Electrical machinery companies are seeking to increase sales of light-emitting diode (LED) lights distinguished by their health effects and comfort for users.
While LED lights have become popular, the market for such devices is expected to peak in 2020. Manufacturers are thus aiming to revitalize the market by improving the quality of light.
Balmuda Inc. plans to start selling its Balmuda the Light desk lamp later this month. The device utilizes technology to simulate natural sunlight and is geared toward children, protecting their eyes by reducing emission of damaging blue light.
Dyson KK released an LED desk lamp on Oct. 3 that automatically detects ambient light levels from morning until night, and adjusts the brightness accordingly.
By linking the lights to a smartphone app, the product provides optimal brightness based on the time of day, date and positioning information.
LED lighting has grown in popularity since the beginning of the 2010s.
LED light comes from semiconductors that emit light when an electric current passes through. The technology consumes less electricity compared to ordinary incandescent lights, and LED lights are said to have a longer lifespan of about 10 years.
The Great East Japan Earthquake prompted a greater urgency to conserve power, one of the main reasons behind the growth in LED light sales.
The cost of an LED bulb, which is equivalent to 60 watts, has fallen by about two-thirds compared to 5 years ago to less than 1,000 yen.
The government has set a goal of replacing all lighting devices with high-efficiency next-generation lighting, including LED lamps, by 2020 as part of its energy conservation efforts.
According to the Japan Lighting Manufacturers Association, 29 firms said shipments of LED lights accounted for more than 90 percent of all light shipments in July.
However, the market for LED lighting is unlikely to grow further as they have become widely used at homes amid a decline in prices. Their extended lifespan has also lengthened the replacement cycle.
At the same time, LED lights remain relatively uncommon at shops and offices.
According to market research firm Fuji Keizai Co., only about 20 percent of shops and 10 percent of offices and buildings used LED lights in 2017.
LED lights remain relatively expensive compared to incandescent and fluorescent lighting, which is thought to hamper their broader growth in popularity.
Some electrical companies have accelerated efforts to boost demand among corporate offices. In September, Mitsubishi Electric Corp. developed LED technology that provides indoor lighting that mimics light as seen under a blue sky.
To replicate the physical mechanism through which sunlight is scattered in the atmosphere, giving the sky its blue color, LED light is emitted through a semi-translucent panel in the device that similarly scatters light.
Mitsubishi Electric expects substantial demand from underground shopping complexes and offices with no windows.
"After energy-saving capability, comfort will be the next point of competition among firms," a Mitsubishi Electric official said.
Masaru Ishii, a researcher at Fuji Keizai Co., said LED lights have become widely used as a daily commodity, and the price has dropped over the past 10 years.
"We've reached a turning point in terms of expanding demand by emphasizing design and special health-related functions [of products]," Ishii said.
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