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A umbrella sharing service of attention now, Shibuya's "Aikasa" will settle! What?

"Matching service" that delivers "idle assets" that are not running, such as taxi's dispatch service "Uber" and a residential intermediary site "AirBnB", to those who want it is called "sharing economy" recently It is rapidly growing. The background of such market expansion is not only influenced by economic recession, environmental problems, the spread of the Internet, etc. However, I feel limitations on the consumption type economy full of things, "shared ownership" to "shared (share) The fact that people who find new values and lifestyles are starting to increase is also a big cause.

Especially in Shibuya where there are many venture companies, we expanded the shopping service "ecbo cloak (Ekobokuroku)" for temporary luggage storage that connects "shops with space to keep baggage" and a time fee-based working space effectively utilizing idle space New sharing economies such as "coins sports" are born one after another.

<Articles>
-What is "ecbo cloak" that you can sightsee in Shibuya city by hand? (March 1, 2017)
-Directly connected to Shibuya station! Hours available for 15 minutes from 100 yen Open space (2016/9/14)

Especially, recently, the umbrella sharing service "Aikasa" is starting to catch up in the city of Shibuya. The consumption of umbrellas in Japan goes well over 100 million a year, of which the majority is occupied by plastic umbrellas. It is calculated that one Japanese buys one umbrella at least annually. Certainly it suddenly comes down to rain and the pattern of buying a umbrella umbrella in a hurry and convenience store is not unusual at all. Also, because it is not an umbrella you wanted and you bought, the degree of attachment is low, as rain stops, it will be left somewhere at the same time, rarely become disposable. It is a waste of waste.

The Nature Innovation Group (Shiguya 3-chome), a venture company based in Shibuya, thought that such a disposable umbrella could be solved with the idea of a sharing economy. From December 2018, we set up "umbrella sharing spot" in a small space such as a store or office building, and started umbrella sharing service "Aikasa". Although it is not long from the launch, companies that agree with it gradually increase, such as shops in the vicinity of Shibuya station, movie theaters, karaoke boxes, etc. Currently they are developing services at about 90 locations mainly in Shibuya-ku.

The umbrella usage fee for the day is 70 yen, the upper limit is 420 yen even if you use it many times over a month. By the way, the convenience store's umbrella is 547 yen for Seven Eleven, 554 yen for Family Mart ... and roughly 550 yen is quoted. Even if you rent a monthly charge of 420 yen, even if you borrowed it for a month during the rainy season, it is better than buying it.

▲ Left) When you register "Aikasa" with LINE @, it arrives at the right page) There are many spots scattered around Shibuya station. Clicking on the icon also displays the location of the spot as well as the number of umbrellas that are currently stocked

To use it, first search for "Aikasa" from LINE @ account and add it to friends. From the explanation page that arrived at LINE, look for "eye spot" nearest to where you are now. When scanning the Q code attached to the handle of the umbrella installed at the place with the smartphone, the password given to each umbrella is displayed. When that number is matched with the dial lock, the lock is released and the umbrella can be used. Payment only registers credit card at initial registration. It is simple and easy to understand that all exchanges are completed within LINE without newly downloading extra apps.

However, the sharing service of "umbrella" is not the first time "Aikasa". In the past, an eco-project called "SHIBUKASA" was launched in 2007, mainly by students of Aoyama Gakuin University, and then it was converted into a general incorporated association and was doing activities. At the peak, we had 39 affiliated stores around Shibuya station, Aoyama, Omotesando, Harajuku, etc. and distributed about 2,000 umbrellas a year, but in about 5 years the project has gone out. It is too early that the idea of "sharing economy" like the present is not yet established generally in general. Furthermore, because it was a "free" rental of an umbrella based on sexual theory, the return rate of the umbrella was low and sustainable service continuation became difficult. The idea of "Please use it freely, please return the umbrella to the affiliated store at a later date" is very ideal, but human nature such as "it is troublesome to take on a sunny day" etc. is unexpectedly selfish It can be said that.

<Articles>
Interview with Mr. Hiroyuki Suehara, General President Shibukasa (2011/06/15)

In this sense, "Aikasa" which is a paid service can be said to be a service based on reflection of "Shibukasa". Although it is low, money is automatically withdrawn by credit card registration, so user consciousness that "I want to return the umbrella as soon as possible" inevitably works. As a result, a virtuous circle of activation of umbrella distribution will be born, leading to sustainability and growth of the business.

We plan to introduce services at 100 supermarket shops this spring. Furthermore, by the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, it is planned to realize 30,000 umbrella circulation throughout the country, plans to promote multilateral correspondence for inbound as well.

I would like to pay attention to whether new ideas will work or whether "umbrella sharing" will settle in the city of Shibuya or not.

Editorial department · Fuji Itakashi

Shibuya registrar. In addition to Shibuya of Culture information, seasonal news and topics, it will spell write that feel every day.

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