― Solving Nationwide Inheritance Real Estate Problems Through a Consultation Network and Vacant Home Revitalization Expertise ― Business Partnership Agreement Signing Ceremony (Left: JKAS Representative Nishigami, Right: Trustee Representative Nakamura) Trustee Inc. (Headquarters: Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, Representative Director: Yuji Nakamura) and Mericaren Japan LLC (Headquarters: Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture, Representative Member: Eri Nishigami), which operates the Osaka main branch of "JKAS," a real estate business consortium comprising approximately 60 real estate companies nationwide, signed a business partnership agreement on June 11, 2026, aimed at resolving issues related to vacant homes and inherited real estate. On the same day, the first "Jikka Soudan no Madoguchi" (Estate Management Consultation Service) franchise stores, "Osaka Umeda Store" and "Tokyo Setagaya Store," simultaneously opened. This expansion of the franchise network, coupled with the business partnership, extends the integrated support system for consultations, sales, revitalization, and utilization to the Kansai and Kanto regions. Background: The Worsening Problem of Vacant Homes and Inherited Real Estate The vacant home issue in Japan is becoming increasingly severe. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' Housing and Land Survey, there are approximately 9 million vacant homes, with about 3.85 million of them not intended for market circulation. The number of inherited homes that are left unmanaged is growing, drawing significant attention as a social issue. The root causes of these problems include structural challenges such as "not knowing who to consult" and "lack of coordination between consultation services and real estate companies handling the practical aspects." This partnership directly addresses these issues. Objectives and Structure of the Partnership This partnership aims to build a comprehensive support system for inherited real estate and v