Hope is a Fukuoka-based company that has created i-Kohoshi, a smartphone app that provides electronic versions of the city and town newsletters published by local municipalities. Launched in 2005, the company now provides access to the newsletter of 180 municipalities from around Japan and aims to have 300 cities, towns and village signed up by year’s end. The app is free for users and Hope, whose major business is placing corporate ads in municipal newsletters and websites, is looking into a way to generate revenue by adding ads to the app. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun 5/14
