After shipping roughly 700,000 care beds to homes, hospitals, and nursing facilities, PLATZ keeps aging easier and safer—mixing high-quality, high-function designs with heartfelt, customer-first craftsmanship.
Japan is highly regarded worldwide for its advanced healthcare system, including universal insurance coverage, cutting-edge technology, and the high quality of its medical products. Yet, as the value of medical and nursing services continues to rise, the industry faces a serious labor shortage, while the aging population is increasing the demand for nursing care and placing heavier burdens on caregivers. At the same time, there is growing development of new products aimed at improving comfort for both caregivers and care recipients. As a leader in this field, how do you view the core strengths of Japan’s healthcare sector, the key challenges it faces, and the main trends shaping the healthcare product market today?
First, regarding products such as nursing care beds, I believe the basic functional aspects have already reached a certain level of maturity. Within this context, the current market trend is a rising demand for products with high cost performance—that is, high-quality products offered at more affordable prices.
However, I would say that the most significant challenge facing the entire industry right now is the shortage of workers. This issue directly affects the quality of service and the ability to provide continuous care. Therefore, I believe that the companies truly needed today are not merely those that provide products, but those that can offer solutions that support better care services as a whole. Of course, what form those solutions should take is still evolving and uncertain in many ways, but I do believe that the market’s expectations in that direction are clearly growing.
Another major feature of Japan is its well-established national long-term care insurance system. Thanks to this system, the costs of in-home care are subsidized by the government, creating a stable market environment that is quite different from other countries.
Japan’s nationwide long-term care insurance system is indeed a unique feature not seen in many other countries. How do you think this system has influenced Japan’s healthcare market?
That is a very important point. In Japan, the existence of a public long-term care insurance system makes it financially feasible for individuals to rent in-home care beds and other equipment. This system not only benefits users but also provides companies like ours with a stable business foundation, which is of tremendous significance.
It is said that Japan’s systems and social structures are now at a major turning point. With demographic shifts caused by the declining birthrate and aging population—where those who need support outnumber those providing it—how do you view this situation?
As you mentioned, Japan’s social security system is indeed at a major crossroads. The working-age population, which supports the system, is declining, while the elderly population continues to grow. This structural reversal poses a serious challenge to maintaining the sustainability of Japan’s social systems. The key issue, I believe, is how to reduce the costs associated with existing services and then redistribute the resources saved to new services and functions that are truly needed. The challenge is not simply to maintain the system, but to enhance its substance and effectiveness—and that will be the key to the future.
PLATZ's manufacturing theme
Platz was founded in 1992, but I understand you entered the nursing care bed business around 2002. Could you tell us what led you into this field?
Yes, that’s right. Our company was established in 1992, but we began selling nursing care beds in 1997, and we entered the in-home rental care bed market in earnest around 2002. The major turning point was the launch of Japan’s long-term care insurance system in 2000, which led to a rapid increase in the number of people needing nursing care beds at home. At that time, care beds were very expensive—typically priced over 200,000 JPY. We saw a business opportunity because, through our network of partner factories, we were able to manufacture and sell beds at around 100,000 JPY. Furthermore, the long-term care insurance system established a new distribution model where beds could be rented rather than purchased, making in-home care accessible through monthly rental payments. For rental companies purchasing the beds, our price range offered a significant advantage, resulting in a win-win model that benefited users, rental operators, and us as the manufacturer alike.
How did the market respond after your entry, and how did that influence your company’s direction?
From the beginning, we primarily supplied beds to rental operators. Over time, we expanded our product lineup and grew our market share. Today, we hold the second-largest share in Japan and ship between 30,000 and 35,000 units annually. I believe our success stems not only from price competitiveness but also from product design that prioritizes ease of use and comfort for both users and rental operators. For instance, because rental products need to be easy to transport, install, and maintain, our designs pay careful attention to those aspects.
Maintaining multifunctionality while keeping costs low must be extremely difficult. What enables your company to achieve that balance?
From our founding, we have built relationships with partner factories overseas. When Japan’s long-term care insurance system began, we primarily worked with factories in Taiwan, later expanding to China, and today we work closely with factories in Vietnam. Production in these regions—where labor costs are lower—has been a major factor in maintaining our price competitiveness.
Of course, balancing cost and quality is never easy. But around 2012–2013, we established a joint-venture dedicated factory in Vietnam, which became a major turning point. This allowed us to keep costs down while consistently supplying high-quality products that meet the standards of the Japanese market.
Could you tell us more about your relationships with overseas factories and how they have evolved?
At first, it was more of an OEM-type relationship. But after investing in our Vietnam plant and effectively establishing our own dedicated production line, we significantly improved quality control and scheduling flexibility. Having a production line focused exclusively on our products has allowed us to add functions and improve quality more quickly, achieving both cost efficiency and high functionality.
Japan, as one of the fastest-aging societies in the world, attracts considerable international attention. How are you leveraging your experience in Japan as you expand overseas?
In South Korea, a system similar to Japan’s long-term care insurance has already been established, and Taiwan has introduced a comparable framework as well (though there are functional differences). In China, the elderly population is expected to surge dramatically, and the government is aware of this. China has begun implementing local-level support programs inspired by Japan’s system, and we anticipate significant demand for our care bed products there. To meet this, we have established our local subsidiary, Platz Shanghai, and a joint venture with the Haier Group, a major home appliance manufacturer, to expand our sales and information networks.
Which other countries are you focusing on, and how do you adapt your products and strategies to each market?
In Southeast Asia, countries such as Thailand and Vietnam are expected to face aging populations relatively early. We have already begun sales in Vietnam through local partners, and in Thailand, we are working with Japanese trading companies to establish distribution networks.
While there are slight differences in bed sizes and safety standards among countries, the basic structure remains the same. We customize our products to meet each country’s standards and deliver them accordingly.
What advantages does having a common product structure across markets offer, given the differences in regulations and standards?
Kawachitani: That is precisely one of our strengths. Because the bed frames themselves do not differ significantly, we can leverage a common core design while adjusting specifications to meet local requirements—achieving both manufacturing efficiency and flexibility.
I’d like to ask about your recently launched Aspino series. What are its features, and how does it address future market needs?
The Aspino series represents our most advanced product line. For example, it features a high-back support function designed to prevent bedsores and aspiration, as well as a structure that adjusts the bending position of the bed to better fit the body—enhancing posture support and comfort for users.
It also includes sensors that detect when the user leaves the bed, immediately notifying caregivers. This helps prevent falls and improves monitoring efficiency. Incorporating such technology not only enhances product functionality but also helps reduce the workload for caregivers in the field.
For more information, visit their website at: https://www.platz-ltd.com/about/company.php
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