Your Place Expands Its Reach with New Partnership in Nakano, Japan

On July 14, 2026, the non-profit organization Your Place signed an agreement with Nakano Ward and NIC+ (Nakano Inclusive Care Partnership). This partnership aims to enhance the support system for residents dealing with loneliness and isolation through an innovative combination of online counseling and local welfare services.

Your Place operates a 24/7 chat counseling service, allowing anyone to reach out anonymously and free of charge. This service will now integrate with Nakano Ward's welfare and administrative network, creating a streamlined process to connect individuals with needed local support based on their online consultations.

By utilizing volunteers located overseas, Your Place can effectively offer evening assistance, accommodating those who may need help outside of regular business hours—a service that is often challenging for local municipalities to provide on their own. This agreement promotes a collaborative approach between public and private sectors, ensuring that no Nakano resident facing struggles with loneliness is left without support.

The ongoing problem of loneliness and social isolation requires a multifaceted approach, with community-level and broader societal strategies. Collaboration among relevant ministries, local governments, and non-profits focuses on three main objectives: 1) creating environments where people can easily express concerns and seek help, 2) fostering inter-personal connections through collaborative initiatives, and 3) establishing solid foundations for public-private partnerships to address these issues effectively.

Your Place is committed to being a vital part of Nakano’s community-based care system, promoting inter-regional cooperation to connect individuals with the necessary support. The organization plans to raise awareness of counseling resources while working alongside Nakano Ward and other partner organizations to enhance overall community efforts against loneliness and isolation.

For urgent consultations, Your Place secures consent to verify the caller's location, allowing them to connect individuals in critical need with local organizations such as the police or child support centers. With the establishment of this agreement, Your Place is keen to strengthen local ties further, working to ensure that those seeking help do not face loneliness or anxiety alone.

Comments from the President of Your Place, Tokuwa Negishi

To build a society free from unwanted loneliness, it is crucial not only to provide online counseling but also to link clients to local support services when necessary. We are thrilled to engage with Nakano Ward through the NIC+ agreement, fostering a collaborative environment where individuals can voice their concerns and access the help they need.

Moving forward, Your Place will continue its mission towards a society without unwanted loneliness via coordinated efforts with the public and private sectors.

About the NIC+ Agreement

The NIC+ (Nakano Inclusive Care Partnership) agreement aims to create collaborative relationships between Nakano Ward and various stakeholders, including private operators and educational institutions. By tapping into private resources and expertise, this initiative promotes local contributions to enhance the community's inclusive care system.

About Your Place's Chat Counseling Service

Your Place offers a round-the-clock online chat counseling service that is available 365 days a year, welcoming people of all ages and backgrounds. Registered with the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare as part of suicide prevention efforts, the service is anonymous and free.

Each volunteer is trained through online platforms, enabling them to handle consultations flexibly. This initiative effectively addresses the common challenge of volunteer shortages, providing coverage during peak hours, especially overnight when demands are highest. This makes it the first and only chat service in Japan to offer such extensive support.

About Your Place

Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Your Place runs the nation’s largest chat counseling service, responding to about 3,000 inquiries daily. It has significantly contributed to raising awareness about loneliness issues in Japan, participating in the establishment of relevant policies and partnerships.

Contact Information:
For media inquiries, please reach out to Your Place's Public Relations team at [email protected]
Learn more at: Your Place