Town News Launches 'JichiCa' Support Site for Local Neighborhood Associations
Town News Co., Ltd. has launched 'JichiCa,' a digital platform to support the activities of neighborhood associations in Kanagawa. Starting in Yokohama's Sakae Ward, the service aims to reduce the burden of paper circulars and promote regional digitalization.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 3, 2026 at 19:00
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 2, 2026 at 13:00 (1434h 0m after Published)
Town News Co., Ltd. (President: Tomonari Uyama; Headquarters: Aoba-ku, Yokohama) opened 'JichiCa,' a community support site to digitally assist neighborhood association activities as a new business venture on April 1, 2026.
### Starting from Sakae Ward, Yokohama; Expanding to 7,300 Neighborhood Associations in Kanagawa
Currently, many neighborhood associations face burdens such as the distribution and collection of paper circular boards (Kairanban) and the high costs of digital transformation. This project aims to solve these issues and support sustainable community building.
The company has signed a 'Partnership Agreement on Digitalization of Neighborhood Associations' with Yokohama City. With the site's launch, operations will begin in Sakae Ward, Yokohama, as a model district, followed by a gradual expansion to approximately 7,300 neighborhood associations throughout Kanagawa Prefecture.
### Main Features of 'JichiCa'
1. Construction of Dedicated Association Pages
The service creates dedicated pages for each neighborhood association where basic information such as association overviews and annual events can be introduced.
Since it is web-based, there is no need to install dedicated apps, providing an environment where a wide range of users can view information immediately. Associations can take their first step toward digitalizing regional activities without spending the money or effort required for website construction.
2. Centralized Viewing of Useful Daily Life Information
In addition to association info, the site aggregates disaster and crime occurrence alerts, government public relations papers like 'Prefectural News,' garbage collection day searches, and web version Town News articles. It is designed to allow users to view lifestyle-related information on a single page, similar to a digital circular board.
3. Favorite Registration 'My JichiCa'
By registering the area where they live or the association of family members living away as favorites, users can receive notifications of new information. This aims to encourage joining associations and create opportunities for regional interaction.
4. New Information Notifications
When new information is posted, a yellow button appears on the screen. This helps prevent important communications from being overlooked and ensures prompt information transmission.
### Origin of the Name: JichiCa
It is a coined word combining 'Jichi' (autonomy) and 'Community Association.' It also embodies the desire to bring out 'Jichi no Chikara' (the power of autonomy), which is essential for community building, and to revitalize the region. Furthermore, with its logo, it aims to be a 'Casa' (home) for regional information where anyone can feel free to visit.
### Business Overview
- Name: Kanagawa Neighborhood Association Navigator 'JichiCa'
- URL: https://jichica.jp/
- Release Date: April 1, 2026
- Target: Neighborhood associations in Kanagawa Prefecture (expanding sequentially from Sakae Ward, Yokohama)
- Basic Listings: Introduction text, annual events, photos/videos
### Starting from Sakae Ward, Yokohama; Expanding to 7,300 Neighborhood Associations in Kanagawa
Currently, many neighborhood associations face burdens such as the distribution and collection of paper circular boards (Kairanban) and the high costs of digital transformation. This project aims to solve these issues and support sustainable community building.
The company has signed a 'Partnership Agreement on Digitalization of Neighborhood Associations' with Yokohama City. With the site's launch, operations will begin in Sakae Ward, Yokohama, as a model district, followed by a gradual expansion to approximately 7,300 neighborhood associations throughout Kanagawa Prefecture.
### Main Features of 'JichiCa'
1. Construction of Dedicated Association Pages
The service creates dedicated pages for each neighborhood association where basic information such as association overviews and annual events can be introduced.
Since it is web-based, there is no need to install dedicated apps, providing an environment where a wide range of users can view information immediately. Associations can take their first step toward digitalizing regional activities without spending the money or effort required for website construction.
2. Centralized Viewing of Useful Daily Life Information
In addition to association info, the site aggregates disaster and crime occurrence alerts, government public relations papers like 'Prefectural News,' garbage collection day searches, and web version Town News articles. It is designed to allow users to view lifestyle-related information on a single page, similar to a digital circular board.
3. Favorite Registration 'My JichiCa'
By registering the area where they live or the association of family members living away as favorites, users can receive notifications of new information. This aims to encourage joining associations and create opportunities for regional interaction.
4. New Information Notifications
When new information is posted, a yellow button appears on the screen. This helps prevent important communications from being overlooked and ensures prompt information transmission.
### Origin of the Name: JichiCa
It is a coined word combining 'Jichi' (autonomy) and 'Community Association.' It also embodies the desire to bring out 'Jichi no Chikara' (the power of autonomy), which is essential for community building, and to revitalize the region. Furthermore, with its logo, it aims to be a 'Casa' (home) for regional information where anyone can feel free to visit.
### Business Overview
- Name: Kanagawa Neighborhood Association Navigator 'JichiCa'
- URL: https://jichica.jp/
- Release Date: April 1, 2026
- Target: Neighborhood associations in Kanagawa Prefecture (expanding sequentially from Sakae Ward, Yokohama)
- Basic Listings: Introduction text, annual events, photos/videos
FAQ
Do I need to install a special app?
No, it is a web-based site accessible directly via smartphone or PC browsers.
What are the costs and efforts for neighborhood associations?
Town News supports the setup, allowing associations to start digitalization without building their own websites from scratch.
What kind of information is available?
In addition to association events, it aggregates disaster/crime alerts, waste collection schedules, government newsletters, and local news.