Yabushita Group Launches Project for Medical and Nursing Care Robot Development and Next-Generation Talent Cultivation in Sapporo
Key facts
- Yabushita Group Launches Project for Medical and Nursing Care Robot Development and Next-Generation Talent Cultivation in Sapporo
- Yabushita Holdings has partnered with group company Nihon Medix, the general incorporated association Shirayuki, and the student robotics team 'Yukikaze Technology' to launch a medical and nursing care robot development project based at the 'N6 Shirayuki CREATION GALLERY' in Sapporo. The initiative aims to simultaneously achieve the social implementation of practical robot technologies and cultivate next-generation manufacturing talent capable of solving frontline challenges.
- Source: PR Times
- Date: June 10, 2026
Direct answer
Yabushita Holdings has partnered with group company Nihon Medix, the general incorporated association Shirayuki, and the student robotics team 'Yukikaze Technology' to launch a medical and nursing care robot development project based at the 'N6 Shirayuki CREATION GALLERY' in Sapporo. The initiative aims to simultaneously achieve the social implementation of practical robot technologies and cultivate next-generation manufacturing talent capable of solving frontline challenges.
- Citation
- Yabushita Group Launches Project for Medical and Nursing Care Robot Development and Next-Generation Talent Cultivation in Sapporo (June 10, 2026), PR Times
- Source
- PR Times
- Date
- June 10, 2026
Yabushita Holdings has partnered with group company Nihon Medix, the general incorporated association Shirayuki, and the student robotics team 'Yukikaze Technology' to launch a medical and nursing care robot development project based at the 'N6 Shirayuki CREATION GALLERY' in Sapporo. The initiative aims to simultaneously achieve the social implementation of practical robot technologies and cultivate next-generation manufacturing talent capable of solving frontline challenges.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: June 10, 2026 at 02:00
- 🔍 Collected: June 9, 2026 at 17:21
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 10, 2026 at 19:07 (25h 46m after Collected)
In this project, leveraging the expertise of group company Nihon Medix Co., Ltd. as a medical device manufacturer, the group will advance the development of robotic technologies that aid rehabilitation, physical function recovery, walking and standing assistance, and reduce the physical burden on medical and nursing care workers.
Due to the aging population and declining working-age demographic, addressing labor shortages, physical strain on staff, and operational efficiency has become a major challenge in healthcare and nursing facilities.
By combining its manufacturing technological capabilities, Nihon Medix's medical expertise, and the flexible ideas of the younger generation, Yabushita Group aims to contribute to solving the challenges of an aging society through practical robot development and the cultivation of next-generation manufacturing talent.
Robot Development Expanding from Medical to Nursing Care
With the progression of aging, labor shortages and increased frontline burdens have become critical issues in the medical and nursing fields. Particularly in healthcare settings—such as convalescent rehabilitation, orthopedics, chronic care, and home-return support—technologies that support patient recovery while reducing the burden on medical professionals are increasingly vital.
Meanwhile, in nursing care settings, the expected application areas for robotics are expanding, including transfer assistance, walking aids, fall prevention, monitoring, and reducing physical strain.
Yabushita Group will first advance technology development emphasizing the safety, operability, and practicality required in the medical field. By expanding these technologies into nursing care, the group aims to develop robots that contribute to recovery support, independence, and the reduction of caregiving burdens.
Cultivating Next-Generation Manufacturing Talent by Learning from Social Issues
A major feature of this initiative is that robot development and talent cultivation are not treated as separate endeavors.
What is required of future manufacturing talent is not merely the ability to write programs or assemble parts. It is the ability to examine social issues, understand the difficulties faced on the frontlines of medical and nursing care, and deeply think through technologies that support human bodies and movements.
Yabushita Group, in collaboration with Shirayuki and Yukikaze Technology, creates opportunities for young engineers and student creators to engage in medical and nursing care robot development. Touching upon actual challenges, building prototypes, failing, and improving—these experiences, the group believes, will nurture the next generation of manufacturing professionals.
Aiming for Social Implementation of Medical and Nursing Care Robots
A major feature of this initiative is that robot development and talent cultivation are not treated as separate endeavors.
What is required of future manufacturing talent is not merely the ability to write programs or assemble parts. It is the ability to examine social issues, understand the difficulties faced on the frontlines of medical and nursing care, and deeply think through technologies that support human bodies and movements.
Yabushita Group, in collaboration with Shirayuki and Yukikaze Technology, creates opportunities for young engineers and student creators to engage in medical and nursing care robot development. Touching upon actual challenges, building prototypes, failing, and improving—these experiences, the group believes, will nurture the next generation of manufacturing professionals.
Aiming for Social Implementation of Medical and Nursing Care Robots
Yabushita Group is advancing the development of medical and nursing care robots by utilizing the medical expertise of Nihon Medix. The anticipated development areas include robots that support rehabilitation and physical function recovery, robots that assist movements such as walking and standing, and devices that alleviate the physical burden of transfers and caregiving on medical and nursing staff.
Rather than simply creating 'moving robots,' the goal is technology that supports the recovery and independence of patients and users, and aids the work of medical and caregiving professionals. Enhancing value in healthcare and expanding it to society through nursing care—Yabushita Group aims for the social implementation of practical robotic technologies truly utilized on the frontlines.
N6 Shirayuki CREATION GALLERY as a Practical Hub
Robot development requires not only a workspace for storing equipment and parts, prototyping, and verification, but also space for actual operation checks and iterative improvements. Yabushita Group's 'N6 Shirayuki CREATION GALLERY' provides this development environment, aiming to be a hub that supports challenges through the collaboration of student creators, mentors, companies, and the local community.
Within the facility, activities such as 3D printer prototyping, parts processing, assembly, robot operation verification, and outcome presentations can be conducted. Through medical and nursing care robot development, the group is committed to creating an environment where talent from different generations and specialized fields can interact, generating new ideas and technologies.
Yukikaze Technology: Bridging Young Talent Cultivation and New Business Development
Yukikaze Technology is a community centered around junior and senior high school students proactively engaging in robot development under the concept 'From Sapporo to the World.'
Established in Sapporo in 2020, the team currently focuses on activities centered around the international robotics competition 'FIRST® Tech Challenge (FTC).' In addition to building robots, members handle event management, public relations, local visiting lectures, and science club guidance, leading youth-driven initiatives.
Yabushita Group, while supporting these endeavors, will bridge the cultivation of robotics talent in Hokkaido with new business development in the medical and nursing care sectors.
Comment from Tadahiro Mori, President and CEO of Yabushita Holdings Co., Ltd.
'Looking toward 2040, as the population ages, we believe that labor shortages and increased frontline burdens in the medical and nursing fields will become major social issues.
As a manufacturing company, Yabushita Group believes it is crucial to materialize technologies that are genuinely useful in the field.
In this initiative, leveraging the medical sector expertise of our group company Nihon Medix, we will advance the development of robotic technologies starting from medical care and expandable to nursing care.
Our aim is not merely robots that compensate for labor shortages. It is technology that supports human recovery, aids human independence, and creates an environment where medical and caregiving professionals can focus on tasks only humans can perform.
Furthermore, through our collaboration with Shirayuki and Yukikaze Technology, we will create opportunities for young people to engage with actual social issues, think, prototype, fail, and improve.
Based at the "N6 Shirayuki CREATION GALLERY," we will bring together Nihon Medix's expertise in medical devices, Yabushita Group's manufacturing capabilities, and the creative power of young talent to build the future of medical and nursing care robots from Hokkaido.'
Opportunities for Media Coverage and Filming
- Robot creation and prototyping activities at N6 Shirayuki CREATION GALLERY
- Interviews with student members of Yukikaze Technology
- Interview with Yabushita Group CEO Tadahiro Mori
- Medical and nursing care robots utilizing Nihon Medix's expertise
FAQ
Where is the base for Yabushita Group's robot development?
It is located at the 'N6 Shirayuki CREATION GALLERY' in Sapporo, Hokkaido, a practical hub equipped with 3D printers and other tools.
How is Nihon Medix involved in the development?
As a group company, Nihon Medix provides expertise as a medical device manufacturer, supporting the development of safe and practical technology.
What is Yukikaze Technology?
It is a Sapporo-based student robotics team, primarily consisting of junior and senior high school students, active in international robot competitions.