#Japan #Hachioji #Bespla #TekoPo

TekoPo: A Successful Initiative for Elderly Health in Hachioji City

Hachioji City, located in Tokyo, has achieved remarkable success with its health app initiative, TekoPo, provided by Bespla Inc. Launched in October 2021, the app has registered over 13,140 elderly users within just three and a half years, amounting to about 7% of the elderly population in the region. With a staggering cumulative total of approximately 26.1 billion steps, the health initiative has also been estimated to save about 1.6 billion yen in healthcare costs. The outstanding results of TekoPo have garnered recognition from the Japanese Health Conference 2024, where it received the top award in the Public-Private Collaboration category.

Background of the Initiative

Hachioji City launched TekoPo on October 2021, having initially experimented with a paper-based volunteer point system. The transition to a digital format was aimed at increasing sustainability and effectiveness in promoting public health. The main slogan of the initiative is "without pressure, with fun, for a long time," encouraging citizens to engage in healthy behaviors through an app-based health points system.

Understanding TekoPo

TekoPo leverages Bespla’s brain and body health maintenance app, "Brain Wellness App," to create a health points program. Through daily activities such as walking, eating, mental exercises, and volunteer participation, elderly users can accumulate points within the app. These points can then be redeemed at participating local stores or converted into cashless payment services like PayPay. The gamification aspect of the app, including step ranking and cognitive training challenges, helps enhance users' physical activity, nutrition management, and social participation, all while fostering local economic engagement. This holistic approach has positioned TekoPo as a model to address the challenges of extending healthy life expectancy and optimizing healthcare expenses in Tokyo and nationwide.

Impressive Figures of TekoPo’s Impact

As of now, the user growth rate of TekoPo has been encouraging. From just 352 users in the fiscal year 2021, the number surpassed 10,000 by 2024, achieving 13,140 participants by May 2025. This reflects a significant uptake among the elderly, maintaining an 80% retention rate, indicating a strong interest and commitment to health among Hachioji citizens.

Cumulative Impact Statistics:

• - Total Steps: 26,138,854,424 steps (around 450 circuits around the Earth)
• - Healthcare Cost Savings: Approximately 15.9 billion yen (based on 0.061 yen per step)
• - Total Points Awarded: Equivalent to about 17.49 million yen
• - Volunteering Participation: Growing steadily, indicating that many seniors are actively and enjoyably engaging in health-related activities and social participation.

Effects on Health Habits and Community

The program has contributed to sustainable health habits among users. Many report a natural increase in their physical activity, as one participant noted, "I look forward to seeing my points accumulate each day and find myself walking more."

Moreover, TekoPo has broadened social interactions by sparking conversations among seniors, promoting connections through competitive brain training activities and discussions about their progress. Notably, about 40% of registered users come from demographics that typically engage less in health programs, showing TekoPo's ability to reach health-unconcerned groups, especially elderly men.

Administrative Innovations for Efficiency

The administrative team has effectively utilized ICT to manage a high volume of users with minimal staffing. The app automates step counting, point allocation, and data compilation, significantly reducing the workload on city officials. This automation has facilitated the integration of various community services, including access to volunteer opportunities and educational programs for seniors.

Factors Behind TekoPo's Success

The success of Hachioji City’s TekoPo lies in three core areas:
1. Gamified Holistic Health Activities: By combining walking, nutrition, and cognitive training in an engaging and evidence-based format.
2. Integration with Local Economy: Points accrued can be spent in local businesses, connecting health behaviors with economic support.
3. Comprehensive Awareness Campaign: Hachioji City has effectively disseminated information about TekoPo through city reports, and cooperation with various local agencies, ensuring widespread community involvement.

Conclusion and Future Directions

Looking ahead, the initiative aims to further enhance user engagement by adding brain training games and time-limited missions to prevent monotony. Future plans also include partnering with private companies to expand wellness services available through the platform.

As more municipalities express interest in TekoPo, it stands as a pioneering example of how digital tools can successfully foster public health, economic vitality, and community engagement in the aging population.