LIFULL and Tarumi City, Kagoshima Prefecture Sign Comprehensive Partnership Agreement for Regional Revitalization

LIFULL Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Yuji Ito; TSE Prime: 2120, hereinafter "LIFULL"), a company that addresses social issues through its businesses, signed a comprehensive partnership agreement for regional revitalization with Tarumi City, Kagoshima Prefecture on March 30, 2026 (Monday).

This agreement aims to solve serious social issues faced by Tarumi City, such as "population decline" and "vacant housing problems." LIFULL and Tarumi City will cooperate in information dissemination and initiatives related to digital human resource development and support for balancing childcare and work. They will also build a sustainable matching function for vacant properties, leveraging the know-how of private companies.

Background

Tarumi City, a naturally rich area overlooking Kinko Bay and the majestic Sakurajima, is blessed with regional resources such as primary industries including the nation's top production of farmed amberjack and hot springs. However, the increase in vacant houses due to population decline has become a serious challenge. In addition to the aging of property owners, costs for repair and maintenance of roofs, etc., and abandonment of management due to inheritance are major hurdles to utilization, leading to an increase in cases where vacant houses are left unattended.

Tarumi City has been working to utilize vacant houses as a base for relocation and settlement, but a more specialized approach was needed to further accelerate the creation of related populations and relocation/settlement.

In recent years, with the spread of telework, there has been an increase in urban business professionals aiming for childcare in a rich natural environment and improved work-life balance, leading to a growing demand for diverse working styles.

Tarumi City and LIFULL have previously collaborated on initiatives such as holding teleworker training courses, developing "childcare-inclusive offices" where parents can bring their children to work, and supporting the recruitment of regional revitalization cooperation team members. Based on these past collaborations, this comprehensive partnership agreement was concluded to further enhance these initiatives and establish a stronger cooperative framework for solving regional issues by leveraging LIFULL's expertise and network regarding vacant houses.

Overview

Name: Comprehensive Partnership Agreement for Regional Revitalization

Date of Conclusion: March 30, 2026

Purpose: To create a prosperous future for the region by cooperating and supporting each other through promoting the creation of related populations and relocation, settlement, and dual-residence, supporting the balance between childcare and work and work-life balance, recruiting and developing human resources for solving regional issues, and utilizing vacant houses, vacant stores, and idle vacant facilities.

Main Initiatives:

- Information dissemination to promote relocation, settlement, and dual-residence.

- Support for balancing childcare and work, promotion of work-life balance, and advancement of digital human resource development.

- Recruitment and development of human resources for solving regional issues.

Comment from Mai Akiniba, Executive Officer and General Manager of HR Solution Business Department, LIFULL Co., Ltd.

The population decline and vacant housing problems faced by Tarumi City are serious issues that local governments across Japan are confronting, and prompt action is required.

Through this comprehensive partnership agreement for regional revitalization, we will work with Tarumi City to promote relocation, settlement, and dual-residence, utilize vacant properties, and advance initiatives for sustainable regional development and a prosperous future, including support for balancing childcare and work and the development of digital human resources.

We strongly expect that this collaboration, the first with a local government in Kagoshima Prefecture for LIFULL, will serve as a model case for the nation and spread to other municipalities, thereby contributing to regional revitalization throughout Japan.

Comment from Yuji Masuda, CEO of Local Revitalization Business, LIFULL Co., Ltd.

To date, our company has been engaged in the utilization of vacant houses by operating a nationwide vacant house bank and supporting the establishment and operation of vacant house consultation services in local governments. We also engage in the consideration of measures tailored to local conditions and support for the construction of operational frameworks.

In Tarumi City, we will leverage this expertise to promote the circulation of vacant houses and matching with relocation applicants, working steadily with the local community in cooperation with human resources such as regional revitalization cooperation team members.

Through this agreement, we will contribute to improving the attractiveness of the region and creating related populations.

About LIFULL Co., Ltd. (https://lifull.com/)

LIFULL Co., Ltd. aims to solve social issues that hinder peace of mind and joy, from individual challenges to broader societal problems, through its business, under the corporate message "Arifuru LIFE wo, FULL ni." Currently, the group is expanding its business through services such as the real estate and housing information service "LIFULL HOME'S," "LIFULL Care" which supports seniors' lives, and the real estate investment and rental property information site "Kenbiya" (literally "Health and Beauty House").