Social Welfare Corporation Yuai Gakuen Introduces Muscle Suit to Reduce Physical Burden and Enhance Employment Support

Innofis Co., Ltd., a startup from Tokyo University of Science specializing in the manufacturing and sale of assist suits, supplied its "Muscle Suit Exo-Power ®" to the Ome Welfare Workshop of Social Welfare Corporation Yuai Gakuen in February 2026. This exoskeleton assist suit provides 27kgf of assistance through compressed air artificial muscles, designed to reduce back strain during heavy lifting and stooping. The workshop, which supports employment for individuals with disabilities through tasks like recycling and material handling, faced challenges with physically demanding work, such as dismantling 30kg water heaters, leading to back pain among staff and users, including those with Down syndrome. The introduction of the Muscle Suit Exo-Power has been positively received, with users reporting easier movements and a general reduction in physical burden, enabling them to undertake a wider range of tasks. This initiative is particularly relevant given the planned increase in Japan's statutory employment rate for people with disabilities from 2.5% to 2.7% in July 2026, as mandated by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. The Muscle Suit Exo-Power is priced at 214,500 JPY (tax included) and is available in S (150-165cm) and M (160-185cm) sizes. Innofis also operates the "Kagurazaka Showroom," opened in May 2025, where various assist suits can be experienced. The company has shipped over 35,000 units of its Muscle Suit series.