Supporting local communities! A taxi company caring for the lives of local people

We interviewed the taxi company that has a unique “e-Support Taxi” system to help everyone from children to the elderly live comfortably in their local communities. They launched a new support service in response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aspirations of staff members have taken shape

Interviewer： We heard that you have started a shopping support service. Why?

Mr. YAMADA：We thought about what a passenger transport business could do in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. What is expected of us by society and users today? The shopping support service is a solution whereby we can both make use of our strengths and address social issues. We had to refrain from transporting people. But transportation of things was necessary. We started this service to carry things that might be needed by people if they became injured or sick, or in any other emergency. Meanwhile, local restaurants have jointly created a platform for food delivery. We support them after obtaining permission for freight transportation.

Responding to the needs of local people

Interviewer：Who are the users of your shopping support service?

Mr. YAMADA：Many people who are at higher risk of virus infection have used the service, specifically, some in their 60s who were refraining from going out because of their age, and others in their late 40s who needed daily shopping for groceries. We also had a young female customer in her 20s who had a newborn baby. All of them had difficulty going out of their homes.

Higashi-hiroshima City in the future

Interviewer：Having heard your talk, we now know that Higashi Hiroshima Taxi is a company that has very close ties with local communities. Being such a local community-based company, what is the ideal community that you aim for?

Mr. YAMADA：Our company has celebrated the 70th anniversary since its foundation in Higashi-hiroshima City. Higashi-hiroshima City has grown remarkably and is one of the rare cities where the population is increasing. The city has been promoting community building as an “international science city rich in nature, taking on challenges for the future.” It has been selected as an SDG Future City. Our business is to support the movement of people, and therefore contact with people is necessary to provide our services. We connect people to people and people to communities, aiming to help create a society where no one is left behind, including the elderly, children and families taking care of children.

Higashi Hiroshima Taxi Co., Ltd.

3387 Misonou, Saijo-cho, Higashihiroshima

+81-082-423-2631

www.e-taxi.co.jp

Interview with

Director：YAMADA Akio

We conducted interviews!

SAYAMA Riko （Yasuda Women’s University）：Thank you very much for your cooperation!

OKINO Kana （Yasuda Women’s University）：We felt how closely you are connected to the local communities.

MURASHIGE Haruka （Yasuda Women’s University）：We enjoyed the interview!

Comment from editor

We learned that the company offers various services including the shopping support service and the lunchbox delivery service, which were initiated from their aspiration to give a helping hand to anyone nearby who is really in trouble, and to support the community of Higashi-hiroshima City. The e-Support Taxi services were launched in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The lineup of services seems friendly to all users irrespective of age or gender, and we thought they would be helpful for local people even in normal times. I am sure this initiative is relevant to SDG Goal 8 “Decent work and economic growth.”