Digital Garage Subsidiary Pocket Change Lands FinTech Deal in JAL-Resona Regional Tourism Campaign

Tokyo Stock Exchange-listed digital payment and marketing firm Digital Garage (TSE Prime: 4819) and its subsidiary Pocket Change have announced that their proprietary digital currency platform, "Pokepay," has been selected for a new regional tourism initiative in Osaka.

The platform will power digital coupons for the "Yorimichi Osaka (Vol. 1): Higashiosaka Edition" travel package. The travel product is a collaborative venture between Japan Airlines (JAL), Resona Bank, Higashiosaka City, and the Higashiosaka Tourism Association.

Key Details of the Tourism Initiative

• Expo-Driven Regional Expansion: The initiative marks the inaugural phase of the "Yorimichi Osaka" project, a joint effort by JAL and Resona Bank to promote wider regional travel in connection with the upcoming Osaka-Kansai Expo.
• FinTech Integration: Pocket Change’s "Pokepay" platform will issue the "Takopatabi Higashiosaka Pay," a cashless digital coupon designed to improve traveler convenience and streamline transaction processing at local merchants.
• Consumer Incentive: The package bundles airfare and accommodation with a ¥2,500 digital coupon allocated to each traveler.
• Launch Date and Local Reach: The coupons are scheduled to go live on July 31, 2026, and will be accepted at approximately 17 local merchants, primarily across the Fuse, Nagata, and Ishikiri Sando shopping districts.

Strategic Context and Market Outlook

The roll-out leverages a broader, pre-existing alliance between Digital Garage and Resona Holdings, originally established in May 2025. By deploying digital currency infrastructure to municipal tourism, the partners aim to establish a repeatable model for regional digital transformation (DX) that stimulates local consumption and extends visitor stay times.

Looking forward, Digital Garage and Pocket Change stated they intend to deepen their cooperation with the Resona Group to scale their custom digital currency platform across other Japanese municipalities, capitalizing on nationwide cashless migration and regional revitalization initiatives.

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Japan FinTech ObserverNorbert Gehrke