#Japan #Change Holdings #Kishiwada #Otta

Overview of the Agreement

On November 27, Kishiwada City, under the leadership of Mayor Hidetoshi Sano, signed a formal agreement with Change Holdings, represented by President Masashi Fukutome, and Otta, led by CEO Kazumasa Yamamoto. This collaboration aims to implement a child monitoring service across all elementary schools in Kishiwada City starting in April 2026.

Purpose of the Monitoring Service

The primary goal of this initiative is to enhance the safety and security of residents in Kishiwada City by widely promoting a monitoring service as part of community welfare programs. This service will ensure a safe and secure environment for children during their daily journeys to and from school.

Implementation Details

Under this agreement, Change Holdings and Otta will take the lead in establishing new monitoring spots along the commuting routes of each school. Additionally, all participating children will receive monitoring devices free of charge. This effort aims to create a safety net for parents and guardians of schoolchildren in the region, easing any financial burdens associated with ensuring their children's safety.

Otta will employ its IoT-driven town security service, known as ‘Otta,’ which allows children to carry a dedicated device that records their location as they pass established monitoring spots and interact with designated ‘monitors’ in the area.

Note: A ‘monitor’ is a volunteer using a free application to assist in community observation efforts.

Schools Involved

The service will be implemented in all 24 elementary schools within Kishiwada City.

Target Audience

The monitoring devices will be distributed at no cost to students and parents of Kishiwada City elementary schools, specifically to those in the first grade of the 2026 academic year and current students from grades two to six who wish to participate.

Background and Future Outlook

Since the partnership was established on April 8, 2025, Change Holdings and Otta have successfully set up over 80,000 monitoring spots nationwide. They plan to continue expanding the Otta town security service throughout the country, contributing to the creation of safer local communities by connecting digital solutions with neighborhood resources.

About Otta

As a pioneer in monitoring services that utilize IoT technology, Otta’s mission is to integrate monitoring services into the fabric of social infrastructure, ensuring public comfort and safety. The company strives to improve productivity in observation activities and aims to create a ‘smart monitoring city’ where people of all ages—from children to the elderly—can live in peace. They collaborate with various municipalities, businesses, and organizations to bolster secure urban development.

About Change Holdings

Change Holdings, driven by the mission of "Change People, Change Business, Change Japan," focuses on transforming productivity through its NEW-IT transformation and public tech initiatives aimed at fostering regional revitalization via digital transformation. The company is committed to supporting digital talent development and innovating processes across businesses, ensuring a forward-thinking approach to societal needs.