Nichii Gakkan Introduces Nurse-Specific Uniforms Chosen by On-Site 'Voices' and 'Votes'

Nichii Gakkan Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Sota Nakagawa; hereinafter 'the Company'), which provides medical, nursing care, and childcare services nationwide, will introduce nurse-specific uniforms starting Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at its visiting nursing, small-scale multifunctional home care, and paid nursing home facilities. As the number of elderly individuals with complex medical and nursing care needs is expected to increase, the company aims to visually clarify the expertise of nursing staff, thereby improving the peace of mind of users, their families, and care managers, and enabling smoother communication. The Company is promoting the creation of an environment where all employees can smile and shine in their own way. As part of this, it launched an employee-participatory 'Uniform Revision Project'. In June 2025, the uniforms for care and home support staff were renewed through a company-wide vote of approximately 35,000 employees. As the second phase of this project, nurse-specific uniforms selected through on-site nurse wear tests and web voting will be introduced. Addressing the On-Site Issue of 'Not Knowing Who the Nurse Is' to Improve Peace of Mind Previously, on-site staff had pointed out communication challenges, such as 'Nurses and care staff wear the same clothes, making it hard to tell them apart, and users sometimes get confused when they want to ask a medical question.' To determine the optimal scope for introduction based on actual on-site conditions, the Company conducted a survey of managers at each location. Based on the results, which showed particularly strong support for introducing nurse-specific uniforms, the decision was made to implement them in three service types: visiting nursing, small-scale multifunctional home care, and paid nursing homes. By making nurses visually identifiable, the introduction of nurse-specific uniforms will facilitate smoother consultations from users, their families, and care managers. In addition to providing a sense of security that medical professionals are nearby, it will also establish a system where external parties can immediately identify nurses, leading to faster collaboration in emergencies. Reflecting the Real Voices of On-Site Nurses: A Uniform Chosen Through Nurse Web Voting In selecting the nurse-specific uniforms, the company pursued not only design but also functionality to support daily work. During the selection process, five on-site nurses wore the two finalist candidates for the web vote, simulating tasks such as medical procedures and caregiving to meticulously evaluate comfort, ease of movement, and functionality. Furthermore, they examined not only breathability and quick-drying properties but also the visibility of sweat stains by actually splashing water. They also considered visibility and balance when placed alongside the navy-blue polo shirts of the care staff, conducting a multi-faceted review. The final selection was made through a web vote targeting all nurses in the three services where the uniforms will be introduced. Nurses provided feedback on practicality and durability, such as 'It has just the right amount of stretch and looks easy to move in' and 'The fabric is sturdy and seems unlikely to lose its shape after washing.' Regarding the color, many comments praised it as 'giving a refreshing impression' and 'looking clean.' The adopted blue color scheme was chosen with a sense of unity with the navy-blue care uniforms in mind, creating a design that clearly shows the expertise of each role while maintaining a sense of unity among the facility staff. As of June 3, 2026, the Nichii Group will have been a member of the Nippon Life Group for three years. Since joining the group, improving employee satisfaction has been the top priority, with efforts focused on improving the work environment and fostering a sense of fulfillment for each individual. This uniform renewal is part of the Nichii Group's ongoing initiative to pursue a better working environment for its employees. The Company and Nichii Care Palace Co., Ltd., which primarily operates paid nursing homes in the Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka areas, are also proceeding with the introduction of new original uniforms, incorporating feedback from on-site staff. Going forward, the Company will continue to promote the creation of an environment where each employee can demonstrate their abilities, aiming to realize the group's vision: 'To become the Nichii Group that is overwhelmingly loved and respected by customers and local communities.' With the vision 'To become the Nichii Group that is overwhelmingly loved and respected by customers and local communities,' the company operates businesses centered on medical-related services, nursing care, and childcare, supporting the lives of people across Japan. It provides services to approximately 6,000 medical institutions, operates about 1,900 nursing care facilities, and has produced over 2 million professionals in the medical and nursing care fields over more than 50 years of human resource development. Company Name: Nichii Gakkan Co., Ltd. Founded: December 1968 Established: August 1973 Location: Ochanomizu Sola City, 4-6 Kanda Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Representative: President and CEO Sota Nakagawa Business: Medical-related services, nursing care services, childcare services, healthcare services Official Website: https://www.nichiigakkan.co.jp/