To places where foot care has not yet reached.

Our company supports April Dream, which aims to make April 1st a day to express dreams. This press release is the dream of Noir-Blanc G.K. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Representative: Miki Nakamura), which contributes to protecting the foot health of Japanese people and preventing troubles through the training of Japanese Podology [JP Podology] technicians and salon operation.

■ Our Dream "To places where foot care has not yet reached."

Through "JP Podology," which reconstructs German-style foot care for Japan, we aim to expand specialty stores that protect foot health to all 47 prefectures.

■ Current Status: Expanded to 26 Prefectures JP Podology specialty stores are currently spread across 26 prefectures nationwide.

Graduates who have learned the techniques have become independent and opened businesses in various regions, addressing foot problems in their respective communities.

However, on the other hand, specialized foot care has not yet reached 21 regions.

■ Is it acceptable for there to be disparities in "foot health" depending on the region? Foot problems can happen to anyone, regardless of age or living environment.

Ingrown nails, calluses, corns, walking anxiety — these greatly affect the quality of daily life.

Despite this, there is a reality where whether one can receive appropriate care depends on where they live. We want to eliminate this "regional disparity."

■ Voices from the Field: Foot Care Demanded in the Regions The following are the voices of technicians active as the sole JP Podology specialty store in their prefecture.

### 【Kaori Nozawa, Kagawa Prefecture / Foot and Aroma】 What I feel through activities such as salon care, home visits, and workshops is the reality that there are a great number of people who are troubled without knowing the importance of feet. I feel that foot care only has value when it spreads throughout the region. I want to expand a society where nail clipping and foot care are familiar choices for everyone, even in rural areas. And I hope that the number of colleagues who protect feet will increase in the regions, leading to a future where everyone can continue to walk with peace of mind. While being close to each person's feet, we will foster a foot health culture from the region.

### 【Yuka Tatebe, Miyagi Prefecture / AshiLaxe】