Creating a Society Where 'Help Me Now' Reaches Someone: 'moms' App for Multiple-Birth Families Partners with On-Demand Assistance Service 'Ikuji 119'

Pono Inc. (Headquarters: Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture; CEO: Chie Ushijima), which operates the multiple-birth pregnancy and parenting support app 'moms', announced a partnership starting May 25, 2026, with the 24/7 childcare assistance service 'Ikuji 119' provided by Natsunosora Inc. (Headquarters: Minato City, Tokyo; CEO: Kazuki Ishiguro).

'moms' has been providing a space where families raising multiples, such as twins and triplets, can connect online to share empathy and information. Meanwhile, 'Ikuji 119' is a practical support service where qualified professionals like nursery teachers and nurses, known as 'Tayotte-san,' provide emergency on-site assistance and emotional care via telephone. Through this partnership, the online space for 'empathy and belonging' and the real-world space for 'direct support' are linked through a single flow, aiming to create an environment where multiple-birth families can access help seamlessly at the moment they feel they need it.

Hidden Social Issues in Multiple-Birth Parenting Raising multiples, such as twins and triplets, involves significantly higher physical, mental, and financial burdens compared to standard parenting. Surveys by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare indicate that multiple-birth families have a higher risk of postpartum depression compared to single-birth families and are more prone to isolation due to the weight of their childcare duties. Despite this, support systems specifically for multiple-birth parenting remain scarce in both the public and private sectors, leading many families to reach their breaking point without knowing where to turn.

Neglecting isolated parenting environments leads directly to long-term social costs, including deterioration of caregivers' mental health, increased risk of abuse, and impacts on child development. Multiple-birth parental isolation is not merely a family issue but a structural societal problem.

Details of the Partnership Both services will gradually promote the following initiatives:

・Mutual Referral Flow Information about Ikuji 119 will be placed within the 'moms' app to provide a clear path for users needing immediate help to access real-world support. Similarly, Ikuji 119 will guide relevant multiple-birth family users to 'moms'.

・Seminars for Ikuji 119 Caregivers ('Tayotte-san') Leveraging 'moms' specialized knowledge and perspective as stakeholders, regular study sessions on multiple-birth childcare basics and communication skills will be held for Ikuji 119 support staff. This aims to improve the quality of support and enable assistance tailored to the reality of multiple-birth families.

Future Outlook Through this partnership, 'moms' and 'Ikuji 119' aim to expand their social impact in the following directions:

・Strengthening Mutual Referrals and Continuous Support Paths By linking a 'place of empathy' (moms) with a 'place to rely on' (Ikuji 119), they will facilitate continuous, rather than temporary, support.

・Developing Caregivers Specialized in Multiple-Birth Parenting Through ongoing study sessions, they will increase the number of caregivers with a deep understanding of multiple-birth families, enhancing the expertise of real-world support.

・Expanding Collaboration with Companies and Municipalities By working with companies promoting CSR/D&I and local governments exploring childcare policies, they will promote this online-offline hybrid model as a social infrastructure.

・Realizing Support Beyond Empathy They will strengthen mechanisms to bridge needs identified online into concrete solutions and support services.

Representative Comments Chie Ushijima, CEO of Pono Inc.: I am sincerely happy that this partnership with 'Ikuji 119' has been realized. The physical and mental burden of raising twins or triplets is incomparable to regular parenting. On nights when nursing, diaper changing, and soothing are happening simultaneously, there are truly moments when one feels like crying out, 'Someone come right now.' Yet, many parents endure in silence, telling themselves, 'I have to do my best because I am a parent,' while pushing their limits aside. As a multiple-birth parent myself, I have experienced the reality that information alone cannot save you. What is truly needed is the belief that 'it is okay to rely on others' during difficult moments and the 'time of not being alone' by connecting with someone. Through this collaboration, I feel that linking 'moms' community with 'Ikuji 119' support has great significance, as we can build a path that delivers 'help' to isolated multiple-birth families together. With the desire to 'put an end to isolated parenting,' I look forward to working with everyone to create a society where necessary support reaches those who need it.