[CIO Co., Ltd.] 10th Anniversary: Launching the 'Domestic Charger Project' to Challenge Manufacturing in Japan!
CIO Co., Ltd. has launched the 'Domestic Charger Project' to challenge domestic manufacturing for its 10th anniversary. In collaboration with YouTuber Ichiken, the project aims to realize high-quality USB chargers with optimized thermal design and output stability, using domestic components.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 27, 2026 at 19:05
- 🔍 Collected: April 27, 2026 at 10:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 28, 2026 at 02:53 (16h 21m after Collected)
CIO Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Moriguchi, Osaka; CEO: Shota Nakahashi) has launched the 'Domestic Charger Project,' a challenge to Japanese manufacturing, on the occasion of its 10th anniversary. In addition to challenging manufacturing via Japanese factories, the project aims to realize USB chargers that can be used safely and for a long time by reviewing everything from thermal design and output stability to parts selection. Furthermore, the company will proceed with joint development by adding Ichiken, a YouTuber who shares knowledge in the electrical and electronic fields, to the development cooperation. Progress will be announced on a special page as it develops.
■ Motivation for Starting the Project
This project would never have started if considered only in terms of cost performance or efficiency. Why then did it launch? The trigger was the numerous voices from supporters saying things like 'I want you to make it in Japan someday,' 'As a domestic manufacturer, I want you to liven up Japan,' and 'I look forward to the day you take flight to the world.' Until now, CIO has produced products that balance performance, price, and quality together with overseas partner factories. There is no intention to deny that history. However, on the 10th anniversary, we wanted to confront 'how much we can do in Japan' in our own way while being supported by everyone who sustains CIO. Manufacturing in Japan is by no means easy. It costs more and involves many adjustments. Still, we hope to create even a small positive spark for Japanese manufacturing, employment, and domestic industries. Manufacturing only continues because people choose the products, not just by making and selling them. This project involves many people in Japan. Therefore, we want to make it a continuous challenge, not a one-time commemorative event. We start this project as a step toward the future.
In this project, we will tackle three main themes toward realizing domestic chargers:
1. Challenging manufacturing through Japanese factories
If we consider only economic rationality, this is not an easy challenge and may not be measured by short-term results alone. Still, as CIO is supported daily by people in Japan, we want to respond to that sentiment even a little. That's why we started this challenge. However, looking at the reality of Japanese industry since 2025, the impression is 'It is harder than expected.' It's not just about changing locations; there is a lack of equipment and expertise has been transferred abroad. To be honest, creating a complete flow of commercialization from scratch in Japan is practically impossible at this point due to enormous time and costs. We need to take steps, increasing what we can do little by little and involving more partners and participants. Completion is not the goal, but the start. Therefore, we believe we need to create the best product. This project is the foothold to stand at that starting point.
2. Reliable design and maintaining output
In this project, we are proceeding with joint development with Ichiken, who has extensive knowledge of thermal management. Small USB chargers naturally generate heat. This product aims to be a highly stable USB charger that can be used safely as an AC adapter. We believe that the value we want to realize in this project includes not only high output but also maintaining performance reliably during continuous use.
3. Using domestic manufacturer parts as much as possible
While we are still adjusting how much can be realized, we want to challenge implementation using parts from domestic manufacturers as much as possible. We want to confront not only the visible parts but also the invisible contents. That is one of the attitudes we want to cherish in this project. If this initiative generates great empathy and the response spreads when commercialized, domestic manufacturers may empathize with CIO's challenge and lead to the next project. We hope to create a flow where the initiative doesn't end with one company, but a chain of empathy is born and the base of Japanese manufacturing expands little by little.
■ Special Page and YouTube
The background, thinking, and details of the initiatives are disclosed on the special page.
■ Motivation for Starting the Project
This project would never have started if considered only in terms of cost performance or efficiency. Why then did it launch? The trigger was the numerous voices from supporters saying things like 'I want you to make it in Japan someday,' 'As a domestic manufacturer, I want you to liven up Japan,' and 'I look forward to the day you take flight to the world.' Until now, CIO has produced products that balance performance, price, and quality together with overseas partner factories. There is no intention to deny that history. However, on the 10th anniversary, we wanted to confront 'how much we can do in Japan' in our own way while being supported by everyone who sustains CIO. Manufacturing in Japan is by no means easy. It costs more and involves many adjustments. Still, we hope to create even a small positive spark for Japanese manufacturing, employment, and domestic industries. Manufacturing only continues because people choose the products, not just by making and selling them. This project involves many people in Japan. Therefore, we want to make it a continuous challenge, not a one-time commemorative event. We start this project as a step toward the future.
In this project, we will tackle three main themes toward realizing domestic chargers:
1. Challenging manufacturing through Japanese factories
If we consider only economic rationality, this is not an easy challenge and may not be measured by short-term results alone. Still, as CIO is supported daily by people in Japan, we want to respond to that sentiment even a little. That's why we started this challenge. However, looking at the reality of Japanese industry since 2025, the impression is 'It is harder than expected.' It's not just about changing locations; there is a lack of equipment and expertise has been transferred abroad. To be honest, creating a complete flow of commercialization from scratch in Japan is practically impossible at this point due to enormous time and costs. We need to take steps, increasing what we can do little by little and involving more partners and participants. Completion is not the goal, but the start. Therefore, we believe we need to create the best product. This project is the foothold to stand at that starting point.
2. Reliable design and maintaining output
In this project, we are proceeding with joint development with Ichiken, who has extensive knowledge of thermal management. Small USB chargers naturally generate heat. This product aims to be a highly stable USB charger that can be used safely as an AC adapter. We believe that the value we want to realize in this project includes not only high output but also maintaining performance reliably during continuous use.
3. Using domestic manufacturer parts as much as possible
While we are still adjusting how much can be realized, we want to challenge implementation using parts from domestic manufacturers as much as possible. We want to confront not only the visible parts but also the invisible contents. That is one of the attitudes we want to cherish in this project. If this initiative generates great empathy and the response spreads when commercialized, domestic manufacturers may empathize with CIO's challenge and lead to the next project. We hope to create a flow where the initiative doesn't end with one company, but a chain of empathy is born and the base of Japanese manufacturing expands little by little.
■ Special Page and YouTube
The background, thinking, and details of the initiatives are disclosed on the special page.