Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Otsuka) has been selected by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry as a second-phase member company for the Orange Innovation Project, a promotion project by the ministry for the advanced development of the healthcare industry infrastructure. Through participation in the Orange Innovation Project, Otsuka will expand our efforts to develop and provide products and services that support people with dementia.

The initial foundation for Otsuka's engagement in the Orange Innovation Project is our collaboration with Jolly Good Inc. in which the two companies have piloted the introduction of the FACEDUO Dementia Care Support VR training program from September 10 this year. A central and unique feature of the FACEDUO care Support VR is that it incorporates the perspectives of people with dementia, as well as the perspectives of family members and care staff. This feedback loop to FACEDUO and other support tools enables people with dementia and their caregivers to lead less stressful lives.

The Orange Innovation Project aims to realize a "coexistence" society where people with dementia can continue to live as themselves even after being diagnosed with the condition. The project promotes initiatives aimed at the popularization of participant-led development, which involves people with dementia actively engaging with society, including with companies seeking to develop products and services that capture the true needs of those with dementia. It also aims to create a sustainable coexistence society.

FACEDUO Dementia Care Support VR is an experiential VR training program, supervised by a specialist, designed for caregivers, including family members and care staff of people with dementia, to learn about specific responses when providing care. Through experiencing their own usual responses and actions from the perspective of a person with dementia via VR, caregivers can understand the background and feelings behind the behaviors of the person with dementia, and learn how to modify their approach. This program aims to improve dementia care, enable people with dementia to continue living as themselves, and reduce caregiver stress.

As a selected member of the Orange Innovation Project, Otsuka exhibited FACEDUO Dementia Care Support VR at an exposition held at a commercial facility in Tokyo in September. Moving forward, we will continue to participate in the initiatives of the project and promote the development of services and products that support both people with dementia and their caregivers. Through these efforts, we will continue to advance towards the realization of a "coexistent society."