[Interview] Daily maintenance changes the way your car runs Former Olympian Makoto Iijima × "PANP" Kazutaka Akiyoshi

Just adjust the air pressure and you'll have a lighter pedal and a safer ride.
Former Olympian Makoto Iijima and PANP's Kazutaka Akiyoshi talk about the true importance of tires and air pressure, and maintenance techniques that anyone can follow.

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    Former Olympia athlete Makoto Iijima

    Bridgestone Cycle Co., Ltd.

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    PANP Kazutaka Akiyoshi

    TradeFKJapan Co., Ltd.

Please give us a brief profile of both of you.

Iijima

Iijima

I competed in track cycling at three Olympic Games: Sydney, Athens, and Beijing. After retiring, I am now in charge of brand promotion at Bridgestone Cycle and also serves as an official commentator for Tour de Kyushu 2025.

Akiyoshi

I am the representative of TradeFKJapan Co., Ltd., which is headquartered in Hakata, Fukuoka. In addition to planning, manufacturing, and selling the electric tire pump "PANP," we are also working with the Fukuoka Tourism Federation to promote cycle tourism.

Please tell us how you two met.

Iijima

Iijima

The Asakura Cycle Festival is held every year in Asakura, Fukuoka .

Akiyoshi

We participated as tire maintenance supporters for the participants, and it all started when Mr. Iijima stopped by our booth.

The importance of tires and tire pressure

Are tires really that important?

Iijima

Of course. Tires are the only part of the bike that comes into contact with the ground, and they are directly linked to safety and performance. For example, on road bikes, the air pressure is carefully adjusted depending on the tire diameter and the weather. Proper adjustment leads to a sense of security and a stable ride.

Akiyoshi

Tires are the heart of safety, comfort, and efficiency. Low tire pressure increases the risk of falling or getting a flat tire, while too high pressure reduces grip and impairs stability. The most common car trouble is a flat tire caused by insufficient tire pressure. Furthermore , JAF's actual vehicle testing found that a 30% decrease in tire pressure from the correct level can result in a 4.6% decrease in fuel efficiency . Tire pressure management has a major impact on both safety and economy.

The importance of maintenance and the potential of "PANP"

Daily maintenance can be a hassle and tends to be put off, but why is it so important?

Iijima

Even professionals are careful when adjusting air pressure. It can be extremely dangerous if the bike becomes unstable when leaning into a corner, so we provide feedback to our engineers during test runs, even on aspects that cannot be quantified, such as the "feeling of the bike turning inwards" and "lack of bite."

Akiyoshi

We developed "PANP" to make such delicate adjustments easy for anyone . You can check the numerical value and automatically inflate to the correct air pressure with the push of a button.
With the sole desire to provide peace of mind and safety to as many people as possible, we have developed an electric air pump that anyone can use easily.

Iijima

I use it myself and it's really convenient. It's a great help for road bike users like me, and I recommend it to housewives as it's easy to use too.

Contributing to the community and raising safety awareness

Iijima-san, you are actively involved in safety awareness campaigns. What exactly do you do?

Iijima

We collaborate and cooperate with companies, local governments, and educational institutions to conduct traffic safety awareness activities with the aim of resolving different bicycle-related issues at each life stage, from preschoolers to elementary, junior high, and high school students, all the way to the elderly.
Through these activities, I hope to reduce even one accident and make cycling safer and more enjoyable.

Akiyoshi

In the future, we would like to work with the police and local governments to develop road safety campaigns.
I would love to work with Mr. Iijima.

Iijima

Let's do it.

Thoughts on Tour de Kyushu 2025

Finally, please tell us about the Tour de Kyushu, which you will be commentating on.

Iijima

This is an international event with a course covering five Kyushu prefectures.
The course will be the same roads you normally use, allowing you to experience the races of world-famous runners up close.
There will also be events held near the venue on the day of the race that the whole family can enjoy , so please come and join us.

Akiyoshi

We would also like to be involved from a maintenance perspective and further spread the bicycle culture .

Thank you for joining us today. Your talks have made me realize once again the importance of daily maintenance and the joy of cycling.

Iijima

Thank you very much. I hope you will start by checking your tire pressure and enjoy your bike even more.

Akiyoshi

I would be happy if "PANP" could be the first step in that direction. Thank you for today.

BridgeStone | Social Contribution Activities in Japan
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