Run-Down on Olympic Torchbearers: Yuki Jyojima Emphasizes Aiding the Needy, Stating, "Doing Something for Those in Need is Sufficient"
In a surprising twist from his day-to-day role at Toyota, career-track engineer Yuki Jyojima has embarked on an extraordinary project - creating an electric prosthetic hand. This venture, inspired by a desire to learn real monozukuri (manufacturing) and provide added value, has taken Jyojima on a journey outside of the workplace and into the realm of assistive technology.
Jyojima joined Toyota in 2008, initially assigned to the department related to hybrid vehicle design. His initial motivation was his admiration for monozukuri, a respect he inherited from his father, a carpenter who taught him the value of building things from scratch.
In his role at Toyota, Jyojima has consistently been involved in the development of vehicle powertrain technology, collaborating with suppliers to develop parts for the powertrain, checking their functionality, and considering the whole product (the car) and its usage by customers.
The catalyst for Jyojima's prosthetic hand project was a chance encounter with artist and engineer Goro Oogaki, who had lost four fingers in an accident and expressed a desire for a prosthetic hand that was not suitable for any existing ones. Moved by Oogaki's predicament, Jyojima decided to work on a project involving an electric prosthesis, something he had never come in contact with before.
After a year of dedicated work, Jyojima completed the prosthetic hand in December 2019. He expressed gratitude to his family for supporting him during the creation of the prosthetic hand and showed the completed device to his supervisor, who advised him to make the project more widely known.
In line with this advice, Jyojima prepared a manual for the type of prosthesis he created and plans to release it during the Olympic torch relay. This manual will be used to help establish a scheme for independent prosthetic hand-making. Furthermore, Jyojima plans to create an English version of the manual to respond to requests for help from overseas.
As an added endeavour, Jyojima's goal is to expand prosthetic hand manufacturing activities by attracting as many engineers as possible. He sees this as an opportunity to spread word about the project and potentially help more people like Oogaki.
In addition to his work on the prosthetic hand, Jyojima remains committed to his role at Toyota, where he continues to contribute to the development of powertrain technology. His selection as an Olympic torchbearer offers him another platform to spread word about the prosthetic hand project, as he sees it as an opportunity to inspire and make a difference.
