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July 24, 2026
 

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FURUSATO NOZEI

Parent-child groups cook dishes using milk offered as a return gift for the hometown tax donation program during an event held in Tokyo in March.
51勛圖厙
Jun 9, 2026
Hometown donations program to refocus on local community ties
Following a revision to the?furusato n身zei?system, the internal affairs ministry wants to move away from the ※good deals§ offered through generous return gifts.
Internal affairs minister Yoshimasa Hayashi noted Tuesday that fees paid by local governments to intermediary operators as part of the <i>furusato n抉?zei</i> hometown tax donation program have reached a high level. The ministry plans to urge such portal site operators to lower their commission fees as part of plans to increase the amount of donated funds made available to local governments.
BUSINESS
May 12, 2026
Commission fees for furusato n身zei portal sites exceed 10% of donated funds
The ministry plans to urge such portal site operators to lower their fees, as part of plans to increase the amount of donated funds made available to local governments.
Under the current furusato n抉?zei hometown donation system, the amount of donations to local governments minus ?2,000 is deducted from the donor's income and residential taxes.
BUSINESS
Dec 2, 2025
Japan eyes cap on deductions for furusato n抉?zei donations
Since the system is seen as favorable for higher-income earners, lawmakers of the ruling bloc have called for a review to bring the system back in line with its original purpose.
The city of Izumisano, in Osaka Prefecture, has successfully challenged a decision by the central government to cut special tax grants based on its revenues under the <i>furusato n身zei</i> (hometown tax donation) system.
51勛圖厙 / Crime & Legal
Oct 10, 2025
Government cuts to Izumisano＊s tax grants illegal, Osaka High Court rules
The city in Osaka Prefecture raised about ?49.8 billion in donations in fiscal 2018, the most among the local governments under the hometown tax donation program.
The city of Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, used a crowdfunding-style hometown donation program to help fund fireworks during the Matsue Suigosai festival held in August.
51勛圖厙 / Society / FOCUS
Sep 29, 2025
Crowdfunding-style hometown donations gain traction in Japan
Such initiatives set clear fundraising targets and deadlines to solicit contributions to address specific local challenges.
The internal affairs ministry in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward. The ministry has barred four municipalities from taking part in Japan's <i>furusato n身zei</i> hometown donation program for two years due to their excessive spending on the program.
51勛圖厙 / Politics
Sep 26, 2025
Four municipalities to be banned from hometown tax program after overspending
The municipalities affected are Soja in Okayama Prefecture, Unzen in Nagasaki Prefecture, Miyaki in Saga Prefecture and Yamato in Kumamoto Prefecture.
A booth from the town of Betsukai in Hokkaido at an Amazon Japan furusato n抉?zei promotion event, on Sept. 5 in Tokyo's Minato Ward.
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 12, 2025
People rush to make furusato nozei donations ahead of tighter rules
Website operators are holding events and campaigns to lure customers before the government bans them from giving reward points to donors, effective next month.
People buy groceries from a mobile supermarket in a rural area of Nagomi, Kumamoto Prefecture. The government is considering a new "hometown resident" registration system to help strengthen regional revitalization measures.
51勛圖厙
Sep 7, 2025
Japan eyes two types of ＆hometown resident＊ registration
The system is included in the government＊s basic vision for regional revitalization, adopted in June.
A revamped 3D diorama of the Chiran airfield and its surroundings is displayed at the Chiran Peace Museum in Minamikyushu, Kagoshima Prefecture, on July 31.
51勛圖厙
Sep 3, 2025
Hometown donations program used to help preserve wartime memories in Japan
Initiatives are under way in some regions to keep the tragic history of World War II?from fading by using digital technology to renovate exhibition facilities.
A fireworks display in Imabari, Ehime Prefecture, on Aug. 4 last year. The show has been one of the return gifts for hometown tax donations to the city.
51勛圖厙
Aug 1, 2025
Furusato n抉?zei hometown tax donations hit record ?1.3 trillion in 2024
Of Japan＊s 47 prefectures, only Fukuoka, Saga and Kagoshima received lower donations than in fiscal 2023.
The city government of Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, used corporate donations to create a volunteer tour, during which participants help farmers harvest apples and enjoy sightseeing in the city.
51勛圖厙 / FOCUS
Feb 20, 2025
Corporate hometown donations gain traction in Japan
Some local governments have been found to provide de facto rewards to donor companies, violating the system＊s rules and raising concerns about improper practices.
Jasper Cheung, head of Amazon Japan (second from the left), which will enter the "furusato nozei" hometown donation intermediary business.
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 19, 2024
Amazon Japan to enter ＆furusato n身zei＊ business
Amazon aims to differentiate its service from other sites by delivering gifts as quickly as one day after donations are made.
An event to support Fukushima, Miyagi and Iwate prefectures is held in Sendai in March, with booths offering local specialties.
51勛圖厙 / Society / Regional Voices: Fukushima
Sep 30, 2024
Nearly 40% of Fukushima municipalities want hometown tax system revised
Some want the central government to implement measures to establish a system that narrows disparities among municipalities.
Tokyo's Shibuya Ward offers a ticket to Shibuya Sky, an open-air observation deck at the rooftop of a high-rise building in Shibuya, as a return gift for those who made furusato nozei donations to the ward.
51勛圖厙 / Society
Aug 2, 2024
＆Furusato nozei＊ donations topped ?1 trillion for first time in 2023
The city of Miyakonojo in Miyazaki Prefecture received the largest amount of donations, at ?19.3 billion.
People who made hometown tax donations to the city of Narita in Chiba Prefecture take part in a tour on Sunday at Narita Airport in the city, which was offered as a return gift.
51勛圖厙
Jul 26, 2024
Japan＊s hometown tax donations top ?1 trillion for first time
The number of people who received residence tax breaks through the system is also believed to have hit a record 10 million.
Japan's tradition of offering investors gifts is nice. But with the stock market at record highs, such perks are no longer needed.
COMMENTARY
Jul 18, 2024
It＊s time Japan＊s shareholders buy their own wine
The practice by Japanese companies of giving gifts once served as a good way to encourage trading novices to dabble in the stock market.
Internal affairs minister Takeaki Matsumoto
51勛圖厙
Jun 26, 2024
Point websites to be barred from Japan＊s hometown tax donation system
Donations collected via the sites will no longer be tax deductible under the hometown tax system.
Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward has offered a stationmaster experience at Shinjuku Station as a return gift for donations of ?1 million to the ward.
51勛圖厙
May 1, 2024
Tokyo offers ＆experience packages＊ as gifts to curb tax outflow
As their tax revenues continue to decline, Tokyo wards have begun diversifying their gift offerings under the hometown tax program.
A woman makes a donation for people affected by the Noto Peninsula earthquake set up at Shinjuku's Keio Department Store's in Tokyo on Monday.
51勛圖厙
Feb 1, 2024
?17 billion raised for quake-hit Ishikawa
A committee made up of?members of related organizations will decide how to allocate the funds, which will be distributed via local municipalities.
51勛圖厙 / Society
Aug 1, 2023
Japan＊s hometown tax donations set record for third year
The value of donations under the furusato n身zei (hometown tax donation) system rose by about 20% from the previous year to ?965.4 billion.
Japan scientists identify clusters of protein believed to trigger Alzheimer＊s disease
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Low-income families in Japan cut food and air conditioning during summer break
Yumiko Watanabe, the chairperson of nonprofit Kidsdoor, explains the results of a survey in Tokyo&#039;s Chiyoda Ward on July 1.
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Japan reveals hint of new defense spending target in fiscal blueprint
The Self-Defense Forces&#039; Type 16 mobile combat vehicle fires during a joint live-fire drill with U.S. Marines as part of the annual Resolute Dragon exercises in Yufu, Oita Prefecture, on June 28.

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