Jimoty, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as "Jimoty") has been collaborating with Kitami City, Hokkaido (hereinafter referred to as "Kitami City"), with whom it signed a "Corporate Location Agreement" in July 2019, to promote the reuse of products collected as bulky waste. To further reduce waste within the city, we will open the "Jimoty Spot Kitami Store" on April 17, 2026. The Jimoty Spot Kitami Store will be the first in the Eastern Hokkaido region for our public-private partnership reuse hub.

About Jimoty Spot

Jimoty Spot is a service that allows people within a region to exchange "items that are still usable but no longer needed." Those who wish to give away unwanted items can simply bring them in without a reservation, connecting them to the next person who needs them. Those who wish to receive items can check product information on the local information site "Jimoty," and then view and purchase/pick up the item at the store. We widely reuse "still usable items" that might be discarded due to low resale value or high shipping costs for furniture, which are often not accepted by recycle shops.

【3 Benefits for Citizens and Local Governments】

＜For those wishing to give away unwanted items＞ ・No reservation required, zero fees, reducing the effort and cost of disposal as bulky waste.

＜For those wishing to receive items＞ ・Can obtain reusable items at affordable prices, or even for "free." (e.g., Rice cooker for ¥300, chair for ¥0)

＜For Local Governments＞ ・Suppresses waste generation, effectively promoting waste reduction and resource circulation within the region.

Details of "Jimoty Spot Kitami Store"

The "Jimoty Spot Kitami Store" aims for locally rooted operations in cooperation with Murata Co., Ltd., which operates the comprehensive recycle shop "Kodawariya" in Kitami City.

【Jimoty Spot Kitami Store】 ・Address: 2-chome 18-16 Nishitomi-cho, Kitami City, Hokkaido ・Opening: April 17, 2026 (Friday) ・Business Hours: 10:00 - 18:00 ・Regular Holidays: Tuesdays, Year-End/New Year holidays. *Closed 3 times a year for store cleaning (April, August, December). ・Accepted Items: ・Furniture, home appliances, children's goods, sports/leisure goods, musical instruments, tableware, books/CDs, clothing, pet supplies, etc. *Only Kitami City residents can bring items (ID required). ・Store HP: https://jmty.jp/about/jmtyspot_kitami *Service details are subject to change without prior notice.

Greetings on the Store Opening

【Kitami City】Waste Management Division

We are delighted that "Jimoty Spot" will be established for the first time in Eastern Hokkaido through the collaboration between Jimoty, Inc. and Murata Co., Ltd., which has been operating a buying and selling business in Kitami City for many years. Jimoty, Inc. has made significant contributions to promoting reuse in Kitami City through its internet service "Jimoty, the Local Bulletin Board." With the opening of this physical store, citizens will be able to directly bring in usable unwanted items, greatly expanding the options for reuse. We expect that the utilization of this service by many citizens will further accelerate reuse initiatives in Kitami City.

【Operation: Murata Co., Ltd.】Representative Director Mitsunori Murata

We are now set to operate the new "Jimoty Spot" as a way to give back to our local community of Kitami City, which has nurtured us for many years. Our family business, "Kodawariya," has been involved with the local community through the reuse and recycling of goods since the previous generation. However, in this process, we have often faced "wasteful" items that could not be saved, causing us distress. It was at such a time that we encountered Jimoty's philosophy, and we became convinced that this was the path to solve our store's challenges and contribute to the community. By co-locating the traditional "Comprehensive Recycle Shop Kodawariya" with "Jimoty Spot," we will enable the circulation (reuse) of a wider range of products. This will help reduce Kitami City's waste output and processing costs, thereby contributing to the city's fiscal health. Furthermore, we will strive to make this hub more than just a place to exchange items, but also a community space where local residents can interact, contributing to the further revitalization of Kitami City. We sincerely ask for your continued patronage and support.

Past Achievements and Future Outlook

Jimoty has signed reuse agreements with 295 municipalities nationwide and operates Jimoty Spots in 34 of them. In 2025, approximately 1.4 million items were reused across all locations, resulting in a waste reduction effect of about 4,300 tons (*1). We plan to expand Jimoty Spots to 329 stores by 2030. This is expected to reduce waste by approximately 84,000 tons annually (254 tons per store), which accounts for about 6% of the total bulky waste and clothing waste generated nationwide.

Jimoty Spots will continue to strengthen cooperation with local governments and regional businesses, establishing accessible reuse points to make "gifting" as simple a choice as "throwing away." We aim to build reuse as a standard social infrastructure, making local life richer and more sustainable.

▼Details of initiatives to promote reuse in cooperation with municipalities https://jmty.co.jp/lp/municipality/

*1 Calculated from the average weight of items brought in and the number of items reused. *2 Based on average Jimoty Spot store performance in 2025 (calculated from the month after opening, excluding limited operating days or some small population areas).

【For Municipalities Interested in Collaboration】

We welcome inquiries from local governments and companies nationwide considering promoting resource circulation and waste reduction within their regions. 〈For Municipalities Only〉Inquiry Form https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSepC3XJpQA5cTRAaTuK-kOw4oZiZ7NmgYmzbsIldhRzKsKZww/viewform

【Jimoty Spot FC Franchise Stores Recruiting!】

We are recruiting companies nationwide who deeply empathize with our philosophy and initiatives and wish to co-create highly community-contributing services as Jimoty Spot FC franchise stores. Why not leverage your region's "mottainai" (wasteful) items to create new value? 〈For FC Franchise Stores〉Inquire here https://jmty.jp/info/jmtyspot_fc?srsltid=AfmBOooH2_Qkk-Ye2vnxd-q_zSt6vEHGJdg3DXCmw_GcGduFAJl7A4_h

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  • Source: PR TIMES
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