Chapter 201
The coronavirus pandemic that spread from Wuhan in December 2019 has subsided, and it looks like we will be able to have a calm end to the year for the first time in four years. In particular, I want all medical workers to take their time. Although sales of our LEDPURER series, including air purifiers, are not as strong as they were during the pandemic, they are still showing solid sales. The reason is that they are often used in medical facilities, so there is repeat demand for preventive measures. However, the National Institute of Infectious Diseases is urging caution as cases of influenza, mycoplasma pneumonia, rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, and adenovirus respiratory infections are increasing in Beijing and Liaoning Province, China. (As of November 24th) As temperatures drop from now on into winter, there are concerns about infections from overseas tourists. Also, with the year-end party season in full swing, there is a possibility that the infection will spread explosively due to increased contact opportunities. The germicidal lighting that we developed in the latter half of the coronavirus pandemic is not well known, partly because there were no promotion opportunities, but it has excellent features that air purifiers do not have in terms of infection prevention effects. As we have already introduced, the virus inactivation effect of deep ultraviolet LEDs with a wavelength of 275 nm（UVC LED） is higher than that of the 254 nm germicidal radiation of conventional mercury lamps or the 222 nm of excimer lamps, which are said to be gentle on the human body (Journal of the Institute of Illuminating, Vol. 107 2023), the great thing about this product is its safety. Unlike mercury lamps, UVC LEDs can be turned on and off instantly, making them compatible with motion sensors. What's more, you can change the lighting time by setting the timer, so you can change the conditions according to the usage environment. It is designed with the assumption that it will not irradiate people, so if it is installed on the ceiling of a medical institution or restaurant, it will turn off when customers are visiting, and turn on when no one is present or at night. The premise is to irradiate viruses, but in restaurants, it can also be expected to be effective in preventing hygiene problems and food poisoning such as O157 and E. coli. Also, if installed in the toilet, it will be a countermeasure against norovirus. In addition, if the government actively supports the installation of germicidal lighting at overseas entrances such as airports and ports, the effects will be enormous. It is also possible to promote measures to prevent infection. The fact that I have been unable to appeal to the country about the existence of such excellent products is entirely my fault, but the reason why I have difficulty getting along with politicians is because of the politics that have been making headlines in the media lately. You can understand this by looking at the donation issue. The reason why the issue of politics and money is frequently brought up is not simply a question of the character of politicians, but is largely due to difficult-to-understand institutional circumstances. In the previous chapter, I pointed out Japan's backward system, and the political donation system is perhaps the most obvious example. In Japan, unlike in the United States, politicians cannot openly receive support and influence industries in their favor as if they were representatives of a particular company or industry. However, it is hard to imagine that purchasing party tickets is a volunteer idea, and it is clear that people are expecting something in return. The reason why Japanese people are difficult to understand from other countries is because of their true intentions and public attitudes, but the fact that there are true intentions and public attitudes even in social systems and institutions is what is driving Japan's internationalization. If the government can pass a bill to install UVC LED sterilizing lighting in the spare time of fruitless parliamentary debates, they might regain his political popularity.
How UVC-LED germicidal lighting is turned on
December 5, 2023
As we approach the end of the year after the end of the coronavirus pandemic
