#Japan #Market Enterprise #Shimamoto #Reuse Platform

Collaboration Between Shimamoto Town and Market Enterprise for Sustainable Reuse

On September 25, 2025, Shimamoto Town in Osaka Prefecture will initiate a collaboration with Market Enterprise, a Tokyo-based company, to tackle community challenges through a new reuse initiative. This partnership aims to foster a circular economy by leveraging Market Enterprise’s reuse platform, "Oikura," to encourage the reuse of unwanted items instead of discarding them. This strategy not only seeks to minimize waste within Shimamoto Town but also aspires to cultivate a more sustainable society overall.

Background and Motivation

Shimamoto Town has previously promoted reuse through community events, allowing residents to exchange unwanted items. However, local officials recognized the need to enhance awareness and education around reuse efforts and were eager to adopt new initiatives to boost community engagement. On the other hand, Market Enterprise has been at the forefront of developing online reuse businesses, working toward the vision of becoming a sustainable optimization corporation since its establishment in 2006. Their efforts include participation in public-private partnerships aimed at achieving SDGs and involvement in charitable initiatives, showcasing their commitment to sustainability.

Through focused discussions, both Shimamoto Town and Market Enterprise identified a mutual goal of enhancing reuse activities to build a circular economy. This collaboration, utilizing the Oikura platform, was born from a shared vision. Oikura, a service offered by Market Enterprise, helps individuals sell unwanted items by providing them with consolidated assessments from multiple reuse shops, facilitating an easy comparison of purchase prices. With a growing user base of approximately 1.55 million people by June 2025, Oikura has established itself as a convenient option for those wishing to declutter responsibly.

Addressing Shimamoto Town’s Waste Management Challenges

Shimamoto Town currently conducts paid individual collection of large waste items, requiring residents to transport these items outside their homes. However, Oikura addresses this inconvenience by allowing customers to request home visits for item pickups. This feature simplifies the process of selling large or heavy items by enabling residents to have their unwanted goods assessed and collected from their homes. Furthermore, appliances covered by Japan's Home Appliance Recycling Law, like refrigerators and washing machines, which are not ordinarily collected by the town, can still be sold if they are functional.

The efficiency of the Oikura platform means that residents can arrange for item pickups as quickly as the same day they request a quote. Importantly, this service comes at no financial burden to the town or its citizens, ensuring broad accessibility.

Future Implications

As of September 25, 2025, detailed information about Oikura will be available on Shimamoto Town's website, allowing residents to apply for consolidated assessments of their unwanted items directly. Through this partnership, increased activity in the secondary distribution market is anticipated, contributing to the realization of a circular economy and reducing unnecessary waste across the community. Additionally, this collaboration is expected to lower the town’s waste processing volume and associated costs.

The straightforward nature of the selling process via Oikura will likely raise awareness among residents about the benefits of reuse versus disposal. It presents an opportunity to expand the options available for dealing with unwanted items, thus better catering to the diverse disposal needs of the community. This growing recognition of reuse encourages not only a shift in mindset among residents but also supports the formation of a circular economy.

Through this public-private partnership, Shimamoto Town aims to resolve social and economic challenges associated with building a sustainable, circular society.

Shimamoto Town Overview

Located in the northeastern part of Osaka Prefecture, Shimamoto Town borders Kyoto Prefecture. The town is strategically positioned between major cities, ensuring high accessibility with transport routes connecting to major highways and rail lines. Despite its urban setting, Shimamoto retains beautiful natural landscapes, providing residents with a pleasant living environment. The town has a population of 32,605 (as of August 2025) and covers an area of 16.81 square kilometers.

For more details, visit the town's official website: Shimamoto Town

About Market Enterprise

Market Enterprise has been a key player in online reuse ventures, media, and mobile communications, with the objective of helping build a sustainable society since its inception. The company went public on Tokyo Stock Exchange's Mother’s Market in 2015 and transitioned to the Prime Market in 2022. Notably, their continued expansion also includes exports of second-hand agricultural machinery to over 80 countries. With the introduction of the Oikura platform in Shimamoto Town, the company has partnered with 275 municipalities across Japan.

For more information, check out their official sites: Market Enterprise and Oikura for Municipalities