Oita Prefecture's Nakatsu City Starts Collaboration with "Oikura" for Unwanted Goods Reuse Project

Oita Prefecture's Nakatsu City (Mayor: Masanori Okuzuka) and Market Enterprise Inc. (Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Taishi Kobayashi; TSE Standard, Securities Code 3135; hereinafter "Market Enterprise") have concluded an agreement on a reuse project aimed at solving issues in the local community. The collaboration will commence on May 12, 2026 (Tuesday). By utilizing "Oikura," a reuse platform operated by Market Enterprise, a mechanism will be established to reuse unwanted items instead of discarding them, aiming to reduce waste in Nakatsu City and foster a circular economy.

## Background and History
Nakatsu City has been engaged in initiatives towards achieving SDGs, such as publishing information on the transfer of unwanted items and organizing recycling free markets. However, the city faced challenges including an increase in waste disposal costs, a growing number of elderly citizens finding it difficult to move bulky waste due to an aging population, and a recognition that many reusable items were being discharged as waste. The city also felt the necessity of raising awareness and enlightenment for reuse activities among its citizens and had been considering the introduction of reuse policies. On the other hand, Market Enterprise has been developing network-based businesses centered on reuse, and has consistently focused on SDGs initiatives transcending the boundaries between public and private sectors. Its vision is to be an "optimization trading company realizing a sustainable society," and it has participated in the "Local Revitalization SDGs Public-Private Partnership Platform" and acted as a member of the "Musical Instrument Donation Furusato Nozei" executive committee. In this context, Market Enterprise approached Nakatsu City, and as their mutual needs to "aim for the formation of a circular economy by promoting reuse activities" aligned, this initiative utilizing "Oikura"*1 was realized.

*1 What is "Oikura"?
Oikura is a reuse platform developed by Market Enterprise. Users who wish to sell unwanted items can request an assessment through "Oikura," which then collectively sends assessment requests to affiliated reuse shops nationwide. Users can compare purchase prices, dates, purchase methods, and reviews. Its ease of use, allowing users to collectively compare assessment results and sell unwanted items with a single request, has been well-received, and approximately 1.68 million people have utilized the service as of the end of February 2026.

Website: https://oikura.jp/

## Nakatsu City's Challenges and "Oikura"'s Solutions
Nakatsu City currently offers paid collection of bulky waste via individual pick-up by prior reservation, but citizens are required to carry large or heavy items out of their homes. "Oikura" offers a home visit purchase service that can visit the home and handle the removal of items if desired, making it easier to sell large or heavy items. Additionally, even home appliances subject to the Home Appliance Recycling Law, such as refrigerators and washing machines, may be purchased if they are still usable. By requesting a purchase through "Oikura," it is possible to sell and hand over unwanted items as quickly as the same day. Furthermore, there are no service fees for citizens, nor any cost burden for the city.

## Future Outlook
Information about "Oikura" will be posted on Nakatsu City's website (https://www.city-nakatsu.jp/doc/2022102000014/) at 3:30 PM on May 12 (Tuesday) (publication time may vary), enabling direct applications for bulk assessment of unwanted items. Through the collaboration between Nakatsu City and "Oikura," further revitalization of the secondary market, the realization of a circular economy, and a reduction of unwanted items across society are anticipated, along with a reduction in local government waste processing volume and costs. Moreover, if this initiative raises public awareness of selling as an easy means of reuse, it will expand the option to "reuse instead of discard," meeting diverse needs for unwanted item disposal. It will also lead to changes in citizens' awareness regarding reuse and promote the formation of a circular economy. This public-private initiative aims to solve both social and economic challenges for the formation of a circular economy.

## Oita Prefecture Nakatsu City
Nakatsu City is located at the northwestern tip of Oita Prefecture, bordering Fukuoka Prefecture across the Yamakuni River, a first-class river. It is a vital transportation hub where the JR Nippo Main Line, Higashi Kyushu Expressway, and Nakatsu Hita Road intersect, playing a role as a connection point for a wide-area network linking major cities in northern Kyushu. It has flourished since ancient times as a castle town of the Buzen Nakatsu domain, and numerous historical assets, such as Nakatsu Castle associated with the military strategist Kanbei Kuroda and the former residence of Yukichi Fukuzawa, a thinker of modern Japan's enlightenment, are still carefully preserved today. Geographically, it boasts Yamakei (Yabakei), one of Japan's leading scenic spots, where the dynamic rock formations and clear streams of the Yamakuni River basin create natural beauty recognized as a Japan Heritage site. Industrially, automobile-related companies are concentrated in its vast coastal industrial zone.