Addressing Nationwide Issues of Vacant Homes and Estate Management

― Solving Nationwide Inheritance Real Estate Problems Through a Consultation Network and Vacant Home Revitalization Expertise ―

Business Partnership Agreement Signing Ceremony (Left: JKAS Representative Nishigami, Right: Trustee Representative Nakamura)

Trustee Inc. (Headquarters: Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, Representative Director: Yuji Nakamura) and Mericaren Japan LLC (Headquarters: Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture, Representative Member: Eri Nishigami), which operates the Osaka main branch of "JKAS," a real estate business consortium comprising approximately 60 real estate companies nationwide, signed a business partnership agreement on June 11, 2026, aimed at resolving issues related to vacant homes and inherited real estate.

On the same day, the first "Jikka Soudan no Madoguchi" (Estate Management Consultation Service) franchise stores, "Osaka Umeda Store" and "Tokyo Setagaya Store," simultaneously opened. This expansion of the franchise network, coupled with the business partnership, extends the integrated support system for consultations, sales, revitalization, and utilization to the Kansai and Kanto regions.

Background: The Worsening Problem of Vacant Homes and Inherited Real Estate

The vacant home issue in Japan is becoming increasingly severe. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' Housing and Land Survey, there are approximately 9 million vacant homes, with about 3.85 million of them not intended for market circulation. The number of inherited homes that are left unmanaged is growing, drawing significant attention as a social issue.

The root causes of these problems include structural challenges such as "not knowing who to consult" and "lack of coordination between consultation services and real estate companies handling the practical aspects." This partnership directly addresses these issues.

Objectives and Structure of the Partnership

This partnership aims to build a comprehensive support system for inherited real estate and vacant home issues by combining JKAS's network of approximately 60 real estate companies nationwide with Trustee's practical expertise in vacant home revitalization and real estate utilization.

JKAS possesses a nationwide network that handles a wide range of consultations, including housing loan issues, inherited real estate, vacant homes, and living environment troubles, and has established a problem-solving mechanism in collaboration with local real estate companies. This partnership will further strengthen their practical response capabilities in the inheritance and vacant home sectors, which they have been addressing.

Meanwhile, Trustee, as the franchise headquarters for "Jikka Soudan no Madoguchi," has been providing practical support for the organization, sale, revitalization, and utilization of inherited homes and vacant properties.

Through this collaboration, both companies will leverage their respective areas of expertise to establish a system that offers integrated inheritance consultations, real estate sales, revitalization, and utilization support through expert collaboration.

By cooperating, JKAS, with its nationwide network of real estate companies, and Trustee, which is expanding nationwide through "Jikka Soudan no Madoguchi," aim to spread a model for resolving inherited real estate and vacant home issues across the country.

Expected Regional Contributions and Economic Effects

The expansion of bases to Osaka and Tokyo, along with the collaboration with JKAS, will enable one-stop solutions for cases that were previously difficult to handle due to the distance between the client's residence and the property's location.

Neglected vacant homes often pose regional challenges in terms of crime prevention, disaster preparedness, and aesthetics. Their revitalization and utilization can contribute to maintaining regional safety and property values.

Economically, the revitalization of vacant homes generates orders for related local businesses such as demolition, renovation, and management. Trustee receives numerous inquiries from owners who "don't know where to start with their inherited home," "cannot manage it from afar," or "don't know if they can sell it with the contents still inside."

Trustee provides comprehensive support, including household item disposal, property appraisal, sales strategy planning, and coordination with specialists, thereby reducing the owner's burden and supporting optimal solutions for each property, whether through sale, revitalization, or utilization.

By combining the network of approximately 60 companies nationwide with Trustee's practical capabilities, they aim to contribute to the revitalization of the overall vacant home market.

Simultaneous Opening of Franchise Stores "Osaka Umeda Store" and "Tokyo Setagaya Store"

On June 11, 2026, Trustee simultaneously opened the first franchise store, "Osaka Umeda Store," and the second, "Tokyo Setagaya Store," for "Jikka Soudan no Madoguchi." The Tokyo Setagaya store is operated by Tiga Real Estate Co., Ltd., a JKAS member company (https://tiga.co.jp/). This expands the consultation system, which has primarily operated in the Tokai region (Aichi, Gifu, Mie, Shizuoka), to major cities in the Kansai and Kanto regions.

With the addition of JKAS's network of approximately 60 companies through the business partnership, consultation services can be provided in collaboration with local real estate companies from the initial stages of establishing new branches. The operation of the Tokyo Setagaya store by JKAS member Tiga Real Estate Co., Ltd. is an early fruit of this collaboration. Trustee plans to test these two initial locations in Osaka and Tokyo as pilot models and will begin full-scale franchise expansion nationwide in September 2026.

About Trustee Inc.

Trustee Inc. is a real estate consulting company headquartered in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture (https://trustee-net.com/).

The "Jikka Soudan no Madoguchi" service it operates provides one-stop support from consultation to resolution for issues related to inherited homes and vacant properties, such as:

- Not knowing where to start

- Unable to decide whether to sell or utilize the property

- Complex procedures for household item disposal and demolition

Specifically, they support practical solutions to vacant home issues through:

- Consulting on the organization and utilization of inherited real estate

- Support for the sale and purchase of vacant homes

- Arrangement of remaining item disposal and demolition

- Revitalization and utilization of real estate (e.g., rental properties, accommodation facilities)

- Collaboration with inheritance, tax, and legal experts

Furthermore, the company is involved in the revitalization of vacant homes that are difficult to circulate, implementing new utilization models such as renovations and conversions into accommodation facilities. In a detached house property in Seto City, Aichi Prefecture, they revitalized a vacant home into a minpaku (private lodging) facility, achieving a 100% occupancy rate and monthly sales of approximately 600,000 yen.

Currently, with a focus on "Jikka Soudan no Madoguchi," they are working to create a system that transforms vacant homes from liabilities into assets. In addition to the Tokai region (Aichi, Gifu, Mie, Shizuoka), they began expanding their business to the Kansai and Kanto regions in June 2026 through franchise locations in "Osaka Umeda Store" and "Tokyo Setagaya Store."

Full-scale franchise expansion nationwide is scheduled to begin in September of the same year.

About JKAS

JKAS is a brand for living environment support services (https://jkas.co.jp/). Headquartered in Osaka City, it serves as the headquarters for a real estate business consortium comprising approximately 60 real estate companies nationwide.

They handle a wide range of consultations related to living environments, including housing loan issues, inherited real estate, vacant homes, housing problems due to divorce, and real estate investment troubles, and support problem resolution in collaboration with affiliated real estate companies across the country.

As the consortium's headquarters, JKAS promotes information sharing and business collaboration among member companies, building a nationwide network that addresses complex housing-related issues in cooperation with local real estate companies and experts.

Representative Comments

Yuji Nakamura, Representative Director, Trustee Inc.

"We continuously receive voices from all over the country saying, 'I don't know what to do with my inherited home.'

"Jikka Soudan no Madoguchi," operated by Trustee, receives many consultations regarding the organization, sale, and utilization of inherited homes and vacant properties.

"On the other hand, JKAS handles consultations related to all aspects of living environments, such as housing loan issues, housing problems due to divorce, and real estate investment troubles, and works to resolve them in collaboration with its network of approximately 60 real estate companies nationwide.

"This partnership aims to create solutions for cases that were difficult to handle individually by combining the strengths of both companies, which have different consultation areas and expertise.

"By combining JKAS's nationwide network with Trustee's expertise in vacant home revitalization and real estate practice, we aim to advance the resolution of inherited real estate and vacant home issues on a national scale.

"Starting with the simultaneous opening of the 'Osaka Umeda Store' and 'Tokyo Setagaya Store,' we want to spread a system that transforms vacant homes from liabilities into assets throughout society."

Masamichi Nishigami, Representative Director, JKAS Inc.

"Through our network of approximately 60 companies nationwide, JKAS has handled numerous consultations regarding housing loan issues, housing problems due to divorce, real estate investment troubles, as well as inherited real estate and vacant homes.

"We believe that by partnering with Trustee, we can further strengthen our response capabilities in the inheritance and vacant home sectors.

"With the addition of Trustee's practical expertise in vacant home revitalization, cultivated through 'Jikka Soudan no Madoguchi,' we will be able to provide integrated support from consultation to sale, revitalization, and utilization.

"Starting with the opening of new branches in Osaka and Tokyo, we aim to elevate the resolution of inherited real estate and vacant home issues nationwide in collaboration with our member companies."

"Symbolic Logo Representing the Handover of Inherited Homes as a Gift to the Next Generation"

"Jikka Soudan no Madoguchi" is a registered trademark owned by Trustee Inc.

[Trademark Information]

Trademark Name: Jikka Soudan no Madoguchi Registration Number: Trademark Registration No. 6861091 Registration Date: November 5, 2024 (Reiwa 6) Class: Class 36 (Real estate transactions, real estate management, inheritance consultation, etc.)

"Jikka Soudan no Madoguchi" Overview

"Jikka Soudan no Madoguchi" is a service that allows for comprehensive consultations regarding inherited homes and vacant properties, covering sales, demolition,遗品整理 (personal effects disposal), and inheritance procedures.

Its features include not pushing for sales but organizing the optimal options based on the situation and intentions, and providing support until problem resolution in collaboration with over 100 specialists. It also handles cases with remaining contents or those that are difficult for other companies to manage.

Service Name: Jikka Soudan no Madoguchi (Trademark Registration No. 6861091)

Official Website: https://jikka-soudan.com/

Official LINE: https://lin.ee/Ym8KRIp

Trustee Inc.

Trustee Inc. is a real estate consulting company headquartered in Higashi Ward, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, providing problem-solving services related to inheritance and vacant homes, focusing on real estate sales, acquisition and revitalization, and land utilization proposals.

A key feature is its integrated support for the organization, sale, and reuse of inherited homes and vacant properties, working in conjunction with specialists from multiple fields including real estate, construction, and welfare.

The company operates "Jikka Soudan no Madoguchi," a service for one-stop consultation on organizing, selling, and utilizing vacant homes, and is establishing new consultation channels for post-inheritance housing issues.

Trustee Inc. Representative Director: Yuji Nakamura 4-77 Chizukacho, Higashi Ward, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, Fujimoto Building 201 TEL: 052-211-9909 FAX: 052-211-9952 Mail: info@trustee-net.work https://jikka-soudan.com/ https://trustee-net.com/