First Town in Kansai Region: Nara Prefecture's Miyake Town Begins PoC for Counseling Service Using Listening AI

ZIAI Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo / Representative: Masayoshi Sakurai / hereinafter, ZIAI), a company that develops listening AI algorithms, has signed a partnership agreement with Miyake Town, Shiki District, Nara Prefecture (Mayor: Koji Morita / hereinafter, Miyake Town) and will begin a proof-of-concept for a listening AI chat counseling service starting on April 3, 2026 (Friday). This initiative marks the first time for a town in the Kansai region (according to ZIAI Inc.'s research) to incorporate 24-hour listening AI into administrative counseling, targeting both welfare and education sectors. Following its success in ordinance-designated cities and core cities, this project expands to a small municipality with a population of approximately 6,400 people, aiming to establish a new standard model for leveraging listening AI.

◾️Deepening "Gaps in Support"

Under the "Act on Measures to Address Loneliness and Isolation" enacted in 2024, the government advocated for the establishment of 24-hour services and outreach support, but structural gaps remain in the existing support system. These challenges are not limited to large cities. Even in small municipalities, where it might seem easier to see people face-to-face, many residents struggle with not being able to consult with someone precisely because they know each other. In fact, being a "small town" can sometimes be a barrier that distances people from receiving support.

Miyake Town in Nara Prefecture (population approximately 6,400) has formulated a suicide prevention plan integrated with its regional welfare plan, placing "comprehensive support for living" at the core of its regional policies. The plan identifies "a high percentage of residents unfamiliar with consultation agencies" and "difficulty accessing consultation services" as issues, and has long recognized outreach to residents who are not connected to support as a challenge. In recent years, with the opening of the Keinawa Expressway, it has become a commuter area for Nara and Osaka, leading to an increase in dual-income households and difficulties in accessing administrative services.

What Miyake Town sought was not an "extension of existing services," but a "place existing before the existing services." An AI that listens 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, first helping people organize their thoughts and feelings, and then connecting those in need to human specialists. ZIAI's listening AI was chosen as the means to fulfill this role. The proof-of-concept will begin with the hope that "even if just one person connects to support and is helped through this initiative."

◾️Overview of the Proof-of-Concept

• Name: Miyake Town Listening AI Chat Counseling Service

• Period: From April 1, 2026 (Wednesday) ~

• Target: Residents of Miyake Town (regardless of age or nationality)

• Areas: Welfare (loneliness/isolation, life/family problems, etc.) / Education (bullying, truancy, children's problems, etc.)

• How to use: Available from smartphone/PC browser (24-hour support)

This proof-of-concept has three major features.

First, the design emphasizes "listening first." ZIAI's listening AI has been proven to reduce negative emotions by approximately 22% after use, as verified by standard psychological emotional measurement scales. It prioritizes empathy and active listening over providing solutions, creating an environment where consultants can express themselves at their own pace.

Second, a unified consultation point that spans welfare and education. From adult concerns such as nursing care, social withdrawal, and child-rearing, to children's issues like truancy, bullying, and mental health, a single entry point smoothly allocates consultations according to age and content. This complements traditional services that tend to be vertically segmented by attribute, ensuring that residents with complex problems are not overlooked.

Third, a supportive assistance model that uses AI as the "entry point." If a consultant wishes, their information can be shared with the relevant department in Miyake Town with their consent, leading to continuous support from the administration and specialists. The structure is such that AI creates the "opportunity," and people guide towards "resolution."

◾️Future Plans

Miyake Town will visualize residents' latent needs and regional challenges from the consultation data accumulated during the proof-of-concept period, and consider full-scale implementation from fiscal year 2027 onwards. ZIAI will continue to expand its efforts nationwide to realize a "society where anyone can consult about their problems anytime, anywhere," regardless of the size of the municipality or regional characteristics.

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About ZIAI Inc.

ZIAI is a healthcare startup dedicated to creating new "listening experiences" through technology. It was established as a non-profit AI research institution for suicide prevention and then spun out as a business company to implement the "listening AI algorithm" cultivated there into society.

In modern society, individual problems are becoming more complex and diverse, leading to an increase in mental health concerns. Furthermore, there is a lack of places where people can confide their worries and individuals who will listen, which exacerbates social issues such as mental illness, loneliness/isolation, self-harm, and suicide due due to the inability to provide primary prevention.

By 2030, ZIAI aims to realize a society where anyone, regardless of their location, age, or economic situation, can consult about their problems anytime, anywhere, and be connected to the appropriate information, organizations, and specialists if needed.

Official Website: https://ziai.io/

Company Background: https://note.com/masayoshi4325/n/n7ef2eb52680f