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#ArigatoGuide, a volunteer-matching project supported by Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd., West Japan Railway Company, and Mirairo Inc. – is honoured to present its field test at JR Osaka Station available August 3rd through August 31st. The project helps to connect people in need (wheelchairs users, parents with strollers, elderly people, foreign tourists, or people who are not familiar with Osaka Station)with supporters (volunteers). This field test utilizes LINE, as the communication tool and LINE Beacon for location tracking to match supporters with those who need help.

As Tokyo 2020 Olympics is approaching, more infrastructure is needed to support the rising number of foreign tourists. #ArigatoGuide project is expected to relieve workloads of train station workers and wait time at different tourist information centre by introducing the force of local volunteers.

Introduction Video: https://youtu.be/-Zwwa5RikIE

User Guide of #ArigatoGuide

Overview

Field Test Period: 10am-8pmFriday, August 3rd – Friday, August 31st
Location: Concourse at JR Osaka Station
(Around the Central Concourse, Southern Midosuji Exit, Sakurabashi Exit)

#ArigatoGuide

To Participate

1. Register ‘&HAND’ account

For those who agree with the purpose of this field test and would like to participate, please add the ‘&HAND’ account as a friend on LINE. When adding, you can select to be on either the “side that needs help” or the “supporter side” and register.

2. Matching supporters with for support request

When someone who has added the ‘&HAND’ LINE account enters the designated area at JR Osaka Station, a message will be sent automatically from &HAND account to inform the user that they have entered the target area from LINE’s chatbot. Those who are in need of assistance can put out a request for support and supporters in the same area will receive help requests through LINE. The chatbot will also send over the type of assistance needed while guiding the supporter to the location where the person who made the request is located. This chatbot operates in Japanese and English so that it can be used by both locals and foreigners visiting Japan.