Kyocera, Lion unveiled Possi, a music-playing toothbrush for children through Sony’s startup initiative

Japanese multinational electronics manufacturer Kyocera and Lion Corporation today unveiled “Possi,” a next-generation musical toothbrush designed to help parents by making children’s final tooth brushing more fun and enjoyable. The joint development project was developed as part of Sony Startup Acceleration Program (SSAP) and the companies will begin raising funds towards commercialization in Japan on July 3, 2019 through “First Flight,” Sony’s crowdfunding and e-commerce website (Japanese).

Launched in April 2014, the Sony Startup Acceleration Program collects ideas that are beyond existing business categories and develop them for commercialization. Sony seeks to launch new businesses and achieve innovative breakthroughs by leveraging collaboration involving technologies and talents that cut across the boundaries of existing specialties, and by accelerating the establishment of tie-ups with joint venture companies that are active in complementary fields.

Possi is equipped with Kyocera’s piezoelectric ceramic material which can turn electric signals into sound through vibration. Possi was developed based on the concept of “making tooth brushing enjoyable for children,” in order to assist those parents experiencing resistance from their children while brushing their teeth. By utilizing Kyocera’s proprietary ceramic piezoelectric element inside the head of the toothbrush, it turns electric signals into vibrations to transmit music directly to the user without the use of external speakers, so only the child can hear the music*.

Kyocera joined the SSAP in 2018 to focus on creating new businesses and innovative products and this marks the first inter-company project with a private office for external business set up inside Sony’s HQ building. Through the SSAP, Sony provides systematic know-how and expertise necessary for accelerating the path to market for new products.

As part of this new product collaboration to develop the Possi musical toothbrush, Kyocera has brought its advanced ceramic technology while Lion offers its know-how in oral care product development cultivated over 120 years of operations in Japan and other Asian countries and regions. In addition to its functionality, Possi has a playful design thanks to support from the Creative Center at Sony and a custom musical theme.

Through this collaboration, both companies aim to make children enjoy brushing time with their parents by using the Possi musical toothbrush, and to propose a new lifestyle solution through the practical application of each company’s respective area of technological expertise.