Akachan Honpo to Launch Joie Signature’s First Japan Series, Including the New elipto™ Stroller and i-Harbour™ Child Seat

Akachan Honpo Co., Ltd. will begin exclusive sales of six products from Joie Signature, a British-born baby goods brand distributed in Japan by KATOJI Co., Ltd., at Akachan Honpo stores nationwide and its online shop from Friday, May 29, 2026. The lineup includes the latest first stroller model, elipto™, and the first child seat model, i-Harbour™. To commemorate the launch of elipto™, the company will also run an experiential giveaway campaign limited to 100 people. Joie Signature is a premium line from the globally loved British baby brand Joie, created with a focus on timeless design, refined quality, and dependable craftsmanship. Featuring neutral-toned fabrics and delicate details, the lineup maintains Joie’s commitment to safety and ease of use while tailoring its offering to the values of families in Japan. The new elipto™ stroller combines functionality and comfort. Its sturdy straight-frame structure delivers smooth pushing and stable maneuverability, while large-diameter tires and suspension help handle uneven surfaces. The adjustable handle angle allows parents of different heights to operate it comfortably. The full mesh seat uses breathable CloudAir™ mesh to help keep children comfortable even in midsummer. It also includes four reclining positions and a two-step footrest, allowing use from newborn age up to 22 kg, or around four years old. A large 58L storage basket with a 4.5 kg load capacity can be accessed from both the front and rear, and the stroller comes as an all-inclusive package with accessories such as a cup holder and rain cover. elipto™ is available in Sandstone, Maple, and Evergreen. In parent-facing mode, it is suitable from newborn age up to 15 kg, or around three years old; in forward-facing mode, it is suitable from newborn age up to 22 kg, or around four years old. It weighs approximately 6.7 kg, excluding the head support, inner cushion, front guard, and cup holder. Its open size is 54 cm wide by 83.6–96.6 cm deep by 90.7–105 cm high, and its folded size is 54 cm wide by 27.3 cm deep by 72.2 cm high. The price is 69,000 yen, or 75,900 yen including tax. The new i-Harbour™ child seat is designed for both safety and comfort. It features a safety design highly rated in ADAC testing and uses a four-layer protection structure with Side Impact Protection Pods (SIPP). The 360-degree rotating seat makes daily loading and unloading easier, while the ISOFIX base and seat section can be detached for easier installation and reduced burden on parents. A five-position recline helps provide a comfortable position for the child, while the CloudAir™ mesh seat offers excellent breathability and the canopy protects the child from sunlight. i-Harbour™ is sold with i-Base™ Encore and comes in Eclipse and Ebony. Rear-facing use is for children 40–105 cm tall, weighing 2.5–18 kg, from newborn age to around four years old. Forward-facing use is for children 76–105 cm tall, weighing up to 18 kg, from over 15 months to around four years old. The product weighs 14.5 kg including SIPP, canopy, and base, while the seat unit alone weighs 7.43 kg with SIPP and without the canopy. The price is 74,000 yen, or 81,400 yen including tax. The elipto™ experiential giveaway campaign will accept applications from Thursday, May 14 to Sunday, May 24, 2026, with 100 participants selected by lottery. Applications can be submitted through the campaign website, and winners will be announced on Monday, May 25, 2026. Akachan Honpo operates under the corporate message “Smile-filled parenting. Akachan Honpo,” aiming to provide products, services, and information that support customers’ feelings and needs. KATOJI is a baby goods manufacturer that produces and sells baby beds, baby chairs, bouncers, and related products. Under the concept “Fun baby goods,” it supports the joy of parenting and proposes environments that bring comfort to babies. In addition to manufacturing and selling its own brands such as hugme, KATOJI also serves as the authorized Japanese distributor for overseas baby brands including Joie and nuna.