Pocket Sign Launches 'Kyoto City Official App' for Distribution of 'Kyoto Points (Kyopo)' to Kyoto Residents

Pocket Sign Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Hirotsugu Umamoto; hereinafter "the Company") announces the development and provision of the 'Kyoto City Official App,' the platform for distributing the digital regional points 'Kyoto Points (Kyopo),' as part of Kyoto City's 'Citizen Life Support Digital Regional Points Distribution Project.' The app will be publicly released on Friday, July 17, Reiwa 8.

The 'Citizen Life Support Digital Regional Points Distribution Project' is an initiative by Kyoto City aimed at supporting citizens' daily lives amid rising prices and revitalizing the local economy.

Sources and References

・Kyoto City 'Mayor's Press Conference (December 22, 2025)' Reiwa 7 December Supplementary Budget Proposal

https://www.city.kyoto.lg.jp/sogo/page/0000348758.html

Utilizing 'Targeted Support Local Allocation Grants' to distribute digital regional points 'Kyoto Points (Kyopo)' via the 'Kyoto City Official App'

The Company provides the 'Kyoto City Official App' as a municipal government official app platform equipped with identity verification using the My Number Card, along with a system for distributing and utilizing regional points.

Kyoto City will utilize these systems to distribute 'Kyoto Points (Kyopo)' as part of its citizen support initiative. This project, funded by national Targeted Support Local Allocation Grants, aims to support citizens' lives amid rising prices and stimulate consumption and local economic activity within the city. Starting at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 1, Reiwa 8, each Kyoto City resident will receive Kyoto Points worth 5,000 yen through this app.

Eligible recipients can claim their Kyoto Points after completing identity verification using their My Number Card within the app. The distributed Kyoto Points can be used at participating stores within Kyoto City.

To ensure accessibility for those less familiar with digital technology, multiple alternative methods are available. Dedicated support windows will be established to assist with app operations. If individuals face difficulty claiming points themselves, family members or others can claim points collectively using their own smartphones. Additionally, individuals without smartphones can receive daily necessities worth 5,000 yen instead of the digital points.

※For detailed information on the 'Kyoto Points (Kyopo)' distribution program, including eligibility, usage, and participating stores, please visit Kyoto City's dedicated website.

Kyoto Points Dedicated Website: https://kyopo.city.kyoto.lg.jp/

Secure Distribution Supported by My Number Card Identity Authentication Infrastructure

The Company has supported the introduction of digital citizen services in municipalities nationwide by developing and providing identity authentication platforms utilizing the My Number Card.

For this project, the Company has implemented a system that uses the IC chip of the My Number Card for identity verification, ensuring points are distributed only to individuals registered as residents of Kyoto City at the time of application. This system ensures reliable delivery of points to eligible recipients, prevents fraudulent claims such as impersonation, and avoids erroneous or duplicate applications, thereby supporting a secure and trustworthy distribution mechanism that allows the administration to operate with confidence.

Usage at Participating Stores and Operational Support for Merchants

Kyoto Points received via the app can be used at participating stores within Kyoto City involved in this project. Users can utilize their Kyoto Points through the Kyoto City Official App by scanning the QR code displayed at stores and entering the payment amount, enabling them to use points for daily purchases.

On the merchant side, in addition to displaying store-specific QR codes, businesses can utilize management interfaces provided by the Company for merchants and stores to support daily operations. These include functions for checking transaction histories, canceling transactions, and inquiring about settlement amounts. A system is in place where accumulated point transaction records are transferred to designated accounts after aggregation, designed with consideration for reducing administrative burdens on stores.

The Company prioritizes enabling Kyoto City residents to seamlessly use their received Kyoto Points at nearby stores and ensuring that participating stores can operate without difficulty, advancing the development of systems that support both local communities and businesses.

Contributing to Administrative Efficiency

By adopting digital point distribution via the app, administrative tasks such as mailing application forms, in-person window processing, and cash management can be reduced. Digital distribution is therefore expected to be a reliable method for delivering accurate support to citizens while minimizing the operational burden on the administration.

Main Features of the 'Kyoto City Official App'

The Kyoto City Official App is designed to expand its functionality according to Kyoto City's policies, using the receipt and utilization of Kyoto Points as an entry point.

The main features at the time of this release are as follows:

Feature Overview

Regional Points: Receive Kyoto Points and make payments at stores within the city through the app.

Notices: Receive public announcements and information from Kyoto City. Capable of delivering information tailored to resident demographics.

Surveys: Collect opinions and responses from citizens, contributing to mechanisms that incorporate citizen feedback into city governance.

My Info Card: Display verified personal information on smartphones based on My Number Card data.

Link Collection: Aggregates links to already implemented apps and websites, enabling quick access to necessary information and services.

※Various screen images of the Kyoto City Official App.

From the Manager, Regional Autonomy Promotion Office, Kyoto City

The 'Kyoto City Official App' developed for this distribution project allows users to receive 5,000 yen worth of points on the same day simply by completing identity verification. At stores, points can be used easily by scanning a QR code, creating a user-friendly system that streamlines the entire process from receipt to usage. For business operators, there is no need to install special equipment such as dedicated terminals, and no payment processing fees are incurred, encouraging broad participation. We hope that many people will use the app and experience its convenience firsthand. The 'Kyoto City Official App,' which supports this distribution project, can host various mini-applications with different functions, allowing us to consider expanding app features in the future to meet citizens' convenience and diverse administrative needs. We will continue to promote the use of the 'Kyoto City Official App' to enrich and enhance the lives of our citizens.

Overview of the 'Citizen Life Support Digital Regional Points Distribution Project'

Item

Content

Project Name

Citizen Life Support Digital Regional Points Distribution Project

Recipients

Individuals registered as residents of Kyoto City at the time of application

Distribution Amount

5,000 yen worth of Kyoto Points (Kyopo) per citizen

Distribution and Point Usage Period

10:00 a.m., Saturday, August 1, Reiwa 8 – Sunday, February 28, Reiwa 9

Distribution Method

Complete identity verification (application) using the My Number Card on the Kyoto City Official App and apply for the distribution of Kyoto Points to receive 5,000 points (1 point = 1 yen)

Related Links

・Kyoto Points (Kyopo) Citizen Life Support Digital Regional Points Distribution Project Special Page: https://kyopo.city.kyoto.lg.jp/

・'Kyoto City Official App' Download Page: https://ky.p8n.jp/

※Inquiries from users and residents