Chugoku Shimbun's Regional Platform 'Tarupo' Hits 400,000 Members

Chugoku Shimbun Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Naka-ku, Hiroshima) announced that the number of registered members of its regional co-creation platform 'Tarupo' reached 400,000 on June 5, 2026. This was achieved just nine months after surpassing 300,000 members last September.

Since its launch in March 2024, 'Tarupo' has steadily expanded its membership while maintaining an extremely high average open rate of approximately 45% for member emails. As a 'living membership base' originating from a regional media outlet, it has grown into a valuable marketing infrastructure for local enterprises and municipalities, as well as companies in the Kansai and Tokyo metropolitan areas seeking brand awareness in the Chugoku region.

Three factors supporting continuous growth and high active rates:

1. Deepened touchpoints with high-literacy audiences through a major renewal of 'Chugoku Shimbun Digital'. Through the renewal of the 'Chugoku Shimbun Digital' news site in March 2026, the 'Tarupo ID' has further permeated the reader base that consumes regional news daily. Reliable information closely tied to daily life supports stable growth and continued usage by high-literacy demographics.

2. Reaching new demographics (younger generations) through integration with large-scale local events. 'Tarupo' is utilized in large-scale annual local events, such as the 'Hiroshima Flower Festival,' 'Hiroshima Bon Dance,' and 'Hiroshima Machinaka Christmas.' It contributes to improving venue foot traffic and accumulating/analyzing visitor data through raffles, ticket sales, and digital stamp rallies. This has created touchpoints with younger and new demographics beyond traditional newspaper readers, driving membership growth.

3. Adoption as a 'Membership Infrastructure' by local enterprises. 'Tarupo' is expanding beyond its own services by providing ID infrastructure to other companies, including local businesses. A notable example is its adoption as the membership base for Hiroshima Toyopet Co., Ltd. Cross-industry collaboration has broadened service offerings, leading to daily platform usage.

Utilizing the 400,000-member base for business: 'Tarupo for Business'. A membership base of 400,000, combining scale and quality, leads directly to solving regional issues and creating business. Chugoku Shimbun will further strengthen the following support services for companies and municipalities inside and outside the region using this powerful platform:

Promotion support: Gaining recognition for products and services in the region, leveraging the extremely high average email open rate of approximately 45%. Event and foot traffic support: Vitalizing and promoting attendance at events that fuse digital and real experiences. Data utilization: Effective email delivery and various surveys based on member attributes and interests.

Awarded the '2026 Japan Newspaper Publishers and Editors Association Technology Committee Award'. In May of this year, 'Tarupo' received the 2026 (32nd) Japan Newspaper Publishers and Editors Association Technology Committee Award in recognition of its common customer data infrastructure leveraging regional touchpoints and its highly extensible technical design that anticipates external collaboration with companies and municipalities.

Commemorative appreciation campaign for reaching 400,000 members. To commemorate this milestone, a large-scale campaign for members is scheduled to begin on June 22. Details, including giveaways such as sports game tickets and an online stamp rally, will be announced on the official 'Tarupo' website.