Misaki Town, Okayama Prefecture, Implements the First "IIJ Electronic @ Contact Book Service" in the Prefecture to Establish a Multi-Layered Support System

We are pleased to announce that the "IIJ Electronic @ Contact Book Service" (hereinafter referred to as "Electronic @ Contact Book") was introduced in Misaki Town, Okayama Prefecture, in October 2025 as part of its regional welfare initiatives. This marks the first instance of the Electronic @ Contact Book being implemented within Okayama Prefecture.

The Electronic @ Contact Book is a "multi-professional collaboration platform" that connects the various professionals who support daily life in a community, including those in medical, welfare, nursing care, and administrative fields. Since its service launch in April 2017, it has served as an ICT platform for doctors, nurses, pharmacists, caregivers, and care managers to share information regarding elderly patients receiving home medical care and pediatric patients. It is currently used by 76 municipalities across Japan, with over 27,000 users.

Background of Implementation

Located in the central part of Okayama Prefecture, Misaki Town faces complex and multifaceted challenges—such as "double care" (*1) and the "8050 problem" (*2)—that are difficult to address through traditional, sector-specific support systems for children, disabilities, poverty, or the elderly. To address this, the town is working on a "Multi-Layered Support System Development Project," where the administration and social welfare organizations work together to provide three types of support: "consultation support regardless of attributes," "participation support (*3)," and "support for community development."

In undertaking this initiative, the town faced challenges not only in fostering collaboration between the administration and relevant organizations beyond organizational boundaries but also in strengthening inter-departmental cooperation within the administration and establishing a communication infrastructure for efficient information sharing among support providers. In response, based on the implementation plan for the Multi-Layered Support System Development Project formulated in 2025, Misaki Town officially introduced the Electronic @ Contact Book following verification among the administration, social welfare organizations, and support providers. It is now being utilized as an information-sharing platform to support the community. Moving forward, it is also expected to serve as a tool to promote digital transformation (DX) within the town.

(*1) A situation where child-rearing and the care of parents or relatives occur simultaneously.

(*2) A social issue where parents in their 80s support the lives of their children in their 50s, often leading to financial hardship and social isolation.

(*3) Providing opportunities for interaction, employment support, housing support, etc., to help individuals who have difficulty participating in society reconnect with the community.

Service Overview

・ Challenges in information coordination among support providers

・ For more information on the IIJ Electronic @ Contact Book Service, please visit the following website:

https://renrakucho.iij.jp/

IIJ will continue to promote the provision of the "IIJ Electronic @ Contact Book Service," a platform that connects professionals supporting community life, to assist in solving various regional issues.

Comment from Misaki Town

Starting in fiscal year 2025, Misaki Town has been working on the "Misaki Town Multi-Layered Support System Development Project"—aiming for more attentive support by layering support and layering our thoughts.

The "Misaki Town Electronic @ Contact Book" is used by support personnel and relevant organizations to share information such as the individual's wishes, support details, and progress, allowing us to provide support that is more aligned with the individual's feelings and thoughts.

Beyond verbal information sharing, the "Electronic @ Contact Book" enables smoother information exchange, allowing for prompt coordination among support providers. It is also effective for organizing and confirming the direction and roles of support.

We will continue to utilize this tool to advance our town's "Multi-Layered Support System Development Project."

Misaki Town Multi-Layered Support Center