Maxell Frontier

Across Japan, crop damage caused by wild animals has become an increasingly serious nationwide issue. In recent years, incidents involving bears harming people have also risen, making wildlife management not only an agricultural concern but also a public safety issue. 

Trapping is one of the primary countermeasures, but it requires frequent patrols and inspections. This has become difficult due to: 

• A declining and aging hunter population 

• Large, often remote areas that must be monitored 

• Labor-intensive, daily trap checks 

As a result, local governments are seeking IoT-based solutions that can automate monitoring, reduce manual work, and allow more traps to be deployed with limited resources. However, ongoing communication costs have often slowed adoption, especially in public-sector projects where budgets are tight. 

Background 

Maxell Frontier Co., Ltd. is a Japanese technology company that provides integrated services from development and design to manufacturing and inspection of electronic and precision devices. The company develops solutions that address real-world challenges in industrial and public-sector environments. 

The Challenge 

Local governments in Japan often purchase trapping devices and distribute them to hunters as part of wildlife damage prevention programs. While the first year of deployment is typically supported by national subsidies, communication fees from the second year onward must be covered by the local governments themselves. 

1NCE Solution 

Maxell Frontier developed Matagikko, an IoT-enabled trap monitoring system designed to improve efficiency and safety in wildlife control. 

The system: 

• Detects trap activations automatically 

• Sends real-time email notifications to hunters 

• Optimizes trap patrol efficiency 

• Enables more traps to be deployed with the same workforce 

Matagikko uses 1NCE with industrial IoT SIM chips to provide reliable, long-term data delivery. 

A key advantage of the 1NCE solution is its lifetime model, which eliminates recurring communication fees. This removes one of the main financial barriers for local governments and enables sustainable, long-term IoT deployments. 

Results

• Significant reduction in communication costs 

• Trap patrol time reduced to approximately one-third 

  • Before: Daily patrols 

  • After: Once every three days 

• Improved scheduling through real-time alerts 

• Reduced labor burden for hunters and local staff