News of incidents streams in daily.
Among them are cases involving children.
Incidents often occur when a child is alone for a short time, or when eyes are off them for less than a minute.
With summer approaching, incidents of children going missing or getting lost while out on excursions are heartbreaking for any parent, beyond words.
To prevent such tragedies, there are GPS devices for children.
Let's invest in safety. We will introduce recommended GPS devices.
【Get ¥2,000 now for everyone】Child monitoring GPS "soranome"
Child disappearance accidents are not someone else's problem
Number of Missing Young People Since FY2014
| FY2014 | FY2015 | FY2016 | FY2017 | FY2018 | |
| 9 years old and under | 969 | 900 | 1132 | 1198 | 1216 |
| 10s | 17763 | 17071 | 17118 | 16412 | 16418 |
Please see the chart.
Since fiscal year 2014, the number of missing persons under 19 years old has been approximately 20,000 every year.
This is not someone else's problem.
That many sorrows, that many tears have been shed.
Crisis management begins with considering it your own problem.
Case Study: Missing First-Grade Girl
First-grade girl disappearance incident NHK Incident Reporter / Coverage Note
First, please read the article linked above.
Overview
On September 21, 2019, a first-grade girl went missing at the Tsubakiso Auto Campground in Doshi Village, Yamanashi Prefecture.
After dinner, she walked 100 meters to the stream where everyone was playing.
It was a blank of 10 minutes.
Since then, there have been no significant leads.
As a parent, I am speechless.
Even as I write this, my heart aches.
This is off-topic for this page, but if you have any information, please contact here
Yamanashi Prefectural Police Website
Let's give children GPS devices!
To ensure their safety, let's equip our children with GPS devices.
Once your child starts school, their range of activity expands, and the time they are out of sight increases.
If they attend cram schools or lessons, that time increases even more, especially for dual-income households.
Even when busy, let's give our children GPS devices to check their safety.
To avoid future regrets
The incidents and accidents mentioned in the previous section are not someone else's problem.
"I can't believe it happened to my child" will be too late.
Regret comes too late. It's best not to have to use insurance.
For your child's sake, and ultimately for your own peace of mind, equip them with a GPS device.
Recommended GPS device
Introducing soranome, a GPS device for children.
Please choose according to your child's behavior patterns and family circumstances.
Soranome
| Communication Method | Size mm | Weight | Battery life | Battery capacity | Positioning method | Body color | Cover color | Waterproof/Dustproof | Drop resistance | Operating temp/humidity |
| Docomo 4G/LTE | 51×51×15 | 39g | Up to 1 week | 700mAh | GPS | White | Blue-Pink-Yellow-Gray | IP55 | 1.5m | -10~35 degrees/5~95% |
Recommended points
- Docomo's communication network
- Weight 39g
- Battery life up to 1 week
Basic Features
Docomo's Communication Network
The communication method utilizes Docomo's base stations.
My impression is that Docomo has the widest coverage area among the three major carriers (Docomo, AU, SoftBank).
This is inferred from what my friend, a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force member, said: "If land is visible, only Docomo phones get reception."
However, it is still not perfect, and if you are outside the 4G/LTE area, the GPS function will not be able to acquire location information, so caution is required.
Lightweight design that doesn't burden small children
At 39g, the device is light enough not to burden even first-graders, despite the heavy textbooks elementary school students carry these days.
The 5cm square body size is also a welcome feature.
This means it can fit in small hands and even in the corner of an overflowing backpack.
Reduced battery anxiety: 1-week battery life
The battery lasts for one week, reducing the chance of it dying when you need it most.
You might forget to charge it, but you'll receive a notification on your smartphone when the battery drops to 20% or 10% or below, so there's no need to worry.
While it's unpleasant to think about, if a child is ever in danger, having a long-lasting battery is crucial, as it allows for up to a week of tracking.
Other Important Functions
SOS to your smartphone in emergencies
In an emergency, simply press the GPS device button three times or long-press it to send an SOS notification to your parent's smartphone.
Make sure to check how to use it beforehand.
Check travel history for up to 30 days
You can check the travel history for up to 30 days.
Continuous travel history can be displayed in batches of 7 days, making a big difference in initial response in an emergency.
Usage fees and device costs
Usage fees are a concern.
You can choose to pay for the device in a lump sum or in 24 installments.
The total device cost is the same, so choose according to your child's age.
| Usage fees | Monthly basic fee | ¥539 |
| Device cost | Lump sum payment | ¥14,520 |
| Installment payment | ¥605* × 24 installments | |
| Total | (Basic fee + device cost lump sum payment) | ¥15,059 |
| (Basic fee + device cost 24 installments) | ¥1,144 |
Warranty service also available
You may be concerned about the risk of damage or malfunction due to your child's growth.
For such cases, a warranty service is also available (separate ¥220/month, tax included).
Cases not covered by warranty
1. Failures due to incorrect use
2. Repairs, modifications, disassemblies, etc., performed by parties other than our company
3. Failures due to fire, natural disaster, geological change, lightning, abnormal voltage, etc.
4. Failures caused by submersion, drops, mud, sand, etc.
5. Failures or damages when used for purposes other than general household use (e.g., long-term commercial use, installation in vehicles), and failures caused by battery depletion or other consumables
6. Silicon cover included with the product
7. Other cases deemed outside the scope of the warranty regulations
Excerpt from soranome application page
SoftBank Dokokana GPS
We also introduce SoftBank Dokokana GPS, which has similar features.
| Communication method | Size mm | Weight | Battery life | Battery capacity | Positioning method | Waterproof/dustproof | Body color |
| SoftBank 4G/LTE | 47 x 47 x 15.5 | 34g | Approx. 5 days | 397mAh | GPS | IPX7／IP6X | White |
The basic functions are as described above.
While it is smaller and lighter than soranome, its battery life is approximately 5 days.
This seems to be due to its size, but it can be extended somewhat by increasing the detection interval.
It's a concern that it doesn't come with a silicone cover, especially for children who often drop things, but its excellent waterproof and dustproof features mean it's designed to resist damage from sudden rain or dust.
Choose according to your child's behavior patterns.
Summary
I repeat.
It is best not to have to use this product.
However, when you do use it, you'll be truly glad you had it.
In an age where dual-income households are often unavoidable, and incidents targeting children are frequent, there's always a possibility of being involved, regardless of age or gender.
The fundamental principle of crisis management is to consider it as your own problem.
Embrace peace of mind.
【Get ¥2,000 now for everyone】Child monitoring GPS "soranome"
Related articles
