[Daiso Sangyo x Kyoto University of the Arts Industry-Academia Collaboration Project Vol. 4] Daiso Sangyo Launches New "Chain-attached Gua Sha" Born from University Students' Ideas

Kyoto University of the Arts (Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture / President: Taku Sato) has implemented the 4th industry-academia collaboration project with Daiso Sangyo Co., Ltd. (Higashihiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture / Representative Director and President: Yasuji Yano, hereinafter "Daiso Sangyo"). From the works currently in progress for commercialization at Daiso Sangyo, the "Chain-attached Gua Sha" is being sequentially launched at DAISO stores nationwide. In the future, products incorporating unique perspectives and ideas from students, such as "curtain lace clips" and "laundry net holders," are also scheduled for release. Students presenting at the final presentation held last August. This project is positioned as a practical learning experience for "social implementation," aiming to fuse students' innovative ideas with Daiso Sangyo's rich product development know-how. Its purpose is to foster human resources in the cultural and artistic fields and strengthen the content industry, allowing students to connect with companies and take charge from planning to commercialization. This is the fourth time the project has been held, following 2017, 2021, and 2023. Under the theme of "new functional products that solve everyday inconveniences," 16 second and third-year students proposed ideas, and a total of 17 buyers, including the Representative Director and President and the Product Division Manager, reviewed them for commercialization. Project Objectives and Features Kyoto University of the Arts and Daiso Sangyo are engaged in industry-academia collaboration with the aim of providing practical learning opportunities for students who will lead the next generation and developing new DAISO products. By actively involving students from market research to design and intellectual property rights confirmation, it has become a valuable platform for learning the process of social implementation. Notably, three graduates who participated in past projects and joined Daiso Sangyo are now mentoring current students with a professional perspective. This connection between education, practical work, and employment fosters human resource development through practice, creating a cycle where their knowledge is passed on to the next generation. Product Overview Product Name: Chain-attached Gua Sha This is a palm-sized "Gua Sha" that can be carried with a chain. It has multiple functions, including a central hole where a tube can be inserted to smoothly squeeze out its contents until the very end. Price: 100 yen (110 yen including tax) Release Date: Sequentially released at DAISO stores nationwide from the end of April. *Availability may vary by store. "When I study or draw for long hours, my hand muscles inevitably get tired. So, I thought of a portable size that allows for easy hand care anywhere. I used a chain so it wouldn't get lost easily despite being small, allowing it to be attached to a pouch, and the central part has a tube squeezing function, which is also a key point for using up hand cream and other items carried together until the very end." ■ About Daiso Sangyo Co., Ltd. With the corporate philosophy of "Enriching the lives of people worldwide with one price ~Impressive Price, Impressive Quality~", Daiso Sangyo aims to be a global retailer originating from Japan, operating "DAISO", "Standard Products", and "THREEPPY". It handles approximately 53,000 products, ranging from daily necessities to hobby items. Company Name: Daiso Sangyo Co., Ltd. Representative: Yasuji Yano, Representative Director and President Location: 1-4-14 Saijo Yoshiyuki Higashi, Higashihiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture Established: December 1977 Capital: 2.7 billion yen Number of Stores: 5,670 stores in 26 countries and regions worldwide, including Japan (as of February 2025) Sales: 676.5 billion yen, Consolidated 724.2 billion yen (March 2024 - February 2025) Daiso Sangyo DAISO Official Website: https://www.daiso-sangyo.co.jp/ ■ About Kyoto University of the Arts Kyoto University of the Arts is one of Japan's largest comprehensive art universities, with approximately 23,000 students enrolled in both its on-campus and correspondence courses. It will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2027. The on-campus courses (10 departments, 24 courses in the Faculty of Art) emphasize the relationship between "society and art," conducting over 100 "social implementation projects" annually in collaboration with companies and local governments. It provides practical education that addresses real-world issues through the power of art and design. The correspondence courses (5 departments, 19 courses) were established in 1998 as Japan's first four-year art university correspondence course. Diverse students from across Japan and overseas study there, making it one of the largest correspondence art universities in terms of enrollment. It provides an environment where anyone can learn art regardless of age or experience. Location: 2-116 Kitashirakawa Uriuyama-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture 606-8271 URL: https://www.kyoto-art.ac.jp/