Episode Details

This details the decade-long journey of Kochi Ekimae Kanko to revolutionize long-distance travel by developing Japan's first full-flat overnight bus. To overcome the financial challenge of reduced seating capacity, the company utilized vertical cabin space to create a unique two-tier bunk system that maintains high passenger volume.

It highlights how the developers challenged the industry assumption that lie-flat seats were illegal by working directly with regulators to establish new safety guidelines. Beyond technical innovation, the narrative serves as a business lesson on identifying customer needs, prototyping early, and demonstrating tenacious problem-solving in the face of rejection.

The successful 2025 launch of the "FLATON" service proves that questioning conventional constraints can lead to significant breakthroughs in comfort and utility.