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Collaboration between Nogata City and Market Enterprise

Nogata City, located in Fukuoka Prefecture and led by Mayor Susumu Otsuka, has announced a new collaboration with Market Enterprise Co., Ltd., based in Chuo Ward, Tokyo. This partnership is set to launch on July 9, 2025, aimed at addressing local social issues through a reuse initiative. Utilizing the reuse platform called "Oikura," the initiative focuses on creating a system for reusing unwanted items instead of discarding them, which aligns with Nogata's goals of waste reduction and fostering a circular economy.

Background

The city of Nogata has been facing challenges such as increasing waste disposal costs and the realization that many abandoned items could be reused. To combat this issue, the city has been exploring new initiatives to promote awareness and encourage reuse among its residents. Meanwhile, Market Enterprise has been operating a web-based reuse business, emphasizing its vision to create a sustainable society. Their active participation in the "Public-Private Partnership for Regional Revitalization and SDGs" and other similar initiatives showcases their commitment to promoting sustainability across various sectors.

During discussions, both parties recognized the shared need to enhance reuse activities for the benefit of the community, leading to the establishment of this collaboration, leveraging the Oikura platform.

Understanding 'Oikura'

Oikura, a service provided by Market Enterprise, serves as a comprehensive reuse platform where individuals can request appraisals for unwanted items. This platform allows users to compare offers from multiple authorized reuse shops by submitting a single request. This user-friendly approach has attracted approximately 1.3 million users by June 2024, as it streamlines the process of selling second-hand goods.

Addressing Nogata's Challenges

Currently, Nogata City offers a paid collection service for bulky waste once a week. However, the requirement for residents to transport heavy items themselves creates a barrier to proper disposal. Oikura addresses this problem by providing a doorstep service that allows residents to sell large or heavy items easily. Moreover, the platform can handle electronic appliances, which can be picked up and evaluated, providing a valuable convenience to residents wishing to sell items like refrigerators and washing machines.

Services via Oikura can potentially allow for the sale and transfer of items on the same day a request is made. This initiative incurs no additional cost for the city and aims to facilitate easy reuse for citizens.

Future Prospects

On July 9, 2025, the Nogata City website will feature information about Oikura, enabling residents to apply for bulk appraisals of unwanted items. This partnership between Nogata and Oikura is expected to invigorate the secondary market and contribute to achieving a circular economy by reducing waste and managing disposal costs effectively. Moreover, it aims to cultivate a better public understanding of reuse as an alternative to disposal, enhancing community awareness and participation.

Through this public-private collaboration, both the social and economic aspects related to the creation of a circular society will be addressed effectively, driving meaningful change in how the citizens approach waste and reuse.

About Nogata City

Situated in the heart of the Chikuho Plain in northern Fukuoka Prefecture, Nogata City is known for its heart-like shape and rich natural surroundings, including Mt. Fukuchi and the Onga River. The area features approximately 130,000 blooming tulips in spring and has a rich historical background, having been established as a castle town during the Edo period and later flourishing as a central hub for coal and steel industries.

Population and Demographics

• - Population: 54,489 (Males: 25,928, Females: 28,663) as of April 30, 2025.
• - Households: 27,845 as of April 30, 2025.
• - Area: 61.76 square kilometers as of May 2, 2022.

Visit Nogata City's official website

About Market Enterprise Co., Ltd.

Market Enterprise focuses primarily on online reuse businesses, including media operations and mobile communications, with a vision to become a "Optimization Trading Company for a Sustainable Society." Established in 2006, it has continuously grown since its inception and transitioned its shares to the Tokyo Stock Exchange's Prime Market in April 2022, following its debut on the Mothers market in June 2015.

The company has expanded its services significantly, including interstate and international second-hand agricultural machinery exports, and has reached 9.4 million service users. With the launch of Oikura in Nogata, the total number of municipalities utilizing the Oikura service across Japan has reached 265.

Visit Market Enterprise's official website

For inquiries or further information, please refer to their respective websites.