Yonaguni Town in Okinawa Fully Implements 'Obstetrics and Pediatrics Online' from April 2026 to Support Safe Childbirth and Child-rearing on Japan's Westernmost Island

Kids Public Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Naoya Hashimoto) has collaborated with Yonaguni Town, Yaeyama District, Okinawa Prefecture (Mayor: Tsuneo Uechi) to officially launch 'Obstetrics and Pediatrics Online,' a service operated by the company, as a resident service in Yonaguni Town starting April 1, 2026. The service was first introduced on a trial basis in Yonaguni Town on June 1, 2025, and has now been officially implemented following positive feedback from residents. By creating an environment where residents can easily consult obstetricians, midwives, and pediatricians via their smartphones, the service aims to support safe pregnancy, childbirth, and child-rearing.

Background of 'Obstetrics and Pediatrics Online' Implementation Yonaguni Town, Okinawa Prefecture, upholds the motto 'Everyone protects the children, who are the treasures of the island,' and has been developing regional healthcare and maternal and child health policies tailored to the unique challenges of a remote island. In collaboration with the town's only medical institution, a clinic, they provide specialized obstetric consultations once a month by obstetric specialists and offer unique support measures to reduce economic and physical burdens, such as public subsidies for airfare and accommodation for antenatal check-ups and childbirth off-island (e.g., Ishigaki Island). Additionally, they are dedicated to preventing isolation through detailed home visits by public health nurses and 'accompaniment-style consultation support' from the time of maternal and child health handbook issuance.

However, a challenge remains: there are no resident pediatric specialists in the town, and specialized obstetric consultations are limited. Particularly during late pregnancy, when antenatal check-ups are required every two weeks, pregnant women need to travel off-island by plane, and the physical distance could amplify anxiety regarding sudden changes in condition or nighttime worries.

Amidst these circumstances, to further strengthen existing policies and in-person support, and to resolve geographical constraints with digital technology, Yonaguni Town conducted a trial of online consultation provision using 'Obstetrics and Pediatrics Online' from June 2025. Following positive feedback from residents, the service has now been officially introduced from April 2026.

This service complements existing administrative services by providing a 24-hour system that allows real-time consultations with obstetricians, midwives, and pediatricians via smartphones. Its purpose is to establish a 'safety net of reassurance' for pregnant women who find it difficult to travel during certain periods, and for parents worried about their child's symptoms at night, connecting them with specialists while remaining on the island.

During the trial period, residents who used the service shared comments such as, "It was helpful to get a reply even at night," and "Just being connected to experts provides a sense of security."

Furthermore, in response to the question, "How would your impression of the local government's pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare support change if this service were provided for free?" approximately 90% of respondents answered, "My impression of the local government's support would improve."

With the official implementation starting April 2026, we will continuously provide an environment for easy access to specialists via online consultation from residents' smartphones. Yonaguni Town aims to realize "digitalization that leaves no one behind and is kind to people," and this initiative will further enhance support for pregnancy, childbirth, and child-rearing, contributing to the creation of a "town where children can be born and raised with peace of mind" even on a remote island.

About Yonaguni Town, Okinawa Prefecture Yonaguni Town is Japan's westernmost border island, located approximately 1.5 hours by air from Naha and 30 minutes from Ishigaki Island. It boasts dynamic natural landscapes, valuable endemic species such as the "Yonaguni Horse," and still breathes unique languages and traditional cultures. Towards realizing an "island where nature, life, and historical culture harmonize, allowing residents to live healthily with smiles," the town is promoting self-reliant and sustainable community development that leverages the island's unique characteristics.

The town is dedicated to enhancing medical and healthcare services, both in terms of hardware and software, to overcome geographical constraints such as the absence of specialists and the need for off-island medical visits. Emphasizing "support that accompanies" to ensure no one is isolated even in a remote island environment, they are earnestly working to create an environment where precious children and their families can live with hope for the future.

Magnificent island nature and Yonaguni horses

About 'Obstetrics and Pediatrics Online' services available in Yonaguni Town, Okinawa Prefecture (partial list) Residents of Yonaguni Town, Okinawa Prefecture, can consult pediatricians, obstetricians, and midwives online for free. Men (husbands, partners) can also consult about women's physical and mental health.

◯ Anytime consultation: 24 hours daily One-question, one-answer consultation format where messages can be sent via a website form. Doctors/midwives typically reply within 24 hours in text format.