Yachiyo City, Chiba Prefecture, Partners with "Oikura" for Used Goods Reuse Business in June Environmental Month

Yachiyo City, Chiba Prefecture (Mayor: Tomonori Hattori) and Market Enterprise Co., Ltd. (Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Taiji Kobayashi; TSE Standard: Securities Code 3135; hereinafter referred to as "Market Enterprise") have concluded an agreement concerning a reuse business aimed at solving regional social issues, and will commence collaboration on June 30, 2026 (Tue.). By utilizing the reuse platform "Oikura," operated by Market Enterprise, a system will be established to reuse unwanted items instead of discarding them, aiming to reduce waste and form a circular economy in Yachiyo City.

Background and Progress

Yachiyo City has been undertaking initiatives towards achieving the SDGs, such as posting information on the donation of unwanted items. However, in addition to increasing waste disposal costs, challenges such as the difficulty of moving bulky waste due to an aging population and a lack of information regarding reuse activities have been identified. Therefore, the city was considering the introduction of new measures to promote and raise awareness of reuse activities among its citizens. On the other hand, Market Enterprise has been developing network-based businesses, primarily in the reuse sector. With the vision of "An optimization trading company that realizes a sustainable society," the company has focused on SDGs initiatives that transcend public and private sectors, such as participating in the "Local Revitalization SDGs Public-Private Partnership Platform" and being a member of the "Musical Instrument Donation Hometown Tax" executive committee. Amidst this, Yachiyo City approached Market Enterprise, and their mutual needs, "to aim for the formation of a circular economy by promoting reuse activities," aligned, leading to the realization of this initiative using "Oikura"*1.

*1 What is "Oikura"?

Oikura is a reuse platform developed by Market Enterprise. When individuals who wish to sell unwanted items request an appraisal through "Oikura," a collective appraisal request is sent to affiliated reuse shops nationwide, allowing users to compare them based on purchase price, date, method, reviews, and more. Its ease of use, enabling users to compare and sell unwanted items after a single request, has been well-received, with approximately 1.68 million people having used the service as of the end of February 2026.

Website: https://oikura.jp/

Yachiyo City's Challenges and Solutions with "Oikura"

Yachiyo City offers paid collection of bulky waste through scheduled individual pickups. However, citizens are required to move large or heavy items outside their homes. "Oikura" offers an in-home pickup service, including carrying items out, if requested, making it easier to sell large or heavy items. Furthermore, items 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," unwanted items can be sold and handed over as early as the same day. There is no cost to the city for this service, nor for citizens using it.

Future Outlook

On June 30 (Tue.) at 3:30 PM (public posting time may vary), information about "Oikura" will be posted on the Yachiyo City website (https://www.city.yachiyo.lg.jp/site/gomi-recycle/80907.html), allowing for direct application for collective appraisal of unwanted items. The collaboration between Yachiyo City and "Oikura" is expected to further revitalize the secondary market, leading to the realization of a circular economy and a reduction in unwanted items across society. It will also contribute to reducing waste disposal volume and costs for the municipality. Moreover, if this initiative raises citizen awareness of selling as a convenient means of reuse, it will increase the option of "reuse instead of disposal," meeting the diverse needs for disposing of unwanted items. This will also lead to a shift in citizens' attitudes towards reuse and promote the formation of a circular economy. Through this public-private initiative, we aim to solve challenges on both social and economic fronts towards the formation of a circular economy.

Yachiyo City, Chiba Prefecture

Yachiyo City is located within 30 kilometers of Tokyo, in the northwestern part of Chiba Prefecture. While the northern part retains the rich nature of the Shimosa Plateau, the southern part features a cityscape developed with consideration for green landscapes, utilizing existing forests. The Shinkawa River, flowing north-south through the center of the city, serves as a city symbol for strolling and fishing. The area boasts an environment where one can enjoy flowers in every season, including Senbonzakura lining both banks of the river, over 200,000 cluster amaryllis, and the Keisei Rose Garden with 10,000 rose bushes. It developed early as a bedroom community, with the creation of Japan's first large-scale housing complex (Yachiyo-dai Housing Complex) in the 1950s. In terms of transportation, in addition to the Keisei Main Line, the Toyo Rapid Railway, which directly connects to the city center, opened in 1996, ensuring high accessibility with approximately 40 minutes from Tokyo Station. Since then, planned urban development has progressed, particularly around new stations, and further development is expected. Currently, it functions as a residential city that combines excellent access to the city center via two railway networks with high living convenience due to the concentration of large commercial facilities. While maintaining the convenience of having daily necessities fulfilled within the city, it promotes the development of a sustainable living environment where rich natural landscapes and urban environments harmonize.

Population: 209,009 (102,872 males, 106,137 females) (May 30, 2026)

Households: 101,800 households (May 30, 2026)

Area: 51.39 square kilometers (May 30, 2026)

Website: https://www.city.yachiyo.lg.jp/

Market Enterprise Co., Ltd.

Market Enterprise is a growing company since its establishment in 2006, with the vision of "An optimization trading company that realizes a sustainable society," engaged in multiple businesses including network-based reuse, mobile communication services, and information media operations. It was listed on the TSE Mothers market in June 2015 and is currently listed on the Standard market. In its network-based reuse business, it continues to expand its operations through services such as "Takaku Kau Dot Com," the reuse platform "Oikura," and the export of used agricultural machinery to over 80 countries. The cumulative number of users of its network-based reuse services has reached 9.4 million. With the introduction of the "Oikura" service by Yachiyo City, the number of municipalities adopting the service nationwide reaches 336.

"Oikura" for Municipalities Website: https://oikura.jp/lg/

Market Enterprise Website: https://www.marketenterprise.co.jp/