The "Association of Elderly Housing Introduction Businesses," with Daisaku Yasuda, Representative Director of Courier Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo), as its representative director, held its establishment commemorative forum on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at the National Governors' Association Hall, 2nd Floor Hall (1-11-35 Nagata-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo).

Approximately 90 distinguished guests and related parties, including national diet members, the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, executives from industry organizations nationwide, and experts, gathered on the day to explain the launch of the Association of Elderly Housing Introduction Businesses and its future initiatives for industry self-regulation.

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1. Background of Establishment and Representative's Vision

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Japan is at a historic turning point, facing an unprecedented super-aged society. The number of families forced to decide how to choose housing for parents requiring long-term care is rapidly increasing. Amidst the complexity of options and information asymmetry, many are compelled to make significant decisions without sufficient knowledge or time.

In this context, the role of introduction businesses for elderly housing and care facilities is becoming increasingly important. Simultaneously, societal demands for the quality and neutrality of introduction businesses are rising, making consumer protection and industry trust not just an internal industry issue, but a social responsibility.

This association was established to demonstrate fair, neutral, and transparent business operations to society under the self-responsibility of introduction businesses.

【Four Pillars of Association Activities】

1 Protection of Consumer Interests (Users and Families) and Improvement of the Market Environment

Establish a fair and transparent market with the highest priority on protecting the interests of the elderly and their families.

2 Ensuring the Healthy Development and Fair Competition of Introduction Businesses

Improve industry standards through the development of ethical codes and guidelines, and support for training and education.

3 Building a Sustainable Ecosystem and Improving Productivity in the Care Industry

Promote sustainable development and improved productivity for the entire industry through collaboration with facility operators.

4 Improving Recognition and Advocacy for the Social Contribution of Introduction Businesses

Conduct research and studies on the social contribution of introduction businesses and engage in public relations activities through the media.

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2. Organization Overview

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Organization Name: Association of Elderly Housing Introduction Businesses Representative Director: Daisaku Yasuda (Representative Director, Courier Inc.)

Date of Establishment: June 26, 2026

Location: 18F, Yebisu Garden Place Tower, 4-20-3 Yebisu, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-6018

Association Members: 50 companies (as of June 29)

Business Activities: As an industry association of introduction businesses for elderly housing, promoting consumer protection, industry self-regulation, policy recommendations, and support for member businesses.

Official Website: https://koshokyo.or.jp

Inquiries: contact@koshokyo.or.jp

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3. Establishment Commemorative Forum Overview

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Name: Association of Elderly Housing Introduction Businesses Establishment Commemorative Forum

Date and Time: Tuesday, June 30, 2026 Ceremony 18:30-19:30 / Reception 19:30-20:30

Venue: National Governors' Association Hall, 2nd Floor Hall (1-11-35 Nagata-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo)

Format: In-person event + Online streaming (Hybrid format)

Target Audience: National Diet members in the health and welfare field, officials from the Health and Welfare Bureau for Seniors, executives from care-related organizations, academics, and member businesses.

Participation Fee: Free (Invitation only)

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4. Ceremony Program

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1. Opening Remarks and Introduction

2. Remarks by the Representative Director

Daisaku Yasuda, Representative Director, Association of Elderly Housing Introduction Businesses

【Full Text of Representative Director's Speech】

Thank you all for attending the "Association of Elderly Housing Introduction Businesses Establishment Commemorative Forum" today despite your busy schedules.

Thank you also to everyone participating online.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone from the government, industry, and academia in the fields of care, welfare, and healthcare who have gathered here today.

Today, we announce the establishment of the "Association of Elderly Housing Introduction Businesses," commonly known as "Koshokyo."

The role of an introduction business is to professionally accompany individuals and families considering housing for the elderly, from providing facility information to consultations and decision-making, always prioritizing the elderly person and their family.

Our association aims to achieve fair, neutral, and transparent business operations to ensure user satisfaction, and to contribute to the development of the entire care industry through sincere operations.

We, as introduction businesses, wish to be partners not only with our users but also with facility operators.

Moving into elderly housing involves complexly intertwined desires based on diverse lifestyles, including budget, region, level of care needed, medical support, and hobbies.

We receive over 1 million consultations annually from families who cannot choose the optimal facility for their loved ones.

We play a role in connecting individuals with the most suitable facilities according to their specific needs.

We are delighted that this cumulative effort is recognized by facility operators as contributing to the improvement of their management challenges.

Furthermore, introduction businesses also play a role in alleviating the burden on the front lines of care and medical care.

It is said that many people considering moving into facilities consult with care managers and medical social workers.

However, tasks such as facility selection, proposals, and coordinating visits have become a significant burden as "shadow work" outside their primary responsibilities.

By taking on this support for moving in, we introduction businesses create an environment where professionals can concentrate on their core duties, which actually contributes to improving the working environment in the care field.

Now, I would like to turn our attention to social issues facing Japan as a whole and discuss three key figures.

First is the economic loss caused by caregiving leave.

In recent years, with dual-income households becoming the norm, more and more families find it difficult to balance work and caregiving.

Approximately 110,000 people take caregiving leave annually, and the economic loss is projected to reach 9.2 trillion yen by 2030.

By supporting individuals in moving to the most suitable facilities, we introduction businesses can reduce the burden on families and prevent working-age individuals from taking caregiving leave.

Second, support for facility entry is an industrial activity that healthily drives the 4.7 trillion yen elderly care facility market.

Costs associated with moving in are part of private economic activity driven by the choices of individuals and their families.

According to the 2012 Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare White Paper, indirect secondary effects through the consumption of medical and care insurance services generate new tax revenue, playing a role as a healthy economic industry.

This tax revenue creates new employment, leading to improved treatment for staff and securing human resources for the industry.

As the number of care workers increases, a system is established where more people can live with peace of mind in facilities that meet their needs.

Third, the accumulated assets held by Japanese individuals aged 70 and over amount to 880 trillion yen.

Among these, there are many individuals and families who wish to move into facilities but do not know where to seek consultation.

By accompanying individuals through the process of moving into facilities, we introduction businesses can facilitate decisions that have been stalled, leading to an expansion of domestic demand from the care industry.

As demonstrated, introduction businesses play a significant role as members of the care industry.

Therefore, our association strives to become an "indispensable presence" for the elderly and their families, everyone involved in caregiving, and society as a whole.

Today marks the first step. While we may have many shortcomings, we pledge here to dedicate ourselves to the users and the care industry, while actively seeking your candid opinions.

Thank you very much for your attendance today.

3. Congratulatory Addresses by Guests

Congratulatory Address 1: Hisanori Mori, Vice Chairman, Japan Association of Certified Care Workers

Congratulatory Address 2: Shizuno Kurossawa, Chairman, National Association of Lifelong Support Businesses for the Elderly, etc.

Congratulatory Address 3: Kenichiro Ueno, Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare

Congratulatory Address 4: Read by proxy, Hideo Kuroda, Director-General, Health and Welfare Bureau for Seniors, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Congratulatory Address 5: Yasushi Katsume, Deputy Chairman, Committee on Health, Labour and Welfare Affairs, Liberal Democratic Party, House of Representatives Member

4. Introduction of Guests

5. Commemorative Photograph

6. Closing Remarks

Shunsuke Waki, Director, Association of Elderly Housing Introduction Businesses

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5. List of Guests

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【National Diet Members】 (11 individuals)

Hiroshi Ueno, Member of the House of Representatives Makoto Oniki, Member of the House of Representatives

Yasushi Katsume, Member of the House of Representatives

Hidemichi Sato, Member of the House of Representatives

Akihisa Shiozaki, Member of the House of Representatives

Hiroaki Tabata, Member of the House of Representatives

Mitsuko Numazaki, Member of the House of Representatives

Takashi Hashimoto (proxy attendance), Member of the House of Representatives

Masakazu Hamachi, Member of the House of Representatives

Naoki Harada, Member of the House of Representatives

Aoi Furukawa, Member of the House of Representatives

【Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare】 (1 individual)

Hideo Kuroda, Director-General, Health and Welfare Bureau for Seniors, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

【Industry Organizations and Experts】 (16 individuals)

Hidekazu Nakamura, Chairman, General Incorporated Association for Policy Research Forum on Medical and Long-Term Care Welfare

Yusuke Kimura, Vice Chairman and Representative Director, General Incorporated Association for Elderly Housing

Yoshitake Kurume, Executive Director / Yoshikatsu Inaba, Secretary General, General Incorporated Association for Silver Service Promotion

Masayuki Saito, Chairman, General Incorporated Association for National Care Business Federation

Yukio Akiyama, Standing Director, General Incorporated Association for National Association of All-Inclusive Care Homes

Takashi Watanabe, Secretary General, General Incorporated Association for National Council of Residence Support Organizations

Shizuno Kurossawa, Chairman, General Incorporated Association for National Association of Lifelong Support Businesses for the Elderly, etc.

Akio Ueda, General Affairs Department, General Incorporated Association for National Guarantee Organization

Satoru Shibaguchi, Chairman, General Incorporated Association for Japan Association of Certified Care Professionals

Junichi Watanabe, Secretary General, Public Interest Incorporated Foundation for National Association of Fee-Charging Homes for the Elderly

Hisanori Mori, Vice Chairman / Yoshikazu Matsushita, Secretary General, Public Interest Incorporated Foundation for Japan Association of Certified Care Workers

Yasu Yamashita, Chairman / Kazuyoshi Makino, Secretary General, Public Interest Incorporated Foundation for Japan Association of Social Workers

Yuta Yasuda, Chairman, Council of Elderly Business Operators

【Universities and Research Institutions】 (3 individuals)

Michiko Ishida, Visiting Professor and Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Nursing, Nagoya University of Arts and Sciences

Keiko Kiyohara, Visiting Professor, Kyorin University

Naoko Yada, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, Nihon University

(Affiliations and titles are as of the date of the event. In Japanese syllabary order.)

About Courier Inc.

Courier Inc. is a digital platform company that tackles social issues, founded on the principle that "with accurate information, people can make better decisions." In the super-aged society we face, it is urgent to resolve inefficiencies and increase productivity in social security domains such as care, healthcare, and welfare.

Guided by its corporate philosophy "Delivering Reliable Value to Many," Courier Inc. continues to create systems that maximize human-centric value by accurately organizing and providing information using technology. The company creates new services by leveraging the flexibility and speed of the private sector to address issues that cannot be solved by government alone, contributing to the sustainability of society as a whole and the realization of a future where more people can live with peace of mind.

Services Offered

Comprehensive Care Information Portal Site "Minna no Kaigo": https://www.minnanokaigo.com Care Staff Recruitment Media "Min Job": https://minjob.com/ Serialized Content "Minna no Kaigo News": https://www.minnanokaigo.com/news Care Worker/Care Manager Exam Preparation Tool "Care Study": https://minjob.com/carestudy/

Care Staff Plaza "Minna no Kaigo Community": https://community.minnanokaigo.com Post-Move-in Support "Minna no Kaigo Real Estate Support": https://market.minnanokaigo.com/lp/realestate

Company Profile

Courier Inc. 9F, Yebisu Garden Place Tower, 4-20-3 Yebisu, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Representative Director: Daisaku Yasuda Corporate Site: https://www.courier.jpn.com/ Recruitment Information: https://www.courier.jpn.com/recruit/

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