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Patent Secured for “Earrings that Don’t Attach to the Ears”: Interview with Mai Mizuno, CEO of Maiearrings
Maiearrings Co, Ltd. was founded by Mai Mizuno, who was an elementary school student at the time. The catalyst for starting her company was securing a patent for her “earrings that don’t attach to the ears.” Currently, she has also obtained trademark rights and sells them under the name “Maiearring®︎.”
“I was able to notice my own invention because I had people around me who could think about patents and entrepreneurship,” Mizuno shared. This time, we spoke with her about the background of the invention of the Maiearring®︎, her activities at the company, and the thoughts behind her endeavors.
PROFILE
Mai Mizuno
CEO, Maiearrings Co., Ltd.
She obtained the patent for the “Maiearring®” when she was in the fifth grade and founded Maiearrings Co., Ltd. in sixth grade. She is currently in the second year of junior high school and holds and is applying for three types of intellectual property related to Maiearring®: patents, trademarks, and designs. While she handcrafts Maiearring®, she also accepts various orders for collaborations with companies.
Additionally, inspired by her long hospital stay as an infant, she conducts activities to deliver Maiearring® to children in pediatric wards and promotes the “i-IKU” project, which transforms children’s ideas and thoughts into forms of intellectual property for societal contribution.
Gaining Confidence through Recognition from Those Close to Her
Could you share the story behind the birth of Maiearring®︎?
The inspiration came when I admired the earrings my mother wore during kindergarten. However, I couldn’t have piercings, so I tried earrings and ended up with severe ear pain. That’s when I thought, “Then I’ll just make my own.”Since I have always enjoyed crafts, I started making accessories in the second grade, treating it like a project. The key points I had in mind while creating were that it should be “made with things I have” and “easy to wear.” I decided to combine straws, yarn, beads, and hairpins, which were available to me at the time.
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