Nagoya City Launches Citizen Participation Online Platform 'Idea Cafe Meian-ya' for Revision of Basic Concept After Approximately 50 Years

Liquitous Inc. (Headquarters: Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, CEO: Takuyuki Kurimoto, hereinafter Liquitous) has been commissioned by Nagoya City (General Affairs Bureau, Planning Department, Planning Division) for the "Operation of Citizen Participation Online Platform, etc." project, and will support the establishment of a system to reflect citizens' voices in the Basic Concept and the next Comprehensive Plan.

Furthermore, starting July 1, 2026 (Wed), Liquitous will begin operating its proprietary citizen participation consensus-building platform "Liqlid" in Nagoya City under the nickname "Idea Cafe Meian-ya." Users can easily post opinions from smartphones and PCs, and can also comment on and react to other citizens' posts. In the future, by combining this with in-person workshops and programs for children, we will reflect the voices of a wide range of generations in the concept and plan.

Background of the Initiative

The current Nagoya City Basic Concept is the oldest among designated cities. While it has long served as a compass for urban development, the social environment surrounding the city has changed significantly, with a continued net outflow of young people to the Tokyo metropolitan area.

In addition, with the future opening of the Chuo Shinkansen (Maglev train) in mind, Nagoya is at a major turning point as a central city in a vast exchange sphere connecting Tokyo and Osaka.

Against this backdrop, it is essential to strategically advance urban development with a medium- to long-term perspective, sharing directions and collaborating with diverse stakeholders such as citizens, companies, universities, and NPOs, to respond to complex urban challenges in an era where future social changes are difficult to predict.

Based on the above background, this platform operation has been launched as a mechanism to gather diverse voices from as many people as possible.

Overview of the Initiative

This initiative targets all citizens of Nagoya and aims to envision the future of Nagoya together with its citizens.

Citizen Participation Online Platform "Idea Cafe Meian-ya" URL https://www.meianya.city.nagoya.jp/

(1) Establishing a Mechanism for Dialogue, Not Just Opinion Submission

Opinions can be anonymously posted from smartphones and PCs regarding the "Nagoya City Basic Concept" and the next Comprehensive Plan. The comment and reaction functions for other citizens' opinions will shift the focus from one-way "opinion submission" to "dialogue" among citizens.

(2) Support for Reflecting Opinions

An AI will be used for preliminary analysis of submitted opinions, allowing both citizens and administrative staff to grasp the trends in the opinions received. This function will also be used by Nagoya City to provide feedback on how citizens' opinions are being received and how they are planned to be reflected in the plan. This will realize a consensus-building process with high responsiveness and transparency.

(3) Future Schedule

Period

Content

July 2026 onwards

"Meian-ya" operation launch & online opinion collection

September 2026 onwards

Citizen workshops (multiple sessions planned)

Winter break 2026

Children's workshops

End of FY2027

Consolidation and analysis of opinions to be reflected in the Basic Concept and Comprehensive Plan

Comment from Nagoya City

Amidst a major turning point, including changes in population structure, diversification of values, and the upcoming opening of the Chuo Shinkansen, envisioning the future of Nagoya is more important than ever.

To this end, it is essential to consider the future direction by carefully listening to the thoughts and experiences of each individual living in Nagoya, not just the administration and councils.

"Meian-ya" aims to be a place where everyone, regardless of age or status, can easily share their opinions, following Nagoya's cafe culture.

Grand proposals are not necessary. Your frank thoughts, such as what you like about Nagoya, the scenery and culture you want to preserve, and your expectations for Nagoya's future, will be valuable hints for thinking about Nagoya's future.

Please share your "Nagoya's charm" and "what you think is unique to Nagoya" at "Idea Cafe Meian-ya."

Comment from Takuyuki Kurimoto, CEO of Liquitous Inc.

I am deeply honored to be involved in the design and implementation of the dialogue process between citizens and the administration in the formulation of Nagoya City's next Basic Concept and Comprehensive Plan.

Today, the qualitative significance of basic concepts and comprehensive plans is shifting from mere administrative plans to a common compass for citizens and the administration to share and take action from their respective positions.

Nagoya City, in particular, is a city whose position among major domestic cities is expected to change, with the development of the Chuo Shinkansen as a new national axis planned in the near future.

Looking ahead to this transformation, we will strive not only to achieve the final outcome but also to deepen mutual understanding and build a foundation for citizens and the administration to continue working together through the process of dialogue, drawing a new, shared compass for the city while engaging in dialogue with citizens.

We aim to carefully nurture a process where people of diverse generations and backgrounds can discuss the future as if it were their own concern.

About Liquitous Inc.

Liquitous aims to create a society where "everyone can exert their influence" by improving the inclusivity, transparency, and responsiveness of policy-making processes through technology. As a "communication agent between citizens and the administration," we provide end-to-end services including the development of our citizen participation consensus-building platform "Liqlid," as well as its implementation, operation, adoption support, and effect analysis.

We are advancing initiatives in domestic municipalities such as Nagoya City and Osaka Prefecture, urban development projects like Kashiwanoha Smart City, and with government agencies and municipalities in the Republic of Indonesia.

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