Bears, a housekeeping agency, certified as the first designated organization (hosting company) in Kumamoto Prefecture for the foreign worker reception business for household support in the national strategic special zone 'Industrial Cluster Formation Linkage 'Kizuna' Special Zone'

Bears Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Nihonbashi-hamacho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director and President: Takeshi Takahashi, hereinafter referred to as Bears), which was established in October 1999 and is celebrating its 27th anniversary since its founding, has received confirmation from the Kumamoto Prefecture Third-Party Management Council on July 13, 2026 that it meets the criteria for a designated organization in the foreign worker reception business for household support in the national strategic special zone 'Industrial Cluster Formation Linkage 'Kizuna' Special Zone'.

This certification as a designated organization in this business is the first in Kumamoto Prefecture for Bears.

In the future, we will proceed with necessary procedures and the preparation of reception systems, and will gradually provide household support services by foreign household support personnel throughout Kumamoto Prefecture.

Background of Certification

Kumamoto Prefecture, utilizing the national strategic special zone 'Industrial Cluster Formation Linkage 'Kizuna' Special Zone', established the 'Kumamoto Prefecture Third-Party Management Council' composed of national related agencies and the prefecture in March 2026. Under the management of this council, the 'foreign worker reception business for household support', in which household support service providers directly employ foreign household support personnel and provide household support services within the prefecture, has been started.

This business aims to reduce the household chores burden on dual-income households and child-rearing households and to support the balance between child-rearing and work, and is a system in which designated organizations that meet certain criteria receive foreign household support personnel based on employment contracts.

Bears applied in April 2026, and as a result of examinations based on laws and regulations, it was confirmed that the system for employment management, training, life support, consultation response, and service quality management of foreign household support personnel meets the criteria, leading to this certification.

Bears' Initiatives in Kumamoto

On March 21, 2026, Bears opened the 'Kumamoto Branch', the third base in the Kyushu area and the twelfth nationwide, and started providing regionally rooted household support services in Kumamoto Prefecture.

With this certification as the first designated organization in Kumamoto Prefecture, in addition to Japanese staff, we have established a system where foreign household support personnel can also actively participate, further strengthening the foundation for providing household support services in Kumamoto Prefecture. We aim to expand both public household and child-rearing support through collaboration with local governments and general household support services targeting individual households, creating a community where anyone can use household support services with peace of mind when needed.

Household Support as 'Infrastructure of Connection and Care'

In recent years, the way of thinking about household chores and child-rearing has been shifting from 'something to be borne by the family or individual' to 'something to be supported by society as a whole'.

A survey conducted by the 'Japan Life Research Institute' established by Bears in 2025 revealed that about 90% of those who used municipal household support services were 'satisfied' with the service, and many felt changes such as 'being able to have mental leeway' and 'feeling physically easier'.

Household support is not just a service that delegates tasks such as cleaning and cooking. By having someone's hand from outside the household, it plays a role in preventing the isolation of child-rearing and mental and physical fatigue, providing a trigger to turn around one's life, and creating leeway in the heart and time.

Bears positions household support as 'infrastructure that connects people and society' and will continue to create an environment where dual-income households, child-rearing households, and those burdened with household chores can realize their own work and lifestyle.

Bears' Track Record of Receiving Foreign Household Support Personnel

Bears has also been certified as a designated organization in Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, Aichi, Osaka, and Hyogo Prefectures, and has been receiving foreign household support personnel since 2017. Currently, we are receiving more than 500 personnel from the Philippines and providing household support services.

The foreign personnel we receive have all completed household training at the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), a government-certified institution in the Philippines, and are selected, directly employed by Bears, and secured with the same remuneration level as Japanese staff. In addition, a dedicated team continuously provides housing improvements, life consultations, and follow-up during work. Furthermore, before coming to Japan, we conduct a two-month training on Japanese language, Japanese culture and lifestyle, household techniques, etiquette, safety management, personal information protection, and after arrival in Japan, we also conduct thorough training.

In addition to providing our customers with peace of mind and high quality, we are also committed to creating an environment where foreign staff who come to Japan can work, live, and demonstrate their abilities with peace of mind.

Future Developments in Kumamoto Prefecture

In Kumamoto Prefecture, as the regional economy develops with the success of industrial clustering and the attraction of foreign companies, the increase in dual-income households and the progression of nuclear families make it more important than ever to create an environment where diverse human resources can balance work and family life.

Bears will support dual-income households, child-rearing households, and those burdened with household chores in the prefecture, utilizing our experience in receiving foreign household support personnel and the mechanisms for education, training, and service operation that we have cultivated since our founding.

In the future, we will proceed with necessary procedures regarding residence status, entry into the country, employment, etc., and will establish a training, management, and support system in Kumamoto Prefecture. Once preparations are complete, we plan to start receiving personnel in small groups.

Bears will strengthen the system to stably provide high-quality services by deepening collaboration with local governments, corporations, and related organizations in the region, and will deliver 'safe', 'secure', 'comfortable', and 'convenient' household support services to the people of Kumamoto Prefecture.

Comment by Director and Vice President Yuki Takahashi

Bears was founded in 1999 with the desire to create a society where no one has to bear the burden of household chores and child-rearing alone, and where everyone can face work, child-rearing, and their own lives.

We are very honored to have been certified as the first designated organization in Kumamoto Prefecture this time.

The most important thing in receiving foreign household support personnel is to balance providing customers with peace of mind and high-quality services and creating an environment where staff who come to Japan can work and live with peace of mind.

Utilizing the training, employment management, and life support experience we have cultivated so far, we will support the lives of the people of Kumamoto Prefecture and contribute to the realization of a regional society where work and family life can be balanced.

Overview of Designated Organization (Hosting Company)

・Company Name: Bears Co., Ltd. (Representative Director and President: Takeshi Takahashi)

・Headquarters Location: 1-1-1 Nihonbashi-hamacho 2-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

・Business Office Location: 3rd Floor, Suizenji Center Building, 20-22 Suizenji 1-chome, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City (Kumamoto Branch)

・Number of Planned Acceptances: 10 (Nationality: Philippines) All have JLPT N4* or higher

*Note: N4 = Understanding basic Japanese (same level as Specified Skilled Worker 1)

・Period of Stay: Maximum of 5 years (Residence Status: Specified Activity)

・Area of Household Activities Provided: Entire Kumamoto Prefecture

・Business to be Engaged in: Businesses listed in Article 16 of the Enforcement Order of the National Strategic Special Zone Law (Numbered)

① Cooking ② Laundry ③ Cleaning ④ Shopping

⑤ Daily care and necessary protection of children (Note)

(Note) Limited to those implemented in conjunction with ①~④, ⑥

⑥ Other acts necessary for daily life in the household

(Sewing, packing, receiving mail and deliveries, preparing bedding, garden maintenance, etc.)

・Implementation Status in Other Prefectures: Certified as a designated organization (hosting company) in 6 municipalities (Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, Osaka, Hyogo, Aichi) that have already implemented the same business.

[Company Profile]

・Name:

Keyword: