Panasonic Connect Contributing to Introduction of Train Station Facial Recognition Gates for "SAKULaLa" Service

November 13, 2025

Panasonic Connect Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Yasu Higuchi) has contributed to the introduction of facial recognition ticket gates for "SAKULaLa," a biometric authentication service jointly promoted by Tobu Railway Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Sumida-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, President: Yutaka Tsuzuki) and Hitachi, Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, President & CEO: Toshiaki Tokunaga). By enabling a comfortable passage experience through gates using facial recognition, it contributes to the "SAKULaLa" vision of "a society where everyone can live hands-free with peace of mind and comfort".

1. About Facial Recognition Ticket Gate Usage (Commencing November 13)

Starting today, facial recognition based gate passage is available on the Tobu Utsunomiya Line (12 stations between Tobu Utsunomiya Station and Tochigi Station). This utilizes technology combining Hitachi's patented Public Biometric Infrastructure (PBI) and Panasonic Connect's facial recognition. Passengers can board hands-free by authenticating via a standalone tablet installed at the automatic ticket gate.

2. Introduction of Camera-Integrated Facial Recognition Ticket Gates (Spring 2026 or later)

Panasonic Connect will collaborate with Omron Social Solutions Co., Ltd., Nippon Signal Co., Ltd., and Toshiba Corporation to integrate its facial recognition technology with their respective automatic ticket gates. This will enable the development of camera-integrated facial recognition ticket gates, facilitating smoother passage. Facial recognition ticket gates developed in collaboration with each automatic ticket gate manufacturers, are scheduled for sequential introduction starting in spring 2026.

Panasonic Connect, with world-leading facial recognition technology*, has contributed to multiple proof-of-concept trials and actual deployments of facial recognition ticket gates in Japan. Furthermore, with approximately 45 years of history and proven results since starting to provide solutions for railways in the 1980s, the company has continuously supported the railway industry — a vital social infrastructure — by providing security systems utilizing sensing technology, automated railway announcement systems, and payment terminals compatible with transportation IC cards.

Moving forward, Panasonic Connect will continue to pursue co-creation activities with various customers and related companies, aiming to enhance the convenience of public transportation and develop active areas.

*Ranked No. 1 globally in the NIST FRTE 1:1 evaluation results published on November 6, 2022, for Mugshot (front-facing facial data including racial and aging variations. False Acceptance Rate of 1 in 100,000). Furthermore, in the NIST FRTE 1:N evaluation results (search accuracy) released on March 26, 2024, it achieved the world's top rank in two evaluation categories: Mugshot (front-facing face data including aging changes. 1.6 million registered individuals) and Border (face data including changes in facial orientation and image quality degradation. 1.6 million registered individuals).
 

About the Companies
・Tobu Railway Co., Ltd.
https://www.tobu.co.jp/en/
・Hitachi, Ltd.
https://www.hitachi.com/ja-jp/
・Omron Social Solutions Corporation
https://socialsolution.omron.com/jp/ja/
・Nippon Signal Co., Ltd.
https://english.signal.co.jp/
・Toshiba Corporation
https://www.global.toshiba/ww/top.html

About Panasonic Connect's Facial Recognition Technology

Panasonic Connect's facial recognition technology combines image enhancement techniques honed over 40 years of camera image processing and deep learning technology that learns facial features. This combination earned it the top global ranking in the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) facial recognition benchmark test (NIST FRVT 1:1). It remains highly effective regardless of facial orientation, aging, glasses, or factors like glasses and masks, ensuring comfortable use. We have deployed systems utilizing facial recognition technology for applications such as strict yet smooth identity verification at airports, ticketless entry at amusement parks, cashless payments at stores, and IC cardless access control in offices. These systems have performed over 2.2 million unique facial recognitions per day (according to Panasonic Connect). Moving forward, we will continue to pursue the world’s highest standard in facial recognition technology and ease of use at authentication sites. By integrating this with user experience design, achieved through repeated proof-of-concept trials with customer’s site, we will contribute to making various authentication sites safer, more secure, and more efficient.
 
Panasonic Connect's Facial Recognition Solutions
https://connect.panasonic.com/en/about/who-we-are/public