Ministry of the Environment's "National 'New Onsen Tourism' Effect Measurement Survey Project" - SOXAI Participates as Technical Partner for the Second Consecutive Year

SOXAI Inc. (Headquarters: Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture; President and CEO: Tatsuhiko Watanabe; hereinafter "SOXAI") is pleased to announce its participation as a technical partner in the Ministry of the Environment's "National 'New Onsen Tourism' Effect Measurement Survey Project." SOXAI will cooperate in a survey to understand and analyze changes in physical and mental indicators before and after stays at hot spring resorts.

This survey combines objective vital data acquired by SOXAI's smart ring, "SOXAI RING"—such as heart rate, skin temperature, blood oxygen saturation, and sleep-related indicators—with participant questionnaires to analyze changes in physical and mental indicators before and after stays at hot spring resorts.

This survey is part of the "National 'New Onsen Tourism' Effect Measurement Survey Project," conducted by the Ministry of the Environment with the Japan Health Development and Promotion Foundation serving as the secretariat. SOXAI is providing technical support for the acquisition and analysis of objective data in the Ministry of the Environment's nationwide survey through its technological infrastructure, which handles everything from data acquisition using its domestically designed, developed, and manufactured smart ring to domestic data management, analysis, and provision of an analysis environment.

We are currently recruiting 100 SOXAI RING users nationwide who can cooperate with this survey. The application deadline is Sunday, August 23, 2026. Participants selected for the survey will receive a letter of appreciation from the Ministry of the Environment and an "E-gift" worth 1,000 points.

▼ Recruitment Page and Application Here

https://soxai.co.jp/pages/env-shintoji

Key Points of This Release

SOXAI is participating as a technical partner in the Ministry of the Environment's "National 'New Onsen Tourism' Effect Measurement Survey Project" for the second consecutive year, continuing its technical cooperation from the previous year.

As a first in Japan4, we are providing our proprietary smart ring, designed, developed, and manufactured in Japan, along with a technological infrastructure that handles data management and analysis domestically, to a nationwide effect measurement survey conducted by a government agency. By utilizing objective physical data in addition to traditional subjective questionnaires, we will grasp and analyze changes in physical and mental indicators before and after stays at hot spring resorts.

We are recruiting 100 SOXAI RING users who have stayed one night or more at a Japanese hot spring resort and have bathed in the hot springs. The application deadline is Sunday, August 23, 2026.

4First in Japan: Refers to an initiative where a domestic smart ring manufacturer provides vital data acquisition and analysis environment for a nationwide effect measurement survey conducted by a government agency, using its proprietary smart ring designed, developed, and manufactured in Japan. As of July 1, 2026, according to SOXAI's research based on publicly available information.

SOXAI's Technological Infrastructure Supporting the Ministry of the Environment's Nationwide Survey

SOXAI's ability to participate as a technical partner in the Ministry of the Environment's nationwide survey is underpinned by its technological infrastructure, which allows for integrated design and operation from device to data analysis, and its management system for appropriately handling physical data.

Integrated Development System for Core Technologies

SOXAI develops its core technologies in-house, covering sensor design, hardware design, device firmware, biosignal algorithms, applications, and data analysis/visualization.

In this survey, which involves continuously acquiring data from participants nationwide, our system for integrated design and operation from device to analysis environment provides technical support for everything from data acquisition to analysis.

Domestic Devices × Domestic Data Management

The SOXAI RING is a smart ring manufactured in Japan, designed, developed, and produced domestically. SOXAI has established a system that handles everything from data acquisition by the device to its storage and analysis within Japan.

For initiatives like this survey, which involve continuously acquiring and analyzing physical data from participants nationwide, it is crucial to be able to consistently manage device quality, handle data, and explain analysis results.

SOXAI holds ISMS (ISO/IEC 27001) certification and has obtained the Privacy Mark. We operate under appropriate security and personal information protection management systems for this survey, which involves highly public and sensitive physical data.

Possessing both domestic devices and domestic data management/analysis capabilities is a significant value that SOXAI can offer to sectors with high data management requirements, including government agencies, municipalities, healthcare, insurance, and corporate wellness.

Scientific Verification in Collaboration with Academia

In May 2026, SOXAI entered into a joint research agreement with the Graduate School of Education, The University of Tokyo, on the theme of "Development of Advanced Smart Rings for Sleep, Behavior, and Physiological Monitoring."

Through such joint research, we continuously conduct scientific verification of our measurement technologies and algorithms. By leveraging insights gained from research activities conducted separately from this survey, we aim to advance the interpretation and utilization of data related to sleep and physical/mental conditions, striving for more reliable data utilization.

Background: "New Onsen Tourism" and the Initiative to Understand Changes Before and After Stays at Hot Spring Resorts "with Data"

"New Onsen Tourism" (Shintoji) was proposed in 2017 as a way to enjoy hot spring resorts that aligns with modern lifestyles. It refers to refreshing oneself both physically and mentally at a hot spring resort through not only bathing but also through interactions with the surrounding nature, history, culture, food, and local people.

The Ministry of the Environment has been conducting the "National 'New Onsen Tourism' Effect Measurement Survey Project" since fiscal year 2018 to grasp changes in physical and mental states associated with stays at hot spring resorts using a common nationwide methodology. In recent years, in addition to traditional subjective surveys, efforts have been made to understand and analyze changes in physical and mental indicators before and after stays at hot spring resorts by combining objective physical data from smart rings.

Continuously grasping and analyzing changes in physical indicators, including sleep, before and after stays at hot spring resorts is expected to lead to the rediscovery of the value of hot spring resorts, health promotion, well-being, and regional revitalization.

SOXAI supports the acquisition of this objective data as a technical partner. Through the SOXAI RING and its analysis environment, we are cooperating with the Ministry of the Environment's survey. SOXAI also participated as a technical partner in last year's project, marking its second consecutive year of cooperation. Through continuous participation, we will contribute to the accumulation of data across fiscal years and the enhancement of survey analysis.

Regarding Participant Recruitment

We are recruiting 100 SOXAI RING users nationwide who can cooperate with this survey. Eligible participants are those who have stayed one night or more at a Japanese hot spring resort and have bathed in the hot springs. They will be asked to cooperate by providing SOXAI RING data and completing a simple questionnaire before and after their trip. Participants selected for the survey will receive a letter of appreciation from the Ministry of the Environment and an "E-gift" worth 1,000 points. The application deadline is Sunday, August 23, 2026.

The data provided will be processed in a way that does not identify individuals before being provided to the Ministry of the Environment and the Japan Health Development and Promotion Foundation, the project secretariat.

▼ For details on participation conditions, application methods, etc., please check the recruitment page below.

https://soxai.co.jp/pages/env-shintoji

About "SOXAI RING"

The SOXAI RING is a Japanese-made smart ring that acquires and visualizes data related to health and condition in daily life, including sleep, heart rate, skin temperature, blood oxygen saturation, and activity levels.

About SOXAI Inc.

SOXAI is a health-tech company founded in 2021 with the vision of "Healthcare into Lifestyle." By applying vital sensing technology to all aspects of life, we aim to realize a world where people can naturally engage in health promotion.

https://soxai.co.jp/pages/about-us

Headquarters Location: 1-2-1 Furōchō, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture

Representative: Tatsuhiko Watanabe, President and CEO

Established: 2021

Contact for Media Inquiries Regarding This Release

SOXAI Inc.

Atsuki Mitsuyori, Director and Vice President

Email: info@soxai.co.jp / Phone: 045-264-9397