What Abilities. does

Abilities. is a Japanese welfare equipment and integrated care services group operating through two entities: Abilities Care Net Co., Ltd. (アビリティーズ・ケアネット株式会社, the commercial entity) and the NPO Japan Abilities Association (日本アビリティーズ協会, the advocacy entity). Both were founded in 1966 by Hiroyasu Itoh, a disability employment pioneer, with an initial six employees. The group sells, rents, and services welfare and assistive equipment — including transfer lifts (Sasaete portable lift, Maxi Twin floor lift, Multi Lift bathing lift, Easy-Up standing lift), wheelchairs, gait trainers (Rifton Pacer), stair climbers, ramps, and bathing/toilet aids — through 22+ direct sales offices and showrooms plus an online store (my.abilities.jp).

The company monetizes through five revenue streams: hardware sales of welfare equipment (e.g., Sasaete at ¥409,000–¥469,000 per unit), monthly equipment rental (e.g., ¥14,000–¥16,000/month for lifts), a proprietary recurring "regular inspection contract" maintenance program (3,036+ active contracts covering stair elevators, ceiling lifts, and large rehabilitation equipment), directly operated day care / service-attached elderly housing / care management offices reimbursed under Japan's long-term care insurance, and a subscription-based Life Support Program / Welfare-Medical Consultation Room serving ~400,000 member households via group partnerships with insurance companies, Nissan labor union, and AEON. Customer segments span elderly and disabled individuals, elderly care facilities, disability welfare facilities, medical/rehabilitation institutions, and public-sector/municipal clients.

Go-to-market is sales-led with strong event-driven and channel-partner overlays: direct field sales through nationwide offices with showrooms, co-located rental centers, and certified welfare equipment specialists; co-organization of the H.C.R. (International Welfare Equipment Exhibition, 44+ editions); disability awareness seminars and caregiving training for corporates (Nihon View Hotel), universities (Toho University), religious organizations, and government; and a direct e-commerce platform accepting Amazon Pay and Paidy. The group also runs barrier-free architectural design through an in-house first-class architect office, publishes welfare-related books, and conducts legislative advocacy for disability rights.

Name

Abilities.

Legal name

アビリティーズ・ケアネット株式会社

Website

https://abilities.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Abilities. is a Japan-based welfare equipment and integrated care services group founded in 1966 that develops, sells, rents, and maintains assistive devices (lifts, wheelchairs, bathing aids), operates day care and elderly housing, runs a 400,000-household welfare/medical consultation program, and serves elderly and disabled individuals plus care facilities across a nationwide 22+ office network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Welfare Equipment and Care Services

NAICS

Home Health Equipment Rental (532283), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (62331)

SIC

Orthopedic, Prosthetic & Surgical Appliances & Supplies (3842), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Home Health Care Services (8082)

akta.pro primary industry

Mobility Device Sales, Rental & Service (Wheelchairs, Scooters, Walkers) (HSABAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Equipment Installation, Maintenance, Repair & Sanitization Services (HSABAKAJ), Mobility & Transfer Assistance (HSABABAD)

Keywords

• Welfare equipment
• Assistive devices
• Elderly care services
• Barrier-free modification
• Nursing care products

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices25 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Welfare Equipment Sales: Sale of welfare equipment and assistive devices including wheelchairs, transfer lifts, bathing/toilet equipment, rehabilitation machines, daily living aids, and mobility scooters. Products are sold directly through the company's nationwide office network and online shop, as well as through rental and lease arrangements. One-time purchase model for most products.
2. Equipment Rental: Monthly rental of welfare equipment including the Sasaete lift (from ¥14,000/month), wheelchairs, stair elevators, and large rehabilitation equipment. Rental agreements are available with monthly billing. The company has rental centers co-located with offices in multiple cities.
3. Day Care and Elderly Housing Services: Operation of daycare centers (デイサービス), residential care homes, service-attached senior housing (サービス付き高齢者向け住宅), and home care support offices. These care service facilities generate recurring revenue through government long-term care insurance (介護保険) reimbursement and resident fees.
4. Life Support Program / Welfare-Medical Consultation Services: Consultation services for members (individuals and corporate/association members) providing problem-solving medical and welfare advice. Corporate/association group memberships (e.g., with insurance companies, Nissan group labor union, AEON) provide ongoing revenue. Individual membership fees support the consultation room operations.
5. Barrier-Free Design and Housing Modification: One-off services for residential and public facility accessibility modifications, including step eliminators, handrail installation, and door widening. Provided through the company's first-class architect office (一級建築士事務所 バリアフリー設計建築研究所).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Abilities. develops, imports, and sells welfare equipment and nursing care products (wheelchairs, transfer lifts, bathing/toilet equipment, rehabilitation aids) for elderly and disabled persons. The company also provides barrier-free housing and public facility modifications, operates day care centers and elderly residential care facilities, and runs a welfare/medical consultation membership program (Life Support Program). Services are delivered through a nationwide network of 22+ sales offices, showrooms, and rental centers across Japan.

Product overview

Abilities. offers a comprehensive welfare and care product portfolio centered on welfare equipment and nursing care supplies (福祉用具・介護用品), including transfer lifts (ささえ手, マキシツイン, マルチリフト), walking rehabilitation aids (リフトン ペーサー), bathing equipment (リフトン ウェーブ), and mobility solutions. The company provides integrated services spanning barrier-free home modifications ( barrier-free 住宅改修), day care services (デイサービス), residential housing for elderly (有料老人ホーム, サービス付き高齢者向け住宅), welfare/medical consultation (生涯活用プログラム), and professional training programs. These offerings are unified under the Abilities. Group with two main entities: アビリティーズ・ケアネット株式会社 (commercial sales/rental of welfare equipment and care services) and 日本アビリティーズ協会 (NPO conducting advocacy and scholarship programs). The products and services collectively aim to support independence and social participation for elderly and disabled individuals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• アビリティーズ・ケアネット: 株式会社形態の本体企業。福祉用具・介護用品の開発販売、障碍者雇用企業。
• NPO日本アビリティーズ協会
• テクノエイド

Products and services

• Sasaete Portable Transfer Lift (簡易型移乗リフト ささえ手) A manual, non-powered transfer lift using a gas damper mechanism that assists users from seated to semi-standing position without requiring a sling sheet. Designed for toileting and bed-to-wheelchair-to-toilet transfers to prevent caregiver back strain. Available in standard and large caster specifications with a 90kg weight limit.
• Maxi Twin Floor-Based Lift (床走行リフト マキシツイン) Floor-based patient lift for transferring individuals in care facilities, designed for smooth maneuvering and secure lifting operations to reduce caregiver back injuries.
• Bath Lift Multi-Lift (入浴用リフト マルチリフト) Bathing lift designed for safe transfer in and out of bathtubs for elderly and disabled users, addressing fall risks during bathing.
• Standing Lift Easy-Up (スタンディングリフト イージーアップ) Standing lift for assisting users with standing and transfer activities to support partial mobility.
• Sunlift Series Floor Lifts (床走行リフト サンリフトシリーズ) Series of floor-based patient lifts for various care facility transfer needs.
• Rifton Pacer Adjustable Gait Trainer (調節式歩行訓練車 リフトン ペーサー) Adjustable gait trainer for walking rehabilitation, designed to support and guide users during gait training exercises.
• Rifton Adaptive Tricycle (訓練用三輪車 トライサイクル2) Adaptive tricycle for rehabilitation training, designed for children and adults with disabilities to improve cycling ability and physical coordination.
• Bath Chair Unit Rifton Wave (入浴チェアユニット リフトン ウェーブ) Bathing chair unit designed for safe and comfortable bathing assistance with adjustability features.
• Slopes and Step Eliminators (スロープ・段差解消機) Ramps and step eliminators for barrier-free access in homes and public facilities, including portable and fixed solutions.
• Barrier-Free Home Modifications and Facility Accessibility (バリアフリー 住宅改修・施設整備) Service for residential and public facility accessibility modifications, including installing handrails, ramps, step eliminators, and bathroom modifications. Delivered through the company's first-class architect office (Barrier-Free Design Architecture Research Institute).
• Day Service and Home Care Support (デイサービス・居宅介護支援) Day service and home care support services enabling elderly and disabled individuals to continue living in their familiar communities, including directly operated day care centers and care management offices across Japan.
• Fee-Based Nursing Home Kimamama-kan (有料老人ホーム 気まま館) Fee-based nursing home providing residential care for elderly individuals requiring long-term care services.
• Service-Supported Elderly Housing Abilities Court Fuchu (サービス付き高齢者向け住宅 アビリティーズコート府中) Service-supported housing for elderly residents combining independent living units with access to care services and welfare equipment support.
• Life Support Program / Welfare-Medical Consultation (生活活用プログラム／福祉・医療相談室) Problem-solving consultation service staffed by health nurses and social workers, providing ongoing support until resolution and connecting members with medical institutions and welfare facilities nationwide. Available through individual and group (corporate/association) memberships.
• Welfare Equipment Rental Service (福祉用具レンタルサービス) Short- and long-term rental of welfare equipment including transfer lifts, stair elevators, rehabilitation equipment, and mobility aids, with delivery, setup, and maintenance included. Rental centers co-located with sales offices across Japan.
• Regular Inspection Contract System (定期点検契約制度) Scheduled preventive maintenance service covering stair elevators, special bath lifts, ceiling-mounted lifts, and large rehabilitation equipment, with optional 5-8 year comprehensive service packages. Conducted by technicians via regular visits rather than reactive repairs only.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,036 regular inspection contracts active as of the article date, demonstrating long-term customer retention and recurring service revenue.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and major.

• Kunitachi City, Tokyo (国立市)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2023Kunitachi City (Tokyo) signed an emergency welfare supply agreement (災害時における介護用品等の供給に関する協定書) with Abilities, establishing a framework for Abilities to supply welfare equipment and care products during disasters.
• T Non-Life Insurance Company (T損害保険会社)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1990T Non-Life Insurance Company collaborated with Abilities in 1990 to offer the Life Support Program to their long-term care insurance policyholders. This partnership expanded to include 5 additional insurance companies, whose policyholders could access Abilities' consultation services through the Life Support Program. This was a key channel for reaching 400,000 member households.
• Nissan Labor Union (日产労連)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1990Nissan group labor union joined the Life Support Program as a group member, adding approximately 240,000 union member households to the program — a significant expansion that contributed to reaching the 400,000 member household milestone.
• AEON Good Life Club (イオンのグッドライフクラブ)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1990AEON's Good Life Club joined the Life Support Program, adding another large group of members to the Abilities consultation and welfare services ecosystem.
• AEON (formerly Jasco Co., Ltd.) (イオン・エーオン（元ジャスコ）)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 1980Abilities and AEON (then Jasco) established a joint venture company, Abilities Jasco Co., Ltd., in December 1980 to create Japan's first重度 disability employment model retail store. The first store, Book Center Scrum, opened in Sendai in April 1983 with 10 severely disabled workers. AEON became the third largest shareholder of Japan Abilities. This is a flagship partnership that created a new model for disability employment in Japan's retail industry.
• Japan National Council of Social Welfare (全国社会福祉協議会)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Japan National Council of Social Welfare (全社協) provided 50 parking spaces for Abilities' first rehabilitation welfare equipment exhibition in 1974, and later became the official organizer of subsequent editions of the exhibition, which evolved into the H.C.R. (International Welfare Equipment Exhibition). This was a foundational partnership for the Japanese welfare equipment industry.
• Oxford University (オックスフォード大学)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough the Abilities Scholarship Program, Abilities supports severely disabled Japanese students to study at Oxford University. The university agreed to accept disabled students on equal terms with non-disabled students, providing necessary accessibility accommodations. This is a prestigious educational partnership representing Abilities' highest-level international collaboration.
• Japanese Physical Therapy Association (公益社団法人日本理学療法士協会)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAbilities and the JPTA conducted a public dialogue/interview (published in JPTA NEWS) on rehabilitation and disability rights, marking the 50th anniversary of the JPTA. This collaboration focuses on rehabilitation philosophy and disability rights awareness, contributing to professional community building.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Arjo AB: Swedish global provider of medical equipment and solutions for elderly and disabled care, including patient lifts, beds, and hygiene equipment. Regional player because the product focus overlaps with Abilities' transfer lifts and care equipment, but Arjo operates primarily in Europe and North America rather than Japan.
• Ottobock: German global leader in prosthetics, orthotics, and mobility solutions including wheelchairs and walking aids. Regional player because the product focus on mobility and assistive devices overlaps with Abilities' mobility equipment offerings, but Ottobock operates internationally rather than focused on Japan.
• Invacare Corporation: US manufacturer and distributor of mobility and homecare medical equipment including wheelchairs, scooters, and patient lifts. Regional player because the product portfolio (manual wheelchairs, power wheelchairs, transfer equipment) directly overlaps with Abilities' mobility and transfer equipment offerings, but Invacare operates primarily in North America.

Direct peers

• Nichii Gakkan Company: Japan's largest comprehensive care service provider offering in-home care, day care, residential care, and welfare equipment. Direct peer because they serve elderly and disabled customers with integrated care and equipment services that overlap with Abilities' Life Support Program, day care centers, and welfare equipment offerings.
• France Bed Holdings: Japanese manufacturer of beds and welfare equipment with full-service care offerings including rentals and care homes. Direct peer because of a similar product portfolio (beds, welfare equipment) and an integrated care service model that overlaps with Abilities' day care, elderly housing, and equipment rental businesses.
• Paramount Bed Holdings: Japanese leading manufacturer of medical beds, welfare equipment, and care facility furnishings serving hospitals, nursing homes, and home care. Direct peer because both companies sell welfare/mobility equipment and care products to overlapping B2B and B2C customers in Japan, with overlapping product categories including beds, transfer/lifting equipment, and care facility furnishings.
• Sompo Care (SOMPO Holdings subsidiary): Major Japanese elderly care service provider operating nursing homes, day services, and home care under SOMPO Holdings. Direct peer because they share the elderly care service segment with Abilities, including residential care homes, day services, and home care support offices across Japan.
• Benesse Style Care: Japanese elderly housing and care services company with multiple brands (Bon Séjour, Cocofump, etc.) operating service-attached senior housing. Direct peer because they offer similar service-attached senior housing and care services that overlap with Abilities' Abilities Court Fuchu and other residential care offerings.

Broad incumbents

• LIXIL Corporation: Major Japanese building materials and housing company with barrier-free renovation services and accessibility products (including the LIXIL Welfare series). Broad incumbent because barrier-free renovation overlaps with Abilities' barrier-free design services, but it is part of a much wider housing materials portfolio.
• TOTO Ltd. Major Japanese manufacturer of bathroom fixtures with a barrier-free product line including accessible toilets, support bars, and bathing equipment. Broad incumbent because while they have accessibility products that overlap with Abilities' bathing/toilet equipment, bathroom fixtures represent only a segment of TOTO's much broader product portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/abilitiesjp5
• Facebookfacebook.com/abilitiesjp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Abilities.