Saitama Gyoda City Mayor Holds Dialogue with Cabinet Office Advisor for Loneliness and Isolation Countermeasures

Welcia Yakkyoku Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Junichi Tanaka; hereinafter "Welcia Yakkyoku") announced that a dialogue between its Representative Director and President, Junichi Tanaka, Mr. Ren Onishi, Cabinet Office Advisor for Loneliness and Isolation Countermeasures, and Ms. Kuniko Koda, Mayor of Gyoda City, Saitama Prefecture, will be published in "Platverse," a special online space to be set up during May, the month for strengthening loneliness and isolation countermeasures.

"Platverse" URL: https://www.notalone-cao.go.jp/main-monthly/platverse-2026/

From left: Ren Onishi, Cabinet Office Advisor; Junichi Tanaka, Representative Director and President of Welcia Yakkyoku; Kuniko Koda, Mayor of Gyoda City, Saitama Prefecture.

Publication Date: May 6, 2026 (Wednesday) 13:30-14:00

In this dialogue, Welcia Yakkyoku's mobile sales service using the "Uetan-go" vehicle, which has been conducted in collaboration with Gyoda City since December 2023, was introduced as an example of a public-private partnership initiative for loneliness and isolation countermeasures in the community.

【What is the Loneliness and Isolation Countermeasures Reinforcement Month?】 The Loneliness and Isolation Countermeasures Reinforcement Month is held every May to promote understanding and foster momentum for countermeasures against loneliness and isolation through public relations and awareness activities. During this period, various online events are held, including "Loneliness and Isolation Consultations" by organizations nationwide that provide support measures related to loneliness and isolation, "Connection Supporter Training Courses," dialogues, and workshops.

https://www.notalone-cao.go.jp/main-monthly

During the dialogue, facilitated by Advisor Onishi, the significance of preventing isolation and creating places for connection through collaboration between local governments and companies was shared. Welcia Yakkyoku explained the background of starting mobile sales and the value it provides as a company. Furthermore, Mayor Koda introduced the role of mobile sales in "shopping support," "loneliness prevention," and "inter-regional and multi-generational exchange," and opinions were exchanged on the effectiveness of public-private partnership projects.

Mobile sales in Gyoda City

【About Welcia Yakkyoku's Mobile Sales】 In accordance with the "Sustainability Basic Policy" formulated in November 2021 as a Welcia Group company, and aiming to realize a "town where no one is left behind" and to fulfill its infrastructure function of providing safety and security to the local community, Welcia Yakkyoku started operating the mobile sales vehicle "Uetan-go" in May 2022. To increase opportunities for shopping support, interaction, and health promotion for the elderly, 42 vehicles are operating in 39 municipalities nationwide (as of April 2026).

About Welcia Yakkyoku Under its corporate philosophy of "Providing customers with a rich social life and healthy living," Welcia Yakkyoku primarily operates a chain of drugstores with dispensing pharmacies. It operates approximately 2,200 drugstores in 39 prefectures, with a business model based on four pillars: "dispensing pharmacies," "counseling sales," "late-night operations," and "nursing care."

The Welcia Group aims to achieve "Region No.1 Health Station" by 2030, and will continue to work to contribute to the health promotion of everyone in the local community.

Welcia Yakkyoku Website: https://www.welcia-yakkyoku.co.jp/ Keywords: