Habit-forming app "Minchalle®" launches dedicated page for Nagai City, Yamagata Prefecture, starting health promotion project utilizing the app

A10 Lab Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Tsuyoshi Nagasaka), the developer and operator of the habit-forming app "Minchalle®", will provide a dedicated page for Nagai City, Yamagata Prefecture (Mayor: Shigeharu Uchitani) within the "Minchalle®" app and launch a health promotion project.

This project aims to prevent the onset and worsening of lifestyle-related diseases among citizens, motivate them to exercise, and raise awareness of their lifestyle habits. Through the "Minchalle®" mechanism, our company will support the city's sustainable "healthy town development."

Objectives

1. Spreading the circle of health creation: By awarding points for steps taken and participation in city initiatives, we will realize a sustainable local community where citizens embody the city's basic philosophy of "More Health! Always Health!"

2. Stress relief and behavioral change for the working generation: Responding to the need for "talking with friends," which ranked high in stress relief methods in age-group surveys, we will utilize the team function. We will provide an environment where busy individuals can work together with peers, supporting the habituation of exercise.

Project Overview

A dedicated Nagai City page, "Nagai Aruku+ (Plus)," will be opened within the Minchalle app. Nagai City residents can form teams for purposes such as walking and training, providing an environment where they can enjoyably engage in health building while communicating with each other.

"Health Points" will be awarded based on daily steps and participation in local events, with benefits such as the local currency "Nagai Coin" offered. Additionally, app coins accumulated through team activities can be donated to local social contribution projects, providing citizens with new incentives for social participation.

【Project Start】July 1, 2026~

【Target Audience】Primarily residents of Nagai City

【Implementation Details】

Operation of a health point project utilizing the habit-forming app "Minchalle®"

Conducting app usage workshops

【Workshop Details】

Target: Nagai City residents who own a smartphone and can input text

Cost: Free

Application: Nagai City Health and Sports Division TEL: 0238-82-8009

Date and Time: August 27, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM (Nagai City Hall)

【Project Details】Nagai City Website

https://www.city.nagai.yamagata.jp/soshiki/kenspo/103/201/2/16360.html

About "Minchalle®" Main Features

- Health Data Recording Function: Automatically measure steps and record weight, sleep time, etc., for self-management.

- Health Point Function: Award points for participating in events designated by the municipality, such as health checkups and community gatherings, as well as for daily steps, which can be exchanged for digital gifts.

- Team Function: A digital peer support* function where 5 people encourage each other to continue their habits enjoyably.

Users form teams of 5 anonymous individuals with the same goal (e.g., studying, dieting, exercise) and aim for habit formation in a fun way using a mechanism that applies nudges*.

- Donation Function: App coins accumulated through continuous effort can be donated to social contribution projects nationwide.

*Digital Peer Support: Mutual support among peers in a digital space.

*Nudge: A strategy or method that encourages behavioral change in a positive direction unconsciously, without economic incentives or coercion.

【Team Function Overview】

<App Overview>

- Title: Minchalle

- Usage Fee: Monthly plan ¥500/month, Annual plan ¥4,700/year

- Release Date: November 6, 2015

- Official Website: https://minchalle.com/

- Official Blog: https://minchalle.com/blog/

- Selected as Best App on Google Play three times.

Municipal Projects

- Number of municipal projects nationwide: 53 (as of July 2026)

- Track record in various fields including health promotion (health maintenance/promotion projects), elderly welfare (frailty prevention/digital divide resolution projects), and adult health (prevention of lifestyle-related disease complications).

- Received the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare's Director-General of the Health and Welfare Bureau for Long-Term Care Prevention and Elderly Life Support Division, Excellent Award (Municipalities Division) at the "10th Extend Your Healthy Life Expectancy! Award" for a frailty prevention project with Fuchu City, Tokyo.

- Featured in a case study in the column "Aiming to Realize a Regional Community Where Connections and Support Exist" in the 2022 edition of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare White Paper, Part 1, Chapter 3. https://www.mhlw.go.jp/wp/hakusyo/kousei/22/dl/1-03.pdf#page=41

A10 Lab Inc.

- Established: December 2016

- Location: Tensho Nihonbashi Building 2F, 8-13 Nihonbashi Kobunacho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

- Phone Number: 03-5422-8396

- HP: https://a10lab.com/

*The name and logo of Minchalle are registered trademarks of A10 Lab Inc.