Bringing 'Happy Childbirth and Parenting' Nationwide: U-me General Incorporated Association Digitalizes Prenatal Education Program with Rohto Pharmaceutical's 'Karugamo Fund' Adoption

U-me General Incorporated Association (Location: Kita-ku, Osaka; Representative Director: Rie Mochizuki; hereinafter 'the Association') is pleased to announce that it has been selected as a recipient organization for the 2026 fiscal year of Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.'s (Headquarters: Ikuno-ku, Osaka) employee-led donation program, 'Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. 'Karugamo Fund',' and has received a donation of 1 million yen.

This donation will be utilized for the production of e-learning content for the Association's prenatal education project, 'Well-being Childbirth and Parenting Preparation.'

Through this project, the prenatal education program, which has previously been offered as in-person events and received high satisfaction, will be converted into e-learning, establishing a system to deliver it to companies and medical institutions nationwide.

Background: Fragmentation in the Support System for 'Childbirth and Parenting'

Pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare are major life events that significantly impact the physical and mental health, continuity of employment, and mental well-being of individuals and their families.

However, in modern society, support is often provided in a fragmented manner, with medical institutions, workplaces, homes, and communities operating in isolation. This often leads to individuals lacking necessary knowledge and connections, resulting in feelings of isolation and anxiety.

Furthermore, with the increase in dual-income households and diversification of work styles, traditional in-person prenatal education alone is often insufficient to provide adequate support.

With the vision of 'Ease of birth, ease of raising, ease of living, starting now,' the Association is engaged in activities to deliver prenatal education that realizes the well-being of all individuals involved in childbirth and parenting, by bridging medical, community, and occupational fields.

E-learning as a Sustainable Educational Asset

In this project, lectures by professionals such as doctors, midwives, pediatricians, and industrial physicians will be produced as video content. Emphasis is placed on ensuring that the content of the lectures is tailored to the diverse values and challenges of modern men and women involved in childbirth and parenting.

The structure is designed to be easy to learn even during busy pregnancy and childcare periods, aiming for not only the individuals themselves but also partners, managers, and medical professionals—those who support childbirth and parenting—to share 'the same information.'

【Planned 6 Courses (tentative)】

1. Changes in Mind and Preparation for Childbirth (Doctor) Mental health and psychological preparation during pregnancy and childbirth

2. Changes in Body and Preparation for Childbirth (Midwife) Physical care and self-care during pregnancy

3. After Birth Plan (Midwife) Postpartum life planning and partnership

4. Childcare from Pregnancy (Pediatrician) Evidence-based infant care

5. Childbirth and Parenting Preparation for Working Fathers (Doctor/Industrial Physician) Proactive involvement of men and balancing work and family

6. Consultation and Connection When in Trouble (Midwife) Utilizing support and connecting with the community to avoid bearing burdens alone

This content is intended for introduction as corporate training, employee benefits, and supplementary educational materials for patients in medical institutions. It also aims to be utilized from perspectives such as 'human capital management,' 'turnover prevention,' 'work-life balance support,' and 'postpartum depression prevention.'

Future Outlook

Production is scheduled to begin in July 2026, with provision planned to start in April 2027. Rather than ending as a one-off event, by continuously developing it as an educational asset that can be shared and utilized by society as a whole, the Association aims to realize a 'society where childbirth and parenting are not left solely to individuals.'

Comment from Rie Mochizuki, Representative Director, U-me General Incorporated Association

'Based in Osaka, our team of professionals, primarily midwives, has been working under the vision of 'Ease of birth, ease of raising, ease of living, starting now.' While pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare are incredibly precious endeavors, they can also be periods of isolation and anxiety.

We are delighted that with the warm support of Rohto Pharmaceutical's Karugamo Fund, we can now deliver the learning and connections we have provided in-person to a wider audience through e-learning. We will continue to contribute to creating a society where everyone can rely on each other with peace of mind, by connecting medical, workplace, and community sectors.'

About Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.'s 'Karugamo Fund'

The 'Karugamo Fund' is a fund sourced from voluntary employee contributions combined with company support, used to assist necessary social activities.

Recruiting Partner Companies and Medical Institutions

U-me General Incorporated Association will provide this e-learning free of charge and promote its social implementation in collaboration with companies and medical institutions.

Currently, we are recruiting partner companies and medical institutions that can utilize this for initiatives such as:

* Employee benefits * Human capital management * Turnover prevention * Work-life balance support * Patient education * Supplementing parenting classes

Companies and medical institutions interested in creating a society where pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare are not 'left solely to individuals' are encouraged to contact us.

About the Last In-Person Event

The in-person event 'Well-being Childbirth and Parenting Preparation & Parent Rearing,' which was the origin of this e-learning project, will be held on June 21, 2026, at Grand Green Osaka 'SLOW'.