Komeno Town Partners with Market Enterprise to Promote Reuse Initiatives

Komeno Town and Market Enterprise Collaboration

In Komeno Town, Mie Prefecture, a new partnership has emerged aimed at tackling local environmental issues through a collaboration with Market Enterprise, a company based in Chuo Ward, Tokyo. This agreement is set to take effect starting May 28, 2026, with the main goal of reducing waste and fostering a circular economy by making effective use of the Oikura reuse platform.

Background of the Initiative

Komeno Town is facing several challenges, including rising waste management costs and an aging population that finds it increasingly difficult to dispose of bulky waste. Many residents have inadvertently disposed of items that could be reused, highlighting a need for awareness and initiatives promoting reuse within the community. Market Enterprise has been dedicated to reuse and sustainability, involving itself in various projects that transcend public and private sectors aimed at achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs). The need for a collaborative effort was addressed when Komeno Town approached Market Enterprise with the goal of promoting reuse activities, culminating in the use of the Oikura platform to realize this vision.

Understanding Oikura

Oikura is a reuse platform developed by Market Enterprise that allows individuals to sell unwanted items conveniently. By submitting a request for item estimation through Oikura, users can receive simultaneous assessments from numerous affiliated reuse shops nationwide, enabling them to compare prices, pickup options, and user reviews all in one place. This streamlined process has garnered significant popularity, registering approximately 1.68 million users as of February 2026.
Website

Addressing Local Challenges with Oikura

In Komeno Town, residents currently face restricted access to bulky item collection, primarily limited to the elderly under a prior application system. Oikura breaks down these barriers, offering accessible services to everyone, including the option for in-home pickups of large or heavy items. This flexibility significantly improves the disposal experience for residents, allowing for easy sales of items like appliances subject to recycling laws. By utilizing Oikura for transactions, residents can have their unwanted goods assessed and sold, sometimes on the same day of request, all without incurring any costs to the town.

Future Prospects

On May 28, 2026, at 3:30 PM, Komeno Town will publish information regarding Oikura on its official website, allowing residents to submit requests for simultaneous item assessments directly. This collaboration between Komeno Town and Oikura is expected to enhance the secondary market while significantly contributing to waste reduction. Additionally, it aims to alleviate the town’s waste management burdens and costs. By raising awareness about reuse practices, the initiative seeks to reshape community attitudes towards disposal, encouraging more residents to consider reuse as a viable and beneficial option. Ultimately, this partnership strives to tackle economic and environmental challenges in promoting a circular economy.

Komeno Town: A Snapshot

Located in the northwestern region of Mie Prefecture, Komeno Town is blessed with natural beauty at the foot of Mount Gozaisho, the highest peak of the Suzuka Mountain Range. The town is bordered by Yokkaichi City to the east, Inabe City to the north, and is in proximity to Shiga Prefecture’s Higashiomi and Koka Cities. The history of Komeno Town dates back to the Edo period when it thrived as a castle town. Popular for its vintage hot spring, Yuno Yamazaki, which boasts a 1300-year history, it is also well known for its robust cable car tourism at the impressive Gozaisho Ropeway. Transport links are further enhanced by the Shin-Meishin Expressway, connecting Komeno quickly with both the Chukyo and Kansai regions. Today, the town, combining its rich natural landscape, tourism, and industrial opportunities, is recognized as a lively area in northern Mie Prefecture.

Population: 40,363 (as of March 31, 2026)
Households: 17,477 (as of March 31, 2026)
Area: 107.28 square kilometers (as of March 31, 2026)
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About Market Enterprise

Founded in 2006, Market Enterprise focuses on online reuse services, evolving through various businesses, including a mobile communication service and information media. With the vision of fostering a sustainable society, the company went public on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in June 2015 and has since continued on the standard market. Market Enterprise has developed a myriad of services, including the Oikura platform, which has facilitated the reuse of goods across more than 80 countries. Following the launch of the Oikura service in Komeno Town, the number of municipalities utilizing this platform has now reached 328.
Oikura for Municipalities
Market Enterprise Website