In Kitagawa Village, Kochi Prefecture, launch of an industry-leading low-cost cafe subscription service offering a daily cup of coffee for 980 yen per month

AI Free Coffee Inc. (Headquarters: Toshima-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Shintaro Kainai; hereinafter 'AI Free Coffee'; https://f-coffee.jp/), a provider of cafe subscription services, will introduce its 'F COFFEE Sta.' service, which allows users to enjoy a cup of coffee every day for a monthly fee of 980 yen, in Kitagawa Village, Kochi Prefecture, starting Saturday, April 4, 2026. This service will be installed within a lodging facility operated in Kitagawa Village by the Association for Energizing Japan's Rural Villages (Location: Kitagawa Village, Aki District, Kochi Prefecture; Representative: Ai Yamashiro; hereinafter 'the Association'; https://nousongenki.org/) and will be open year-round for use by local residents and anyone else who wishes to visit. ## About the F COFFEE Sta. Opening Event On the day of the opening, we will provide support for service registration and demonstrations on how to use the system for local residents. We also plan to distribute exclusive tumblers to the first arrivals. ◇ Store Name: Kochi Prefecture Kitagawa Village Sta. ◇ Date and Time: Saturday, April 4, 2026, opening at 9:00 AM ◇ Demonstration Times: 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 7:00 PM ◇ Location: 746 Noyu-ko, Kitagawa Village, Aki District, Kochi Prefecture ## Background of the Collaboration with the Association for Energizing Japan's Rural Villages The Association for Energizing Japan's Rural Villages aims to revitalize rural areas across Japan through various initiatives, such as collaborating with local governments and residents to promote agriculture, expand sales channels for local specialties, and improve agricultural productivity through IT, while also conveying the appeal of rural life to the younger generation. To date, the Association has worked to make rural areas vibrant by creating opportunities for young people to learn about local resources and agriculture, and by supporting 'smart agriculture' that utilizes cutting-edge technologies like robotics, AI, and IoT to achieve labor savings, precision, and high-quality production. Meanwhile, Kitagawa Village has seen an increase in migrants, particularly among young people interested in agriculture, creating a need for smoother communication with local residents. There is also a growing need for places where the elderly can gather and opportunities for them to go out. Given this background, we decided to introduce 'F COFFEE Sta.' in Kitagawa Village, believing that a cafe space is an effective way to foster a rich local community. The Association has previously implemented initiatives to revitalize the community, such as operating Indonesian food stalls using local ingredients and offering original drinks made with yuzu, a local specialty. With the birth of 'F COFFEE Sta.,' we hope it will become a place where people from both inside and outside the region can gather and spark new communication. On the other hand, AI Free Coffee aims to provide a personalized coffee experience as an 'AI Barista that smartly updates your next cup,' learning from every taste to make the next cup more to your liking. As part of this, we are strengthening collaborations nationwide with partners who provide these experiences, while enriching the coffee experience for each individual. Our introduction of this service is the result of a shared vision: AI Free Coffee's desire to provide rich, conversation-filled coffee experiences nationwide, and the Association's goal of revitalizing local communities. ## About F COFFEE Sta. At the Kochi Prefecture Kitagawa Village Sta. operated by the Association, you can enjoy high-quality coffee provided by AI Free Coffee at a reasonable price. AI Free Coffee partners with a factory with over 40 years of experience in selecting and roasting coffee beans from around the world, with a focus on Asia, to create an original blend exclusively for 'F COFFEE Sta.' in pursuit of delicious flavor. By becoming a free F COFFEE member, users can subscribe to the cafe service for 980 yen per month, which includes one free cup of coffee every day*. To use the service, please visit the Kochi Prefecture Kitagawa Village Sta. and register as a member via your smartphone. *To use the service, you will need the member-exclusive, reusable 'F COFFEE Subscription Tumbler' (2,000 yen including tax) or a paper cup (50 yen including tax). After registering, you can select your preferred product from the dedicated page to obtain a QR code. Scanning this at the coffee machine's camera will begin the extraction of your drink. Customers who do not use the subscription system can also purchase items individually. The subscription service allows you to enjoy coffee at a better value. ## Kochi Prefecture Kitagawa Village Sta. Menu ◇ 4 types of menu items *60 yen and up for the second cup onwards ・Dark Roast (HOT) ・Dark Roast (ICE) ・Americano (HOT) ・Americano (ICE) ## About 'F COFFEE Sta.' provided by AI Free Coffee 'F COFFEE Sta.' is a touchpoint for discovery and encounters with 'coffee that becomes your own with every cup.' When partners introduce 'F COFFEE Sta.,' they can choose from multiple plans. We also offer a plan where AI Free Coffee provides the coffee machine and beans free of charge, realizing a win-win business model through a revenue-sharing system. It can also be used as an employee benefit for companies. In the unlikely event of a breakdown, AI Free Coffee covers all repair and replacement costs, minimizing the impact on operations. As the number of 'F COFFEE Sta.' partners increases, the number of locations available to customers will grow, which is expected to improve the overall customer experience. AI Free Coffee will continue to expand its bases across the country, advancing as a new lifestyle infrastructure that delivers a 'freshly brewed cup' into daily life. ## The Importance of 'Third Places' in Local Communities A 'third place' is a social environment separate from the two usual social environments of home and the workplace. In a third place, conversation is the primary activity, and it plays a role in eliminating discrimination among visitors and fostering social equality. Looking at places cited as third places in Japan, 'walking around town/window shopping' is followed by 'self-service coffee shops/cafes' (Source: Nara Prefectural University Research Report No. 8). Thus, enhancing cafe functions in local communities is expected to help activate communication and build relationships among local residents. ## Spokesperson One of the founding members of the Association for Energizing Japan's Rural Villages. In October 2019, he was seconded from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to become the Deputy Mayor of Kitagawa Village. For three and a half years, he was engaged in building an attractive child-rearing and educational environment unique to Kitagawa Village and promoting regional revitalization. Currently, while serving as Assistant Director of the Farming and Women's Division of the Management Bureau at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, he also serves as an advisor to the Association for Energizing Japan's Rural Villages, visiting Kitagawa Village mainly on weekends to support agricultural and community revitalization activities. He is the key figure behind the introduction of the Kochi Prefecture Kitagawa Village Sta. [About AI Free Coffee] Company Name: AI Free Coffee Inc. Headquarters: 2-25-15 Minami-Otsuka, Toshima-ku, Tokyo Representative Director: Shintaro Kainai Business Description: Construction of new lifestyle infrastructure through coffee AI Free Coffee currently provides a cafe subscription service where you can get one free cup of coffee every day for 980 yen per month*. While maintaining one of the lowest price ranges in the industry, we have been committed to quality and taste for coffee-loving customers by partnering with a factory with over 40 years of experience in selecting and roasting coffee beans from around the world and adopting an original blend. In addition, we have achieved low prices through thorough operational cost reduction, such as using our uniquely developed coffee machines that realize low operating costs, a completely cashless and self-service system for efficiency, and promoting initiatives that contribute to the SDGs by encouraging the use of tumblers to reduce waste. Moving forward, we aim to provide a personalized coffee experience utilizing AI. *The monthly subscription fee varies depending on the store's business hours and location. Established: October 2, 2023 Website: https://f-coffee.jp/