seeing demand for lightning protection in Southeast Asia, and we’re exploring the potential to expand into other African nations—especially those near Rwanda or along the equator, where lightning frequency is high.
We feel fortunate that our project in Rwanda has fostered such a strong connection between Japan and Africa. I've visited Rwanda many times over the past ten years, and the project is now overseen by our international department reflecting our long-term commitment to the region.
Could you share your vision and key priorities for Otowa Electric that you hope to achieve by 2030? What goals are you focusing on as the company continues to grow and expand globally?
As society continues to evolve, we believe our business will become increasingly important. While lightning protection remains at the core of what we do, we are currently researching a new area that we hope will become a second core pillar by 2030. Once realized, this will allow us to expand into new business segments, reaching different clients and markets.
The world is constantly changing, and we recognize that we cannot remain static—doing the same things we’ve always done. We must adapt and shift our mindset. That’s why we’re encouraging every individual within the company to act proactively and embrace change. By 2030, I hope to show you an Otowa Electric that looks very different from the one you see today—one that has grown, diversified, and evolved with the times.
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