All 148 "Curves" locations in Kanagawa Prefecture, a 30-minute health fitness club for women, certified as "Me-byo Centers" to inspire pre-symptomatic healthcare improvement in daily community life.
Curves Japan announced that all 148 of its fitness clubs in Kanagawa Prefecture have been certified as "Me-byo Centers." This establishes a system for local women to receive regular health checks and exercise consultations, contributing to the extension of the prefecture's healthy lifespan.
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- 📰 Published: May 15, 2026 at 00:30
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Curves Holdings Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and Group CEO: Gaku Masumoto; Code: 7085, Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market) announces that its core operating company, Curves Japan Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative: Gaku Masumoto), has been participating in Kanagawa Prefecture's "Me-byo Improvement" initiative since 2014 to extend healthy lifespans. On Thursday, May 14, 2026, the remaining 62 stores in Kanagawa Prefecture that were preparing for certification were officially recognized as "Me-byo Centers"*.
This completes the certification of all 148 "Curves, the 30-minute health fitness club for women" locations in Kanagawa Prefecture as "Me-byo Centers," establishing a system to support the health promotion of local residents. For new stores opening in the prefecture, we will proceed with the certification process in line with the prefecture's certification schedule.
*A "Me-byo Center" is one of Kanagawa Prefecture's initiatives to extend healthy lifespans through pre-symptomatic healthcare improvement. It is a place where people can easily check their health and physical fitness, visualize the results, and receive advice and information on health promotion based on those results. The system involves municipalities, companies, and organizations setting up these centers, which are then certified by Kanagawa Prefecture upon application.
▲ Exterior of a certified "Me-byo Center" store (Me-byo Center Curves Ebina Chuo)
■ Background and Purpose of Full-Store Certification
Since 2014, "Curves, the 30-minute health fitness club for women" has participated in Kanagawa Prefecture's "Me-byo Improvement" initiative. In June 2015, we opened the first Kanagawa-certified "Me-byo Center" in Odawara City. Since then, other stores in the prefecture have progressively received certification, and we have been promoting pre-symptomatic healthcare improvement in cooperation with the prefecture. To date, a total of 10,000 people have received health checks at our "Me-byo Centers."
With this full-store certification, all 148 stores located in daily living areas—such as inside shopping centers, near supermarkets, and in shopping districts—have become local health support hubs. This creates an environment across the prefecture where people can notice changes in their physical strength and condition and find opportunities to start exercising in their daily routines, such as while shopping.
By leveraging our store network rooted in local communities, we will create an environment where local residents can easily engage in "Me-byo Improvement." In doing so, we will contribute more than ever to the extension of healthy lifespans and health promotion for the citizens of Kanagawa Prefecture, which is the prefecture's goal.
■ Activities as a "Me-byo Center"
Each store will offer the following services to promote the health of local residents. Due to the nature of Curves stores, these services are targeted at women.
- Health checks (one-leg standing test, body composition measurement, etc.)
- Advice on exercise and diet from health counselors
- Regular health events
■ What is "Me-byo (Pre-symptomatic disease)"?
Kanagawa Prefecture does not view the state of mind and body as being clearly divided into "health" and "illness." Instead, it is seen as a continuous state of change between the two, and this entire process is referred to as "Me-byo." It is important to bring the mind and body closer to a healthier state through "Me-byo Improvement" in daily life.
The state of continuous change between health and illness, which cannot be clearly distinguished, is "Me-byo."
*Excerpt from the Kanagawa Prefecture website
Reference Information
【Collaboration with Local Governments】
As Japan's population ages, approaching the 'non-exercising population' to extend healthy lifespans has become a common challenge for many local governments.
"Curves, the 30-minute health fitness club for women," through its network of 2,000 stores nationwide, has focused on communicating the importance of health, exercise, and strength training to those who previously had little interest in it. Under the theme of solving social issues as a "community-based health infrastructure," we are promoting initiatives in collaboration with many local governments across the country.
To date, we have collaborated with over 50 local governments, including Nakano-ku in Tokyo, Daisen-cho in Tottori, Mishima-shi in Shizuoka, Yawata-shi in Kyoto, and Sapporo-shi in Hokkaido, implementing various initiatives tailored to the characteristics and challenges of each region. In Kanagawa Prefecture, we have participated in the prefecture's "Me-byo Improvement" initiative since 2014, opening the first Kanagawa-certified "Me-byo Center" in Odawara City in June 2015. Since then, other stores in the prefecture have progressively received certification, and we have been promoting pre-symptomatic healthcare improvement in cooperation with the prefecture.
Going forward, we will continue to promote measures tailored to the health challenges and resident needs of each region together with local governments, contributing to the health promotion of local residents and the creation of vibrant local communities.
【About "Curves, the 30-minute health fitness club for women"】 (https://www
This completes the certification of all 148 "Curves, the 30-minute health fitness club for women" locations in Kanagawa Prefecture as "Me-byo Centers," establishing a system to support the health promotion of local residents. For new stores opening in the prefecture, we will proceed with the certification process in line with the prefecture's certification schedule.
*A "Me-byo Center" is one of Kanagawa Prefecture's initiatives to extend healthy lifespans through pre-symptomatic healthcare improvement. It is a place where people can easily check their health and physical fitness, visualize the results, and receive advice and information on health promotion based on those results. The system involves municipalities, companies, and organizations setting up these centers, which are then certified by Kanagawa Prefecture upon application.
▲ Exterior of a certified "Me-byo Center" store (Me-byo Center Curves Ebina Chuo)
■ Background and Purpose of Full-Store Certification
Since 2014, "Curves, the 30-minute health fitness club for women" has participated in Kanagawa Prefecture's "Me-byo Improvement" initiative. In June 2015, we opened the first Kanagawa-certified "Me-byo Center" in Odawara City. Since then, other stores in the prefecture have progressively received certification, and we have been promoting pre-symptomatic healthcare improvement in cooperation with the prefecture. To date, a total of 10,000 people have received health checks at our "Me-byo Centers."
With this full-store certification, all 148 stores located in daily living areas—such as inside shopping centers, near supermarkets, and in shopping districts—have become local health support hubs. This creates an environment across the prefecture where people can notice changes in their physical strength and condition and find opportunities to start exercising in their daily routines, such as while shopping.
By leveraging our store network rooted in local communities, we will create an environment where local residents can easily engage in "Me-byo Improvement." In doing so, we will contribute more than ever to the extension of healthy lifespans and health promotion for the citizens of Kanagawa Prefecture, which is the prefecture's goal.
■ Activities as a "Me-byo Center"
Each store will offer the following services to promote the health of local residents. Due to the nature of Curves stores, these services are targeted at women.
- Health checks (one-leg standing test, body composition measurement, etc.)
- Advice on exercise and diet from health counselors
- Regular health events
■ What is "Me-byo (Pre-symptomatic disease)"?
Kanagawa Prefecture does not view the state of mind and body as being clearly divided into "health" and "illness." Instead, it is seen as a continuous state of change between the two, and this entire process is referred to as "Me-byo." It is important to bring the mind and body closer to a healthier state through "Me-byo Improvement" in daily life.
The state of continuous change between health and illness, which cannot be clearly distinguished, is "Me-byo."
*Excerpt from the Kanagawa Prefecture website
Reference Information
【Collaboration with Local Governments】
As Japan's population ages, approaching the 'non-exercising population' to extend healthy lifespans has become a common challenge for many local governments.
"Curves, the 30-minute health fitness club for women," through its network of 2,000 stores nationwide, has focused on communicating the importance of health, exercise, and strength training to those who previously had little interest in it. Under the theme of solving social issues as a "community-based health infrastructure," we are promoting initiatives in collaboration with many local governments across the country.
To date, we have collaborated with over 50 local governments, including Nakano-ku in Tokyo, Daisen-cho in Tottori, Mishima-shi in Shizuoka, Yawata-shi in Kyoto, and Sapporo-shi in Hokkaido, implementing various initiatives tailored to the characteristics and challenges of each region. In Kanagawa Prefecture, we have participated in the prefecture's "Me-byo Improvement" initiative since 2014, opening the first Kanagawa-certified "Me-byo Center" in Odawara City in June 2015. Since then, other stores in the prefecture have progressively received certification, and we have been promoting pre-symptomatic healthcare improvement in cooperation with the prefecture.
Going forward, we will continue to promote measures tailored to the health challenges and resident needs of each region together with local governments, contributing to the health promotion of local residents and the creation of vibrant local communities.
【About "Curves, the 30-minute health fitness club for women"】 (https://www