Sapporo Launches AI-Based Consultation Service

Mar 18, 2026 | News On Japan

HOKKAIDO, Mar 18, 2026 (News On Japan) - Sapporo has begun a trial of a new consultation service in March that is drawing attention for its use of artificial intelligence to support residents who may find face-to-face or telephone consultations difficult.

Reporter Tomoya Takahashi said, "Sapporo City has created a new consultation service, and the person in charge is AI."

The service, officially named the "Sapporo City AI Worry Consultation," allows users to seek advice through an AI-powered chat system accessible from smartphones and computers at any time, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Takahashi demonstrated the system by inputting, "I have no money and am struggling to make ends meet." After several exchanges, the AI provided guidance by directing him to a relevant support center.

Depending on the nature of the inquiry, the system introduces users to specialized consultation services.

By offering support via chat, the initiative aims to assist individuals who are uncomfortable with in-person or telephone consultations.

Yasushi Tatsuno, section chief of the General Affairs Division at Sapporo’s Health and Welfare Bureau, said, "We are able to handle a wide range of consultations, including health, employment, and interpersonal relationships, and we hope to help ease people’s concerns."

The trial is scheduled to run through June, after which Sapporo City will consider full-scale implementation based on usage results.

Source: HBCニュース　北海道放送

Martinelli Breaks Japan Hearts as Brazil Win 2-1 in World Cup Thriller

Japan’s World Cup campaign ended in the cruelest possible fashion on June 29, as Gabriel Martinelli scored in the fifth minute of stoppage time to give Brazil a 2-1 victory over the Samurai Blue in their knockout match in Houston. Japan had led in the first half and were still level at 1-1 in the final moments, but Martinelli’s late strike sent Brazil into the Round of 16 and eliminated Japan from the tournament.

Strong Quakes Strike Japan 11 Times Since April

Strong earthquakes have continued to shake parts of Japan in recent weeks, with 11 temblors measuring lower 5 or above on the Japanese seismic intensity scale recorded across the country since April 2026.

First Train of the Day Derails at Kintetsu Kyoto Station

A Kintetsu Railway train derailed inside Kyoto Station on the morning of June 29, forcing partial suspensions on the Kintetsu Kyoto Line for the rest of the day and causing long delays that hit commuters, students and tourists.

Hikone Castle Stone Wall Collapses After Typhoon Deluge

A section of stone wall at Hikone Castle, one of Japan’s few surviving original Edo-period castles and a National Treasure whose main keep remains intact more than 400 years after its construction, collapsed after heavy rain caused by Typhoons No. 7 and No. 8, Hikone city officials said.

Japan Books Spot in World Cup Knockout Stage After Sweden Draw

Japan advanced to the knockout stage of the World Cup after a 1-1 draw with Sweden on June 25, finishing second in Group F and setting up a Round of 32 clash with Brazil in Houston.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Web3 NEWS

David Villa氏、BitradeXのグローバル・ブランドアンバサダーに就任

BitradeXは、2010年FIFAワールドカップ優勝メンバーであり、スペインを代表する伝説的ストライカーであるDavid Villa（ダビド・ビジャ）氏が、BitradeXのグローバル・ブランドアンバサダーに就任したことを正式に発表しました。

Japan’s IT Reshoring Story Is Really a Control Shift

The idea that Japanese conglomerates are pulling IT operations back from India and the Philippines sounds plausible.

Masayoshi Son Sets Out AI Vision at SoftBank Shareholder Meeting

SoftBank Group Chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son said the company aims to become the world’s leading AI company, outlining a strategy centered on four key fields including physical AI, such as robots equipped with artificial intelligence, and data centers.

AI Wearables Move Toward Everyday Use

An international supply chain exhibition in Beijing has put artificial intelligence at the center of its program this year, with manufacturers and semiconductor companies from around the world showcasing products aimed at practical use, including AI-equipped smart glasses that could reduce the need to look at a smartphone.

AI Medical System Strengthens Disaster Bed Coordination

Osaka General Medical Center in Osaka's Sumiyoshi Ward has begun introducing artificial intelligence to strengthen its system for accepting patients during disasters, using electronic medical records to visualize in real time each patient's risk of deterioration and other key information so hospital beds can be coordinated more quickly.

What Makes Online Entertainment So Engaging?

Online entertainment holds attention because it blends speed, choice, and emotion in one screen.

50 Future Jobs For The AI Age

A Tokyo exhibition is offering a look at 50 possible professions that could emerge in the AI age, from skin bacteria pharmacists who analyze microbes on the skin to ad walkers who use electronic textiles to deliver advertising while moving through the city.

OpenAI Debuts at IVS2026, One of Japan's Largest Startup Events

IVS2026, one of Japan's largest startup events, will open in Kyoto on July 1, bringing together entrepreneurs and investors from Japan and abroad, with OpenAI, the U.S. developer of ChatGPT, taking part for the first time.

< 2 3 4 5 >