Miyagi Prefecture's Marumori Town to Fully Implement "Oshiete Okamoto-kun!", an AI Agent Specialized in Dementia Care, Starting Social Implementation with Full Budget in Reiwa 8 After Pilot Project
Marumori Town in Miyagi Prefecture announced the town-wide implementation of "Oshiete Okamoto-kun!", an AI agent specialized in dementia care. Following a pilot project last year, it will be officially budgeted as an administrative project from Reiwa 8 (2026), aiming to strengthen the community-based integrated care system as a pioneering example of "Dementia DX" in regional revitalization.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 7, 2026 at 21:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 7, 2026 at 12:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 7, 2026 at 12:49 (18 min after Collected)
NEURO CARE TECH Inc. (Headquarters: Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture; Co-representatives: Kazuma Okamoto and Kazumasa Noji; hereinafter "NEURO") announced the full-scale implementation of "Oshiete Okamoto-kun!", an AI agent specialized in dementia care, in Marumori Town, Miyagi Prefecture (Mayor: Kunio Hoshina).
This project, following a pilot project conducted last fiscal year, has been officially budgeted as an administrative project from Reiwa 8 (2026). Going forward, it aims to strengthen the community-based integrated care system as a pioneering example of "Dementia DX" in regional revitalization.
What is "Oshiete Okamoto-kun!"?
"Oshiete Okamoto-kun!" is an AI chatbot created based on experience in responding to over 2,200 people suffering from dementia symptoms.
【Service Overview】
"Oshiete Okamoto-kun!" is an AI agent that provides instant, personalized advice on dementia-related concerns and questions 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, via LINE. This reduces the mental burden on families with dementia patients, business caregivers, and nursing/medical professionals, and resolves information gaps. No special technical skills are required; it can be easily used by simply sending a LINE message. Over 700 people nationwide have used the service.
*Note: While individuals with dementia can also use the service, its primary purpose is for family members to utilize it.
1. Background of the Project: Why is "AI Dementia Care" needed in Marumori Town now?
* Deepening social costs: The social cost of dementia has reached approximately 14.5 trillion yen, with the burden of "informal care (family care)" being a major factor, even more than medical expenses.
* Neglected "Caregiver QOL": 3.65 million business caregivers struggle to balance work and care, facing challenges of reduced productivity due to mental and physical burden.
* Paradigm shift to non-pharmacological therapy: The global medical trend is shifting towards basing treatment on "non-pharmacological therapy" aimed at maintaining QOL. Marumori Town has previously focused on resident-participatory prevention activities, but has now decided to introduce AI technology to further strengthen "immediate support for families."
2. Comment from Mayor Hoshina of Marumori Town: Expression of Strong Will through Public-Private Partnership
Comment from Mr. Kunio Hoshina, Mayor of Marumori Town, Miyagi Prefecture:
"As the aging population progresses, dementia care has become one of the most critical issues. This project has played a significant role in alleviating anxiety not only for individuals with dementia but also for their families, medical, and nursing care professionals who care for them. We hope that this project will continue to accumulate specialized knowledge and become a strong partner for those who need advice."
3. Comment from NEURO CARE TECH Representatives: Desire to Serve Town Residents
Comment from Kazuma Okamoto / Kazumasa Noji, Representatives of NEURO CARE TECH Inc.:
"We are proud that this technology, born from our own experience of suffering from family dementia, has become an official project of Marumori Town and can be used by the town's residents. We will strengthen the bond of 'peace of mind' with technology and create a society where no one suffers from dementia."
4. Horizontal Expansion to Other Municipalities: Support for Introduction and Budgeting
This project has a scheme in place for rapid introduction in other municipalities. Low barrier to entry: No dedicated device required. Residents can complete everything using familiar LINE. Provision of budgeting logic: Sharing performance data from Marumori Town.
【Contact Information】
NEURO CARE TECH Inc.
〒526-0834 1F, 36 Ohtatsumi-cho, Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture
Email: info@nct-net.com
Homepage: https://ninteishou-care-tech-h0iglvg.gamma.site/
This project, following a pilot project conducted last fiscal year, has been officially budgeted as an administrative project from Reiwa 8 (2026). Going forward, it aims to strengthen the community-based integrated care system as a pioneering example of "Dementia DX" in regional revitalization.
What is "Oshiete Okamoto-kun!"?
"Oshiete Okamoto-kun!" is an AI chatbot created based on experience in responding to over 2,200 people suffering from dementia symptoms.
【Service Overview】
"Oshiete Okamoto-kun!" is an AI agent that provides instant, personalized advice on dementia-related concerns and questions 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, via LINE. This reduces the mental burden on families with dementia patients, business caregivers, and nursing/medical professionals, and resolves information gaps. No special technical skills are required; it can be easily used by simply sending a LINE message. Over 700 people nationwide have used the service.
*Note: While individuals with dementia can also use the service, its primary purpose is for family members to utilize it.
1. Background of the Project: Why is "AI Dementia Care" needed in Marumori Town now?
* Deepening social costs: The social cost of dementia has reached approximately 14.5 trillion yen, with the burden of "informal care (family care)" being a major factor, even more than medical expenses.
* Neglected "Caregiver QOL": 3.65 million business caregivers struggle to balance work and care, facing challenges of reduced productivity due to mental and physical burden.
* Paradigm shift to non-pharmacological therapy: The global medical trend is shifting towards basing treatment on "non-pharmacological therapy" aimed at maintaining QOL. Marumori Town has previously focused on resident-participatory prevention activities, but has now decided to introduce AI technology to further strengthen "immediate support for families."
2. Comment from Mayor Hoshina of Marumori Town: Expression of Strong Will through Public-Private Partnership
Comment from Mr. Kunio Hoshina, Mayor of Marumori Town, Miyagi Prefecture:
"As the aging population progresses, dementia care has become one of the most critical issues. This project has played a significant role in alleviating anxiety not only for individuals with dementia but also for their families, medical, and nursing care professionals who care for them. We hope that this project will continue to accumulate specialized knowledge and become a strong partner for those who need advice."
3. Comment from NEURO CARE TECH Representatives: Desire to Serve Town Residents
Comment from Kazuma Okamoto / Kazumasa Noji, Representatives of NEURO CARE TECH Inc.:
"We are proud that this technology, born from our own experience of suffering from family dementia, has become an official project of Marumori Town and can be used by the town's residents. We will strengthen the bond of 'peace of mind' with technology and create a society where no one suffers from dementia."
4. Horizontal Expansion to Other Municipalities: Support for Introduction and Budgeting
This project has a scheme in place for rapid introduction in other municipalities. Low barrier to entry: No dedicated device required. Residents can complete everything using familiar LINE. Provision of budgeting logic: Sharing performance data from Marumori Town.
【Contact Information】
NEURO CARE TECH Inc.
〒526-0834 1F, 36 Ohtatsumi-cho, Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture
Email: info@nct-net.com
Homepage: https://ninteishou-care-tech-h0iglvg.gamma.site/