2026/04/15
The trigger was the employees and their families
"I had planned to attend the SustainaFest with my eldest son and daughter, but my second son, who had been hospitalized for a long time due to illness, has now been discharged. I would like to show him his father's workplace together. The application deadline has passed, but would it be possible for my second son to participate as well?"
Spring 2025. Just before "SustainaFes," an in-house event celebrating sustainability held at ADVICS headquarters, an email arrived from an employee that breathed new life into our sustainability activities. The email was sent by Masayuki Nakano of the Control Unit Technology Department. The SustainaFes secretariat immediately replied, "We'd love for your second son to join us too!" and on the day of the event, his second son also enjoyed a fun time with the family, including a workplace tour and lunch in the cafeteria.
That day, the second son wrote the following message to his father:
"I love Honda cars! I especially love the Civic Type R with its dad's brakes!!"
The Civic Type R is equipped with the "Slim Brake Master Cylinder," for which Mr. Nakano was in charge of developing the reservoir tank. Seeing a product he worked on become something his child loves was a truly joyful and proud moment for both Mr. Nakano and ADVICS.
[Right] Slim brake master cylinder installed in the Civic Type R (the reservoir tank is the white part)
Through the Nakano family, ADVICS learned about the "Aichi Children's Hospice Project," a non-profit organization. Seeing it as an initiative to share the preciousness of living in the present moment with many people, we endorsed their activities supporting children battling illness and their families. We then launched a new social contribution activity called the "Lemonade Stand."
What is a lemonade stand? The feelings behind each bottle.
The lemonade stand initiative originated when an American girl battling cancer began selling lemonade in her backyard and donating the proceeds to research into treatments for childhood cancer.
ADVICS is collaborating with the Aichi Children's Hospice Project, donating a portion of the sales from lemon-flavored bottled beverages and other products. It is estimated that there are approximately 20,000 children in Japan who are in life-threatening conditions. The organization is working towards establishing "children's hospices" where children facing illnesses such as pediatric cancer, cardiovascular disease, and genetic disorders, along with their families, can live their lives to the fullest and share all their emotions, including joy, happiness, and sadness.
Shared ideas within the company create a powerful force.
In July 2025, we held our first lemonade stand at the "HANDA FES" festival at the Handa Plant, and many employees and their families purchased lemon drinks. In August, we held the event at the head office, in October at the Fujioka branch office, and in November at AISIN Ekiden (relay race), with employees participating as volunteers. In February 2026, we held the event at the Sustaina Fest, with employees and university students interested in sustainability activities* participating as volunteers. Customers commented, "I'm happy that I could help even a little by buying the juice," and volunteer members said, "So many people bought our drinks, and I felt the warm connection within the company!"
* ADVICS promotes sustainability activities in collaboration with university environmental clubs.
To date, a total of 1,066 bottles have been sold, and 213,690 yen has been donated to the Aichi Children's Hospice Project by employees and the company (as of the end of February 2026). Megumi Hatanaka, the representative of the organization, sent a message of gratitude, saying, "Thank you very much for holding the support lemonade stand. We are deeply grateful for the warm feelings of the employees and the cooperation of so many people. The photos of the event conveyed the warm atmosphere. We are touched by the large number of purchases and donations."
Nakano's thoughts as shared in the company newsletter
Ms. Nakano, who was the catalyst for the activity, wrote the following in the company newsletter:
"Balancing treatment with 'living this moment together as a family' is very difficult. But now, while my second son is undergoing treatment, I've come to realize that life goes on even in this moment, and that it's okay to live fully, enjoy life, and find joy. I hope this worldview will spread even further. I was so happy and encouraged to be able to connect with people through the company I work for, and to know that so many people shared their thoughts. Even as we experience ups and downs in our daily lives as the treatment progresses, I hope that this connection will spread and grow into a larger circle, while keeping in mind the feeling of 'living fully together.' Thank you so much."
In response to those words, the comment section was flooded with messages of support.
"That's a wonderful initiative. I've contributed in a small way! Let's keep working hard together!"
"I also have children. I want children all over the world, including Ms. Nakano's children, to live happily."
"Mr. Nakano, as a colleague working at the same company, I wholeheartedly support you and your family!"
Let's live life to the fullest, together.
"Living life to the fullest, together." This is the philosophy of the Aichi Children's Hospice Project, and it is a phrase that gently accompanies each of our individual ways of life. Within our limited time, we are supported by joy and hope, sometimes lost, sometimes burdened with sadness, but still we live our precious "now."
At our company, we have employees like Ms. Nakano who are working while facing various challenges, such as their child's illness, caregiving, and childcare. We believe that everyone should be able to live fully in the present at their own pace and work in a way that is true to themselves. To that end, we at ADVICS want to be a place where we support each other with a spirit of mutual understanding and share our feelings.
A lemonade stand is a time to think of someone else, but it's also a time to quietly reflect on your own "present moment."
What we can do with just one drink. Let's live life to the fullest together.
[Article on Sustainability Activities]
Let's make "sustainability" more fun! We're holding a Sustainability Festival!
A judo class at a welfare facility, filled with smiles and cheers.
Passing on kindness at a children's goods giveaway event.
Saving the world with donation-enabled vending machines and eco-friendly bottle caps.
Deepening mutual understanding through fun sign language circles
What we can do for the future of our children: Holding a lecture on employment for people with disabilities.
AISIN Group to plant 14,450 trees on Mount Fuji over 20 years