Collaborative Innovation in Healthcare and Elderly Care Begins in Tokorozawa

On August 29, 2025, Az Partners Co., Ltd., based in Chiyoda, Tokyo, and Kei Jinkai Medical Corporation, located in Tokorozawa, Saitama, signed a partnership agreement aimed at improving the quality of healthcare and elder care services in the Tokorozawa region. This collaboration seeks to create an environment where everyone can receive these services with peace of mind by transcending the boundaries between healthcare and elder care. The focus will be on operational integration, digital transformation, and community contributions.

Background: The Challenges Facing Healthcare and Elder Care

Japan is currently grappling with significant challenges due to an aging population, which has led to a shortage of caregiving professionals and rising medical costs. Moreover, ongoing inflation exacerbates the situation, making the creation of sustainable working environments and operational efficiencies urgent necessities. In Tokorozawa, the aging rate has reached approximately 27.5% as of September 2023, according to the 9th Tokorozawa City Elderly Welfare Plan. This indicates a growing need for enhanced healthcare and elder care services in the region.

Az Partners is a leader in care digital transformation (DX) with a series of elder care homes known as the “Az Heim” series located throughout the Kanto region. They are also implementing operational transformation strategies through caregiving DX support to other organizations. In Tokorozawa, they plan to open “Az Heim Tokorozawa” in 2026, alongside the existing “Az Heim Iruma,” set to launch on September 1, 2025.

Conversely, Kei Jinkai has been a cornerstone of medical, health, and welfare services across Tokyo and four prefectures for many years, operating facilities such as the “Tokorozawa Royal Hospital” and “Tokorozawa Royal Hill.” By combining their strengths, these two organizations will contribute to creating an environment that enables local residents to live securely and confidently.

The Scope of the Partnership

1. DX Support and Operational Transformation in Elderly Care Facilities

In facilities such as “Tokorozawa Royal Hill,” operated by Kei Jinkai, Az Partners will implement digital transformation (DX) support and operational changes aimed at increasing efficiency. This involves:

- Training on the use of IoT devices (supporting adaptation after implementation)
- Guidance on data utilization methods (promoting operational efficiency)
- Reevaluating operations to enhance efficiency and productivity

As a result, caregiving staff will be able to significantly reduce administrative workload, ensuring more personal time with each service user. The goal is not simply efficiency; rather, it is to further increase the time dedicated to human-centered caregiving.

2. Seamless Life Support During Admission and Discharge

Historically, there has been a “connectivity anxiety” between healthcare and elder care. For many, transitioning from a hospital stay to discharge or moving into a facility has involved confusion due to poor information sharing and cumbersome processes. This partnership will establish a mechanism for seamless communication between Kei Jinkai's hospitals and elderly care facilities, and the Az Partners-operated homes, ensuring that both parties share vital information, leading to a stress-free care experience for patients and their families.

3. Community-Based Home Visit Medical Care for Peace of Mind

At “Az Heim Iruma,” healthcare services will commence through home visits from Kei Jinkai's physicians. The primary advantage is that Kei Jinkai, a well-established medical entity in the community, will deliver care. The long-standing relationship with the Tokorozawa area guarantees that residents and their families will feel reassured knowing they are supported by local healthcare providers.

This structure embodies a lifestyle where healthcare and caregiving are integrated seamlessly into daily life.

Future Prospects: Collaborative Innovation Spreading from Tokorozawa

Building on their previous DX partnership at the “Ito no Mori” elderly care facility in Ito City, Shizuoka Prefecture, both organizations aim to solidify a collaborative framework transcending healthcare and elder care in Tokorozawa. They plan to progressively explore new partnerships while keeping in mind the broader collaboration with local government bodies, educational institutions, and other businesses — all in pursuit of a community where everyone can live with confidence and security.