Creating “Thank You for the Meal” Together: Conducting a Pilot Experiment for "JRE Children's Cafeteria"

East Japan Railway Company (hereinafter "JR East") and Gigi Inc. (hereinafter "Gigi"), an awardee of the "12th JR East Startup Program," will jointly conduct a pilot experiment of the "JRE Children's Cafeteria" at Chapo Ichikawa, Chapo Motoyawata, Fukushima Station West Exit Power City Pivot, and Espal Fukushima, together with JR East Urban Development Corporation, JR East Tohoku General Service Co., Ltd., Sendai Terminal Building Co., Ltd., and JR East Startup Corporation.

The "JRE Children's Cafeteria" is an umbrella term for children's cafeterias operated by the JR East Group. In this initiative at station commercial facilities, digital meal tickets will be distributed using the "Kodomo Gochimeshi" system provided by Gigi, funded by points donated by JRE POINT members. Through this, local children will receive meals from dining establishments within the station commercial facilities. This marks the second time such a pilot experiment has been conducted under this scheme, following last winter's trial, and will continue verifying and improving toward building a sustainable model.

This initiative is part of JR East's "HAPPY CHILD PROJECT," aiming to support children by providing monitored, enriching mealtime experiences through food, and to promote child-rearing support in collaboration with local communities.

1. Overview of the Pilot Experiment at Station Commercial Facilities: "JRE Children's Cafeteria"

By distributing digital meal tickets issued through Gigi's "Kodomo Gochimeshi" system—funded by points donated from JRE POINT members—children in the local community can enjoy meals at designated restaurants within the station commercial facilities.

(1) Period: August 3 (Mon), 2026 – August 31 (Mon), 2026 (planned)

(2) Locations: 1. Greater Tokyo Area: Chapo Ichikawa, Chapo Motoyawata

2. Fukushima Area: Fukushima Station West Exit Power City Pivot, Espal Fukushima

(3) Participating Stores: Designated stores within the above facilities offering dine-in and takeout services

(4) Eligibility: Children aged junior high school or younger residing in 1. Ichikawa City or 2. Fukushima City. (Note: Meal costs for accompanying adults are not covered.)

(5) Offering: Digital meal tickets (1,000 yen per child per use)

※Users must register with "Kodomo Gochimeshi." Each transaction requires a minimum spend of 1,000 yen to use the ticket. There is a limit on the number of uses per child during the period, with priority given to families in greater need.

※Detailed URL: https://jre-kodomoshokudo.kodomo-gochimeshi.org/

※Station and station commercial facility staff (from left: Ichikawa Station, Motoyawata Station, Fukushima Station)

2. About the JRE POINT Donation Program

Starting today, donations of JRE POINTs to the "JRE Children's Cafeteria" will be accepted via the product exchange page on the JRE POINT website. All donated points will be fully converted into meals for children through Gigi's "Kodomo Gochimeshi" system. The effectiveness and sustainability of this system will be evaluated within the everyday commuter environment of station-connected commercial facilities.

Donation URL: https://www.jrepoint.jp/item/26000173/

Donation Period: June 29 (Mon), 2026 – July 28 (Tue), 2026 (planned)

※This initiative is funded by donations from JRE POINT members as well as contributions from JR East.

3. Mechanism of the Station-Based Children's Cafeteria Model

Points donated by JRE POINT members are converted into digital meal tickets via Gigi's "GOCHI Platform." Children registered with "Kodomo Gochimeshi" can present their digital meal tickets at checkout after dining at designated stores within the commercial facilities.

[Concept Diagram of the System]

※The above is an illustrative image. ※Registration with "Kodomo Gochimeshi" is required to use the service. ※Parents or guardians must complete identity verification for their children via a dedicated website. Please allow approximately seven days from verification to ticket availability. ※"Kodomo Gochimeshi" is a service that turns local restaurants into children's cafeterias, allowing children to visit at their preferred time and day. (See [Reference] for details.)

4. Future Vision for "JRE Children's Cafeteria"

"JRE Children's Cafeteria" is the collective name for children's cafeteria initiatives by the JR East Group. To increase public awareness, a new design representing the JRE Children's Cafeteria concept will be created and rolled out progressively.

This station-based children's cafeteria initiative is the second phase, following a previous pilot at "Beans Musashinakahara." Building on past results, JR East Group and Gigi aim to establish a community co-creation model through continuous expansion and strengthened collaboration with local communities.

The JR East Group and Gigi will continue expanding initiatives that leverage station hubs and local connections to help build a society that supports child-rearing families.

[Reference]

JR East Group "HAPPY CHILD PROJECT"

The JR East Group aims to support work-life balance and contribute to local communities by developing childcare support facilities such as daycare centers and hosting family-friendly events, primarily in the Greater Tokyo area. Moving forward, the Group will continue addressing diverse child-rearing needs and work toward creating communities where everyone can live comfortably.

URL: https://www.jreast.co.jp/kosodate/

JRE POINT

"JRE POINT" is JR East Group's unified loyalty program that allows users to earn and redeem points across various daily scenarios by linking services such as Mobile Suica, Ekinet, and View Card.

URL: https://www.jrepoint.jp/

JRE POINT members can donate their accumulated points via the product exchange page on the JRE POINT website.

Product Exchange Page URL: https://www.jrepoint.jp/item/list/

JR East Startup Program

This program invites business and service proposals from startups and innovators that utilize JR East's operational resources and data assets related to stations, railways, and Group businesses, refining and realizing selected ideas. First launched in 2017, the program has selected 149 proposals to date. The 2026 Spring Program has closed applications, and selection is currently underway. The program received the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award at the First Japan Open Innovation Award 2018 hosted by the Cabinet Office, and the Minister of the Environment Award at the Third Japan Open Innovation Award 2020.

URL: https://jrestartup.co.jp/program/

Gigi Inc.

Gigi Inc. operates under the philosophy of "Your Happiness is My Happiness," providing the "GOCHI Platform" that issues pay-it-forward style digital meal tickets. Through services such as "Kodomo Gochimeshi" and "Shakushoku Gochimeshi," Gigi aims to create a kinder system connecting people, restaurants, and communities, and to foster a new social value where the spirit of giving circulates throughout society.

URL: https://www.gigi.tokyo/

What is "Kodomo Gochimeshi"?

"Kodomo Gochimeshi" transforms local restaurants into "children's cafeterias" to deliver meals to children from families in need. By connecting donors, restaurants, and children via digital tickets, it addresses longstanding challenges of traditional children's cafeterias—such as staffing shortages, irregular operating schedules, and funding gaps—creating a sustainable, mutually beneficial model that benefits all three parties: local restaurants, children, and donors.

URL: https://kodomo-gochimeshi.org/