Tagajo City Introduces Digital Transit Pass for Seniors via 'Pocket Sign' Prefectural App
Pocket Sign Inc. has launched 'Pocket Sign Mini Passport,' a digital transit pass for seniors and persons with disabilities, in Tagajo City, Miyagi Prefecture, through the 'Pocket Sign' official prefectural app. This initiative supports Tagajo City's 'Norumon Pass' program, leveraging My Number card authentication to streamline the application process and provide digital usage tracking.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 22, 2026 at 23:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 22, 2026 at 14:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 22, 2026 at 15:17 (46 min after Collected)
Pocket Sign Inc. (HQ: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Hiroshi Umemoto) announces the development and launch of the 'Pocket Sign Mini Passport,' available within the 'Pocket Sign' official prefectural app for Miyagi residents. This service supports Tagajo City's new 'Norumon Pass' program, which began on April 1, 2026.
## Supporting the 'Norumon Pass' Free Transit Program
Tagajo City launched the 'Norumon Pass' on April 1, 2026, as part of its public transportation policy to encourage social participation for local seniors and persons with disabilities.
Eligible individuals include Tagajo residents aged 65 and over, and those with disabilities. For disabled residents, this also includes one accompanying caregiver for mobility support.
There are two types of 'Norumon Pass': digital and card. For the digital version, users must register for the 'Pocket Sign' app, register via the in-app mini-app, and scan the displayed QR code at a dedicated terminal when disembarking. Initial registration requires a smartphone, a My Number card, and the card's PIN.
The card type requires application at the city hall office and a 500-yen fee. Note that for residents with disabilities, current guidance is to use the pass by presenting their disability certificate.
To support this update, an app for bus-mounted scanning terminals was also implemented. Drivers simply select the route at the start of the shift, with no further operation required while driving. The introduction of the digital pass allows for easier tracking of usage numbers and data, streamlining reporting tasks.
## Leveraging Prefectural App Infrastructure
This initiative utilizes a shared prefectural app—pre-registered by residents using their My Number card—as a foundation for municipalities to deploy unique services. Tagajo City was able to offer digital services requiring identity verification without launching a separate, dedicated app.
The 'Pocket Sign' app is promoted by Miyagi Prefecture and surpassed 1 million registrations in February 2026.
## Expected Benefits
For municipalities, this eases the operation of issuing transit passes that require identity verification and provides a foundation for analyzing usage trends for future transit policy planning. For residents, it eliminates the need to visit city hall and removes the 500-yen fee associated with the card version. The digital pass requires a user-led renewal every six months within the app.
## Potential for Further Expansion
This model showcases the use of public transport digital tools alongside the provision of municipal services via mini-apps within a prefectural app. Beyond transportation, it has high potential for application in welfare services, resident discounts, and the digitization of various certificates requiring identity or eligibility verification.
## Supporting the 'Norumon Pass' Free Transit Program
Tagajo City launched the 'Norumon Pass' on April 1, 2026, as part of its public transportation policy to encourage social participation for local seniors and persons with disabilities.
Eligible individuals include Tagajo residents aged 65 and over, and those with disabilities. For disabled residents, this also includes one accompanying caregiver for mobility support.
There are two types of 'Norumon Pass': digital and card. For the digital version, users must register for the 'Pocket Sign' app, register via the in-app mini-app, and scan the displayed QR code at a dedicated terminal when disembarking. Initial registration requires a smartphone, a My Number card, and the card's PIN.
The card type requires application at the city hall office and a 500-yen fee. Note that for residents with disabilities, current guidance is to use the pass by presenting their disability certificate.
To support this update, an app for bus-mounted scanning terminals was also implemented. Drivers simply select the route at the start of the shift, with no further operation required while driving. The introduction of the digital pass allows for easier tracking of usage numbers and data, streamlining reporting tasks.
## Leveraging Prefectural App Infrastructure
This initiative utilizes a shared prefectural app—pre-registered by residents using their My Number card—as a foundation for municipalities to deploy unique services. Tagajo City was able to offer digital services requiring identity verification without launching a separate, dedicated app.
The 'Pocket Sign' app is promoted by Miyagi Prefecture and surpassed 1 million registrations in February 2026.
## Expected Benefits
For municipalities, this eases the operation of issuing transit passes that require identity verification and provides a foundation for analyzing usage trends for future transit policy planning. For residents, it eliminates the need to visit city hall and removes the 500-yen fee associated with the card version. The digital pass requires a user-led renewal every six months within the app.
## Potential for Further Expansion
This model showcases the use of public transport digital tools alongside the provision of municipal services via mini-apps within a prefectural app. Beyond transportation, it has high potential for application in welfare services, resident discounts, and the digitization of various certificates requiring identity or eligibility verification.
FAQ
「のるもんパス」のデジタルタイプを利用するために必要なものは？
スマートフォン、マイナンバーカード、マイナンバーカードの暗証番号が必要です。事前にみやぎ県民公式アプリ「ポケットサイン」への登録が必要です。
「のるもんパス」の対象者は？
多賀城市在住の65歳以上の高齢者、または障害者手帳の交付を受けている市民です。障害者市民の場合は、移動支援のための介護者1人も対象に含まれます。
デジタル乗車証のメリットは？
市役所窓口へ行く手間が省け、カード発行にかかる実費負担（500円）が不要となります。また、行政側は利用状況の正確な把握と集計業務の効率化が可能になります。
カードタイプとデジタルタイプの違いは？
デジタルタイプはアプリ上で申請・更新が可能で無料です。カードタイプは市役所窓口での申請が必要で、500円の実費相当額がかかります。
この取り組みは多賀城市以外にも展開可能か？
はい。県公式アプリ上で自治体独自の施策をミニアプリとして提供するモデルであり、公共交通に限らず福祉や各種優待・認証施策への応用が期待されています。