{"id":142,"date":"2023-02-10T10:20:06","date_gmt":"2023-02-10T01:20:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central-startup.jp\/en\/?p=142"},"modified":"2023-02-22T11:33:27","modified_gmt":"2023-02-22T02:33:27","slug":"racing-royalty-keiko-ihara-creates-a-micromobility-solution-for-the-people-because-you-only-live-once","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central-startup.jp\/en\/2023\/02\/10\/racing-royalty-keiko-ihara-creates-a-micromobility-solution-for-the-people-because-you-only-live-once\/","title":{"rendered":"Racing royalty Keiko Ihara creates a micromobility solution for the people because, \u201cyou only live once\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_144\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-144\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-144\" src=\"https:\/\/central-startup.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/sub1-800x600.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/central-startup.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/sub1-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/central-startup.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/sub1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/central-startup.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/sub1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/central-startup.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/sub1.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-144\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Future, Inc. founder Keiko Ihara (in red) and CMO Tomoko Sakata (in pink) show off electric trikes designed to improve micromobility, at a promotional event in Ena City, Gifu Prefecture<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>You might imagine that most in Japan live in dense urban cores \u2013 walking from their homes to the supermarket, taking a train to anywhere a little far away. While that might be true in Japan\u2019s major cities, it\u2019s often not so in regional urban centers. In places like Shizuoka City and Kasugai City in Central Japan, it\u2019s not uncommon for people to rely on buses, taxis and bicycles to reach even the closest supermarket or convenience store. But the pandemic drew attention to the risks of public transportation, where social distance is hard to achieve.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s where race-queen-turned-champion and car lover Keiko Ihara stepped in. In Kasugai City, she saw that local businesses were suffering as people followed Stay Home orders. They had to make a choice between getting on crowded public transport to visit their usual spots or staying at home and staying safe. After stepping back from her career in racing, contributing to causes like women in motorsports along the way, she was ready for her next challenge. COVID-19 made the social need for safe and flexible transportation even more obvious.<\/p>\n<p>Competing in her first international race in 1999 and first ever global endurance race in 2012, over the years, Keiko has contributed to global racing teams\u2019 results the world over. She realized she needed to focus on the opposite of racing: optimizing safe travel at shorter distances \u2013 in other words, micromobility.<\/p>\n<p>Keiko\u2019s experience contributing to the design and development of automobiles for global manufacturers also gave her a sense of what the task involved. She put her team together from her automobile industry network and they developed a lightweight electric-powered trike in rapid time.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_145\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-145\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-145\" src=\"https:\/\/central-startup.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/Carbon-neutral-maximum-efficiency-lightweight-800x603.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"603\" srcset=\"https:\/\/central-startup.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/Carbon-neutral-maximum-efficiency-lightweight-800x603.png 800w, https:\/\/central-startup.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/Carbon-neutral-maximum-efficiency-lightweight-2048x1545.png 2048w, https:\/\/central-startup.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/Carbon-neutral-maximum-efficiency-lightweight-768x579.png 768w, https:\/\/central-startup.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/Carbon-neutral-maximum-efficiency-lightweight-1536x1158.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-145\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Gogo! electric trike was inspired by lightweight and efficient forms of the past.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The first trike developed was named Gogo! S, and featured two wheels in the front and one in the rear with a well-hidden battery placed to maximize stability. Travelling up to 50km on one charge, one could easily get a day\u2019s errands done with just the trike. As you might imagine, the suspension isn\u2019t just your run-of-the-mill variety \u2013 the multi-link suspension is currently patent pending. The trike also contributes to reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional scooters. In fact, its battery only costs about 10 yen to fill up \u2013 just one-tenth the cost to run a scooter the same distance.<\/p>\n<p>In June 2021, the trike ventured into society for the first time, when a hub was created in Kasugai City. A partnership with NTT Docomo allowed Future to leverage NTT\u2019s sharing platform device, which includes an electronic lock and Wi-Fi to connect to the cloud system managing the shared resource. Future now offers 5 types of electric trike and one fat-tired electric bicycle designed for sports and regular use.<\/p>\n<p>The trikes have already been tested widely across Japan. Projects in Tokyo and Kasugai City, Aichi Prefecture offer the trikes to residents and visitors along with the accompanying app. Without leaving the app, riders can track their trip on the trike, check out tourist information, and plan the next place to go. For Kasugai City, Future took the app one step further, adding functions that assist food delivery drivers, make reservations at stores and restaurants, and offer coupons and local information. Future calls this the \u201cservitization of shared mobility.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The trikes have even gone as far as Okinawa, where users can hop on after just scanning their credit card and driver\u2019s license in-app to zip to beautiful beaches and lovely cafes.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_146\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-146\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-146\" src=\"https:\/\/central-startup.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/Digital-mobility-service-areas-800x556.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"556\" srcset=\"https:\/\/central-startup.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/Digital-mobility-service-areas-800x556.png 800w, https:\/\/central-startup.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/Digital-mobility-service-areas-2048x1423.png 2048w, https:\/\/central-startup.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/Digital-mobility-service-areas-768x534.png 768w, https:\/\/central-startup.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/Digital-mobility-service-areas-1536x1067.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-146\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Future\u2019s trikes have trekked all over Japan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Like many other mobility-focused startups, Future got its start in Central Japan, home to automobile industry hub Nagoya Prefecture and manufacturing hub Mie Prefecture. Keiko spent time as a child and, later, as a racer in Aichi Prefecture. Future\u2019s development lab is located just a 6-minute car ride from world-famous Suzuka Circuit, where Keiko burned rubber on her way to stardom.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo me, Aichi Prefecture is the center of Japan,\u201d Keiko explained in a video interview from her home in Kasugai City. Behind her, a multitude of trophies sparkled around her head, as if reconfirming her status as royalty in racing.<\/p>\n<p>While it might seem that success came to her easily, that\u2019s not the case. After Keiko decided that fateful day to try racing herself, she also was convinced that Japan, even with its rich racing history, was not the place to establish herself due to the boy\u2019s club atmosphere in the industry. So Keiko left Japan to train in Europe, then competing in races all around the world.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am a challenger,\u201d Keiko explains. Like many successful entrepreneurs, she is goal oriented and works tirelessly for success. But building a company doesn\u2019t come without setbacks. For her, endurance racing isn\u2019t far off from entrepreneurship. \u201cSometimes, when you\u2019re not in good shape, you just need to eat and sleep it off. Then you get back on the track. Act like an athlete.\u201d Keiko explains. \u201cThat, and you need a good support team.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_147\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-147\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-147\" src=\"https:\/\/central-startup.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/6a5314d9579f8954a10fe05e518f3dd6-800x600.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/central-startup.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/6a5314d9579f8954a10fe05e518f3dd6-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/central-startup.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/6a5314d9579f8954a10fe05e518f3dd6-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/central-startup.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/6a5314d9579f8954a10fe05e518f3dd6-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/central-startup.jp\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/6a5314d9579f8954a10fe05e518f3dd6-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-147\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Inside Future\u2019s assembly plant in Nagoya where electric trikes wait to be deployed across Japan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Central Japan is Future\u2019s support team, of sorts. Future located its assembly plant in Nagoya City, a major city in Central Japan. \u201cIt\u2019s got a great supply chain because manufacturing is the lifeblood of industry here,\u201d Keiko explains. There is also a steady supply of talent with automobile-related experience, who she can bring on flexibly to help with increased demand. But the region does need a new type of talent, she says. \u201cWe need those who can create and maintain digital communication tools. These are the heart of digital mobility.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>What does Keiko Ihara, who raced in countries around the world, think about where to start a business in Japan? \u201cYou can launch your business anywhere. And actually, I\u2019ve never thought of Tokyo as being more advantageous than here,\u201d Keiko says. \u201cIt\u2019s more important to find something you like and pursue that. After all, how will you endure the ups and downs of entrepreneurship if you don\u2019t like what you do?\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You might imagine that most in Japan live in dense urban cores \u2013 walking from their homes to the supermarket, taking a train to anywhere a little far away. While that might be true in Japan\u2019s major cities, it\u2019s often not so in regional urban centers. In places like Shizuoka City and Kasugai City in Central Japan, it\u2019s not uncommon for people to rely on buses, taxis and bicycles to reach even the closest supermarket or convenience store. But the pandemic drew attention to the risks of public transportation, where social distance is hard to achieve. That\u2019s where race-queen-turned-champion and car lover Keiko Ihara stepped in. In Kasugai City, she [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":144,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-142","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entrepreneurs"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Racing royalty Keiko Ihara creates a micromobility solution for the people because, \u201cyou only live once\u201d - CENTRAL JAPAN STARTUP ECOSYSTEM CONSORTIUM<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/central-startup.jp\/en\/2023\/02\/10\/racing-royalty-keiko-ihara-creates-a-micromobility-solution-for-the-people-because-you-only-live-once\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Racing royalty Keiko Ihara creates a micromobility solution for the people because, \u201cyou only live once\u201d - CENTRAL JAPAN STARTUP ECOSYSTEM CONSORTIUM\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"You might imagine that most in Japan live in dense urban cores \u2013 walking from their homes to the supermarket, taking a train to anywhere a little far away. While that might be true in Japan\u2019s major cities, it\u2019s often not so in regional urban centers. In places like Shizuoka City and Kasugai City in Central Japan, it\u2019s not uncommon for people to rely on buses, taxis and bicycles to reach even the closest supermarket or convenience store. But the pandemic drew attention to the risks of public transportation, where social distance is hard to achieve. That\u2019s where race-queen-turned-champion and car lover Keiko Ihara stepped in. 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CENTRAL JAPAN STARTUP ECOSYSTEM CONSORTIUM","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/central-startup.jp\/en\/2023\/02\/10\/racing-royalty-keiko-ihara-creates-a-micromobility-solution-for-the-people-because-you-only-live-once\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Racing royalty Keiko Ihara creates a micromobility solution for the people because, \u201cyou only live once\u201d - CENTRAL JAPAN STARTUP ECOSYSTEM CONSORTIUM","og_description":"You might imagine that most in Japan live in dense urban cores \u2013 walking from their homes to the supermarket, taking a train to anywhere a little far away. 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