Tsunagari AI Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Hiroki Komazaki; hereinafter referred to as "Tsunagari AI") has been awarded the contract for the "Nara City Women's Issues Consultation AI Utilization Support Service Consignment" implemented by Nara City.

Starting September 1, 2026, Tsunagari AI will build and operate an empathetic generative AI service that allows residents, workers, and students in Nara City to consult 24 hours a day, 365 days a year via LINE.

While the project name is "Women's Issues Consultation," the gender of the相談者 (consultant) is not restricted.

In this service, AI will listen to concerns regarding domestic violence, sexual violence/abuse, poverty, social isolation, housing insecurity, and pregnancy/childbirth issues, supporting the consultant in organizing their thoughts and issues while empathizing with their feelings.

If the AI detects urgent or high-risk consultations, it will issue an alert to the responsible staff. Furthermore, if the consultant wishes for human support, the conversation history with the AI will be retained and transferred to a Nara City counselor.

This initiative, which comprehensively integrates 24/7 empathetic listening via conversational generative AI, AI-driven detection of high-risk consultations, and human support by municipal counselors with conversation history transfer, is the first of its kind in Japan for consultation services managed by local government gender equality and women's support departments.

Background of Implementation

Concerns such as domestic violence, sexual violence, poverty, and social isolation often overlap, making it difficult for consultants to sort out their situations on their own.

Additionally, time and location constraints for consultations, as well as psychological burdens like "Should I really be consulting about this?" or "Is it partly my fault?", can delay access to necessary support.

The moments when someone wants to consult are not always during administrative office hours.

Nara City has previously offered telephone and in-person consultations with specialized counselors. This time, instead of replacing existing human consultations with AI, a new entry point for consultation, available 24/7, is being added.

This will lower the psychological barrier to consultation, enable early identification of potential support needs, and strengthen the referral process to Nara City counselors and appropriate support organizations.

Four Features of This Service

1. Consult Anytime, 24/7 via LINE

Consultations can be made from LINE, a familiar platform, regardless of time or location.

The AI will provide empathetic responses that consider the consultant's feelings, assisting in organizing their thoughts and issues as they speak.

2. AI Detects Risks and Connects to Human Support

If the AI analyzes the consultation content and detects high-urgency cases such as suicidal ideation, domestic violence, or abuse, it will display an alert on the management screen and notify designated personnel.

If the consultant requests human support, or if human intervention is deemed necessary, the system will switch to a Nara City counselor while retaining the conversation history with the AI.

This prevents the consultant from having to repeat the same information from the beginning, leading to smoother consultation support.

3. Safety Design That Doesn't Rely Solely on AI

Guardrails are in place to prevent the AI from easily agreeing or empathizing with statements indicating threats of self-harm or harm to others, or content that incites criminal acts. Instead, it will provide appropriate restraint, warnings, and guidance to specialized institutions.

Depending on the consultation content, information on appropriate support organizations such as the police, medical institutions, and women's counseling services will also be provided.

Human consultations will primarily be handled by Nara City counselors. If a Nara City counselor is suddenly unavailable, qualified professionals such as social workers and certified psychologists dispatched by Tsunagari AI will provide alternative support.

4. Security to Protect Highly Sensitive Consultation Information

Storage of message data and other information will be primarily within Japan, with encryption of communication channels and stored data.

Highly sensitive consultation information will be handled appropriately based on Nara City's information security requirements, such as not using consultation content for additional AI model training.

Project Overview

"AI and Human Hybrid Consultation" Advanced with Nara City

Nara City and Tsunagari AI conducted a demonstration experiment of "AI and Human Hybrid Child-Rearing Consultation" combining generative AI and professional counselors from May 2025.

In this demonstration, generative AI provided empathetic listening and issue organization for consultants 24/7, and when necessary, professional counselors introduced systems and facilitated referrals to community support.

This project extends the knowledge gained from past demonstrations to the more sensitive and specialized field of women's issues consultation.

Tsunagari AI will collaborate with Nara City to build a consultation system that enables individuals facing difficulties to connect with appropriate support early on, leveraging the respective strengths of AI and humans.

Comment from Hiroki Komazaki, Representative Director of Tsunagari AI Inc.

"The moment you want to consult" is not always during administrative office hours.

For concerns like domestic violence, sexual violence, or poverty, which are easily kept to oneself, creating an initial point of contact where one can talk, even late at night or on holidays, holds significant meaning.

AI is not intended to replace human support. It is meant to lower the barrier to consultation and connect people to human assistance when needed.

AI will receive consultations 24 hours a day and, when necessary, reliably connect individuals to Nara City counselors and support organizations. Together with Nara City, we will create a new safety net that transforms "I can't tell anyone" into "I can talk here."

Nara City Comment

Nara City has previously offered telephone and in-person consultations with specialized counselors.

By utilizing AI, we aim to increase consultation entry points available regardless of time or location, facilitate early identification of potential support needs, and strengthen referrals to appropriate support.

We aim to create a consultation system where individuals facing difficulties and concerns do not have to bear them alone, by leveraging the respective strengths of AI and humans.

About Tsunagari AI Inc.

Tsunagari AI Inc. is a startup with the mission to "eliminate isolation," providing consultation support services utilizing generative AI for local governments and corporations.

Through "AI and Human Hybrid Consultation," where AI receives consultations 24/7 and connects necessary cases to professionals, government agencies, and local support organizations, we aim to build a social infrastructure where anyone can easily consult when in need.

Company Name: Tsunagari AI Inc.

Location: 15F CIRCLE by ANRI, Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Representative: Hiroki Komazaki, Representative Director

Business Activities: Development and provision of consultation support services utilizing generative AI, AI-BPO services for local governments and consultation support institutions.

URL: http://www.tsunagari-ai.com

*Regarding "First in Japan"

As of June 30, 2026, according to Tsunagari AI Inc. research.

This is the first case in Japan where a consultation service managed by a local government's gender equality and women's support department comprehensively integrates the following three elements for issues such as domestic violence, sexual violence, and poverty:

- 24/7 empathetic listening via conversational generative AI - AI-driven detection of high-risk consultations and alerts - Handover to municipal counselors with retained conversation history

Excludes FAQ/consultation desk guidance chatbots, general welfare consultations, limited-time demonstration projects, and human-only SNS consultations.

FACT BOX

  • Source: PR TIMES
  • Category: 技術導入