Mother and Child Health Handbook App 'Boshi-mo' Launches in Yakage Town, Okayama Prefecture!

The mother and child health handbook app 'Boshi-mo', operated by Boshi-mo Co., Ltd., has been introduced in Yakage Town, Oda District, Okayama Prefecture, and will be offered as 'Yakage Ohisama App by Boshi-mo' starting July 1 (Wed).

Yakage Town's basic philosophy is 'Child-rearing, child development, and parent development supported by the entire town,' and the town wholeheartedly supports the healthy growth of children and young people who will lead the future, while listening to the voices of diverse child-rearing households.

'Boshi-mo', which allows digital recording of data from paper mother and child health handbooks and is used in over 880 municipalities, has been adopted. The service will commence operations in line with the Children and Families Agency's policy of promoting the use of electronic mother and child health handbooks and the DX of maternal and child health※1.

'Boshi-mo' is an app that easily supports vaccination schedules, health checkup result management, and regional information distribution via smartphones, tablets, and PCs. Data is stored in the cloud, serving as a backup in case of loss of the mother and child health handbook due to disasters, and also supports continued use when moving to another municipality or changing devices, allowing for worry-free usage.

◆ 'Boshi-mo' Launches in Yakage Town, Okayama Prefecture, Which Offers Comprehensive Measures to Support Healthy Lives for Parents and Children!

Yakage Town has established a seamless support system from pregnancy to child-rearing, with the entire town supporting child-rearing households.

In fiscal year 2024, a 'Child and Family Center' will be established, creating a system where professionals such as public health nurses and social workers can respond to a wide range of consultations, including those related to pregnancy, childbirth, child-rearing, and child development and growth.

Furthermore, as support after childbirth, in addition to the 'Birth Celebration Money' payment, economic support is also being provided, including the delivery of 'Hello Baby Tickets' worth 10,000 yen per newborn, which can be used to purchase disposable diapers and wet wipes.

To enable child-rearing households to make better use of the town's initiatives, 'Boshi-mo' has been adopted as a new tool for disseminating child-rearing information.

◆ Thorough Support for Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Child-rearing with a Community-Focused Child-Rearing App!

'Yakage Ohisama App by Boshi-mo', adopted by Yakage Town, is a service compatible with smartphones, tablets, and PCs. It offers a wealth of convenient features to assist busy mothers and fathers juggling child-rearing and work, including recording and managing health data for pregnant women and children, managing vaccination schedules, providing advice on childbirth and child-rearing, sharing functions with family members such as grandparents living in distant areas, and notifying users of information distributed by the town.

'Dekita yo Kinenbi' (Anniversary of Accomplishment), which can be used as a child-rearing diary, is created based on the Children and Families Agency's sample mother and child health handbook format. It allows users to record milestones in their child's development and child-rearing, including those from the 'Parent's Record' section of the mother and child health handbook, along with photos and messages. It also serves as a guide for the child's growth and development.

Additionally, in the event of social environmental changes due to factors like infectious diseases, the app can instantly deliver important information such as cautionary notices from the municipality and advice from public health nurses to those who need it via text and video, supporting the creation of an environment where childbirth and child-rearing can be done with peace of mind even in emergencies.

<Comment from Yakage Town Mayor, Atsushi Yamaoka, Okayama Prefecture>

Yakage Town strives to enhance seamless support from pregnancy to child-rearing.

We have introduced the 'Yakage Ohisama App by Boshi-mo' to improve convenience for child-rearing generations.

Information related to child-rearing is diversifying, and even when necessary support and systems exist, it can be difficult to obtain the required information at the appropriate time. This app allows users to receive information from pregnancy through child-rearing tailored to their situation and is equipped with convenient functions to support daily child-rearing.

We hope that our town residents will utilize this app and find it helpful in their daily child-rearing.

<Main Features of 'Yakage Ohisama App by Boshi-mo'>

[Information on Various Systems and Services Provided by the Municipality]

● Information and application procedures for various subsidy systems relevant to pregnancy and child-rearing, such as child medical expense subsidies and child allowances.

● Various announcements distributed by the municipality.

[Recording and Management]

● Recording of physical condition and weight during pregnancy (graphed).

● Recording of fetal and child growth (graphed).

● Assessment of obesity and underweight levels using height-weight curves (graphed).

● Vaccinations: Automatic display of standard vaccination dates, management of scheduled and actual vaccinations, alerts for missed vaccinations.

● Health Checkup Information: Recording of health examination data for pregnant women and children.

[Information Provision and Advice]

● Basic information on childbirth and child-rearing.

● Knowledge and advice tailored to pregnancy week and child's age.

● Videos on bathing, making baby food, etc.

● Information on nearby facilities (hospitals, kindergartens/nurseries, parks, child-rearing facilities, etc.).

[Child-Rearing Diary: Dekita yo Kinenbi]

● Record your child's growth with photos.

● Upload photos with dates and messages using 'First Anniversary Templates' for milestones (possible to record approximately 150 items such as: first fetal movement / kick / roll over / sit up / crawl / stand / walk, etc.).

[Data Sharing]

● Child growth records and health data can be viewed on family members' smartphones, and can also be posted on social media.

Our company's vision is to achieve zero friction coefficient in pregnancy and child-rearing. To this end, we are expanding and integrating support areas (prenatal/postnatal checkups, vaccinations, infant checkups, etc.) through 'Kosodate DX®'※2, developing a one-stop application and procedure system for child-rearing, and promoting the linkage of maternal and child health information with related organizations (medical, childcare/education, specialized institutions, etc.). Through this, we aim to co-create a child-rearing society that reduces parents' 'anxiety and burden' and is 'safe and simple' in collaboration with the community.

Service Name: Yakage Ohisama App by Boshi-mo Monthly Fee (Tax Included): Free Access Method

・App: Search for 'Boshi-mo' on the App Store or Google Play (Supported OS: Android 8.0 or later, iOS 15.0 or later) ・Web Browser: Access https://www.mchh.jp

※Although individuals residing outside the target municipalities can also use the service, please check the official website for information specific to your municipality of residence. ※The functions available may vary slightly depending on your municipality of residence.

※1: Children and Families Agency Website 'Reference Materials for the Promotion of Kodomo Policy DX Initiatives 2025'

https://www.cfa.go.jp/assets/contents/node/basic_page/field_ref_resources/6cfab22c-d2bf-4dd1-81ea-49308519ac3a/6f948f38/20250630_councils_kodomo_seisaku_DX_6cfab22c_08.pdf

※2: For details on the 'Kosodate DX®' service, click here: https://www.mchh.jp/boshimo-kosodatedx

※'Kosodate DX' is a registered trademark of Boshi-mo Co., Ltd.

※Google Play and Android are trademarks or registered trademarks of Google LLC.

※App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.

※iOS is the OS name of Apple Inc. iOS is a trademark or registered trademark of Cisco Systems, Inc. or its affiliates in the United States and other countries, and is used under license.