Sidas Japan's Health Management Support Project 'Footcare@Work' Adopted by Sankyu Business Service

We are pleased to announce that Sidas Japan Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture; President & CEO: Hiroaki Sugiyama), which develops and sells sports equipment originating from France and supported by many top athletes, has introduced its corporate health management support project "Footcare@Work" to Sankyu Business Service Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Makoto Matsushita). This project aims to reduce the burden on workers' feet. Through this project, we have delivered 300 pairs of the high-performance insole "Max Protect Walk" to support both the health maintenance and fall prevention of employees working on-site.

[Image: From left, athlete Yuna Sato, athlete Wakaba Okuno, and Sankyu Business Service Co., Ltd. President Makoto Matsushita]

Challenges Leading to the Implementation of this Program

Established in 1989, Sankyu Business Service handles a wide range of operations, rolling out numerous outsourcing businesses alongside its construction and engineering divisions. These range from the maintenance and management of buildings and incidental facilities to contract work in factory premises and warehouses, as well as payroll calculation and proxy processing of various insurance procedures.

In recent years, against the backdrop of a declining working population, there has been a growing interest in creating a work environment where employees can remain healthy and continue to work for a long time. In particular, tasks involving standing, walking, and carrying heavy loads tend to accumulate strain on the feet daily. Since this can lead to feelings of fatigue, physical ailments, and even an increased risk of falls, countermeasures tailored to the actual conditions of the workplace have been urgently needed. While Sankyu Business Service had previously advanced initiatives aimed at preventing falls, such as measuring the muscle strength and sense of balance of elderly employees, the challenge remained in translating these measurement results into continuous behavioral changes and concrete countermeasures within daily work routines.

Under these circumstances, when a preliminary test was conducted using Sidas Japan's high-performance insole "Max Protect Walk," no falls were reported during the trial period, and 61% of respondents felt some form of physical improvement. In addition, regarding the ease of working, 10% reported it was "greatly improved" and 45% said it was "improved." Improvements in standing age and balance age were also confirmed.

Furthermore, the parent company, Sankyu Inc., has been a naming rights sponsor for the women's rugby team "Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix" since fiscal 2019, where athletes Yuna Sato and Wakaba Okuno (*) currently play. Sidas Japan has historically supported both athletes by creating custom insoles for them. The presence of these athletes, who actually experience the benefits of Sidas products in competitive arenas, also served as a layer of trust when considering this implementation.

*Athlete Wakaba Okuno announced her retirement from active competition in January 2026.

[Photo provided by: Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix. Left: Yuna Sato. Right: Wakaba Okuno]

Based on these comprehensive results, the company decided to implement this project as a measure to simultaneously improve ease of work and strengthen occupational health and safety by reducing foot strain.

Actions Planned Post-Implementation

Following the rollout, 300 pairs of "Max Protect Walk" will be delivered to target employees to be worn inside their daily work shoes or company-issued footwear. Additionally, we plan to hold a "Foot Health Seminar" to deepen employees' understanding of their feet, as well as a measurement event to grasp foot conditions and characteristics. Moving forward, we will proceed to verify the effects regarding the reduction of foot burden, improvement in ease of work, and occupational health and safety aspects, all while checking actual usage conditions on-site and gathering feedback from wearers.

[Image: Seminar in progress]

Sidas Japan will continue to seek companies interested in implementing "Footcare@Work" and will support the improvement of workplace environments starting from the feet of the workers.

Comments from the Adopting Company

Makoto Matsushita, President and CEO, Sankyu Business Service Co., Ltd.

"Many of our employees are engaged in tasks that involve standing and walking, so addressing the daily accumulation of fatigue and reducing the risk of falls have been vital themes for us from both health management and occupational safety perspectives. Through the preliminary test this time, we were able to confirm positive results regarding a decrease in fatigue linked to reduced strain on the ankles, knees, and lower back. Moreover, since we were able to form a concrete image of how it would be utilized on-site, we decided on a full-scale implementation. Rather than simply adding equipment, we want to link this to creating an environment where every individual working on the frontline can tackle their jobs more comfortably and with greater peace of mind. We will continue to work on continuous workplace improvements while monitoring the actual operational status."

Overview of the Delivered Product

[Max Protect Walk]

A high-performance insole designed for walking and standing work. In addition to the proprietary material "PODIANEi+," which boasts a higher shock absorption rate than standard GEL materials, it utilizes PU gel that softens the impact on the heel, a three-dimensional shape that supports the arch of the sole, and a breathable mesh top cover. It supports stability and comfort at the feet, aiding in daily tasks.