CIO to launch first Japan-built charger on Kickstarter Nov. 5

Osaka-based CIO is bringing charger production to Japan for the first time with NovaPort III, a 65W USB-C charger set to launch on Kickstarter on Nov. 5. The move marks a new manufacturing step for the company as it tries to prove Japan-made charging gear can compete on performance and price.

Why it matters: - CIO is moving part of charger production to Japan for the first time, a shift that could reshape how the Osaka-based brand defines domestic manufacturing. - NovaPort III is meant to show that a Japan-made charger has to win on performance and price, not just origin. - The project also signals a longer-term effort to build stable domestic production instead of treating Japan-made output as a one-off label.

What happened: - CIO said NovaPort III, its first charger built in Japan, will launch on Kickstarter on Nov. 5. - A pre-launch Kickstarter page is live now, and backers can sign up for launch notifications. - CIO founded in 2017 and spent its first decade designing chargers and power banks in house while using outside manufacturing partners. - The company reached its 10th anniversary this year and used that milestone to start production in Japan.

The details: - CIO President Nakahashi said the company wanted to create its own meaning of making a product in Japan, not rely on the label alone. - CIO consulted about 30 domestic manufacturers before finding a factory partner. - Asahi Electronics, which has made products in Fukushima Prefecture for more than 40 years, agreed to manufacture the charger. - Asahi Electronics president Sugano warned that being made in Japan alone does not make a product worth buying. - NovaPort III had to compete on performance and price first. - CIO first showed the charger design to technical advisor Ichiken, who asked whether it contained any Japanese parts. - The first version contained no Japanese parts. - CIO set product requirements first, then searched for Japanese components that could meet standards for size, heat, safety, and supply. - KOA, a resistor maker in Nagano Prefecture, became one of the suppliers. - The share of Japanese parts is still increasing as more components are qualified. - In this first phase, component procurement and circuit board assembly remain in China. - Firmware flashing, screen installation, final assembly, power-on testing, aging tests at maximum load, packaging, and shipping take place in Japan. - CIO said it moved the later stages to Japan first because those steps offer the clearest quality control and accountability. - NovaPort III is a 65W charger with two USB-C ports and four selectable charging modes. - Pledge levels, early-bird pricing, and full specifications will be announced when the campaign opens. - Sign-ups are open now on Kickstarter.

Between the lines: - CIO is not claiming a fully domestic supply chain yet; the company is presenting NovaPort III as a phased manufacturing shift. - The mix of China-based component work and Japan-based finishing shows CIO is prioritizing the most visible quality-control steps first. - The company’s message suggests the real test is whether Japan-based production can scale without losing consistency or raising costs too much. - CIO has spent years building credibility as a Japanese charging brand, including three consecutive Good Design Awards from 2022 through 2024.

What's next: - The Kickstarter campaign opens Nov. 5. - CIO will publish pledge tiers, early-bird pricing, and full product specifications at launch. - The company will need to prove it can maintain domestic production through repeat orders and continued manufacturing runs. - NovaPort III is positioned as a first step in a broader Japan production strategy, not the endpoint.