#Japan #NTT DOCOMO #Mito #d払い #Cashless School

Introduction to the d-Payment Cashless School Festival Package

In a groundbreaking move, NTT Docomo is set to launch its "d-Payment Cashless School Festival Package" for the first time ever in Japan starting May 2025. The first application of this package will take place at Mito Keimei High School in Ibaraki Prefecture on September 19-20, 2025. This innovative initiative aims to transition traditional cash-based school festivals towards a more efficient and secure cashless environment.

What is the d-Payment Cashless School Festival?

This exciting package introduces the cashless payment service "d-Payment" to school festivals, where cash transactions dominate. The initiative ensures smooth transactions, reduces the challenges of cash management, and enhances the overall safety of festival operations. Benefits of integrating this package include:

• - Initial training sessions for students to learn essential knowledge regarding d-Payment usage.
• - Campaign planning and execution targeting local shops around the school festival, encouraging widespread adoption of d-Payment.
• - Tools that allow real-time tracking of sales per booth, streamlining revenue monitoring.

With financial education now compulsory in secondary schools since 2022, Docomo is also offering various educational opportunities beyond festival management. These include special programs aimed at increasing students' financial literacy, experience in marketing research, data analysis, and sales collaboration through the cashless school festival.

For those in the Kanto region, you can find further resources and details on special programs at the following links:

• - Kanto Region
• - Other Regions

A Report on Mito Keimei High School's Cashless Festival

Before the festival, a comprehensive workshop was held for all students, covering the fundamental aspects of d-Payment. Additionally, campaigns were organized to promote d-Payment usage in nearby shops, enhancing community involvement. On the day of the festival, attendees enjoyed a virtual reality (VR) experience showcasing the Osaka-Kansai Expo, along with a live performance by artist Kokona, adding further excitement to the event.

The school established an initial setup booth for addressing any questions about d-Payment configurations and troubleshooting payment issues, ensuring smooth operations throughout the festival. Moreover, Docomo staff were present to facilitate a seamless experience for all attendees.

Feedback from visitors and students was overwhelmingly positive. Many appreciated the speed and convenience of transactions with d-Payment, noting that it eliminated discrepancies in cash handling and enabled them to earn rewards points, making it a smarter choice than cash.

Kazuhiro Kuramada, the student council advisor at Mito Keimei High School, commented on the successful integration of cashless payments:

“We were aware that cashless transactions at school festivals have been gaining traction across the nation. After receiving proposals from multiple companies for cashless solutions, we decided on d-Payment due to their comprehensive event planning that included VR experiences and live performances. We felt this partnership could bring mutual benefits. This collaboration allowed us to initiate a significant event, and the unwavering support from Docomo through regular meetings and communication has played a pivotal role in our success.”

Kuramada also expressed immense pride in the successful live performance by Kokona, describing the overwhelming emotions felt during the finale as a testament to the hard work invested by all involved.

Looking Ahead

Docomo's commitment to enhancing cashless experiences at school festivals will continue, alongside offering diverse educational programs aimed at students. Whether it be financial literacy or vocational training, Docomo aims to provide numerous learning opportunities for student engagement moving forward.

The initiative will initially target schools in the Kanto region, which includes Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Niigata, and Nagano, with plans to expand offerings to additional areas over time.

Note: "d-Payment" is a registered trademark of NTT Docomo, Inc.