Trust Bank Co., Ltd.
Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture and Furusato Choice launch a project aimed at stably supplying food for koalas at Hirakawa Zoological Park through government crowdfunding (R) utilizing the hometown tax payment system.
~ Supporting gardens that are struggling to secure eucalyptus due to rising utility costs and abnormal weather ~
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Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture (Mayor: Takao Shimotsuru, hereinafter referred to as “Kagoshima City”) plans and operates one of the largest hometown tax comprehensive websites in Japan, “Furusato Choice” (https://www.furusato-tax.jp/). Trust Bank Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Kenichi Kawamura, hereinafter referred to as “Trust Bank”) announced today, December 4th, a mechanism for collecting donations through
crowdfunding through the hometown tax payment system provided by Trust Bank. We will start a project with “Government Crowdfunding (R)” (hereinafter referred to as “GCF (R)”) with the aim of stably supplying food for koalas at Hirakawa Zoological Park. The recruitment period is from December 4, 2023 to March 2, 2024, and the target donation amount is 10 million yen.
Background to soliciting donations at GCF(R)
Hirakawa Zoological Park currently has 15 koalas, the largest number in Japan. Koalas eat 200 to 500 grams of the soft shoots of eucalyptus leaves a day, and up to 1 kg at most, and the koalas kept at the zoo consume 33 tons of eucalyptus each year. The zoo takes advantage of the tropical environment of Kagoshima and has a system in place to provide fresh eucalyptus to the koalas. Unusually for koala breeding farms, the zookeepers themselves are involved in all aspects of koala breeding, including cultivation, field management, and harvesting. However, in recent years, abnormal weather, the frequent approach of typhoons, and extreme cold waves have had a considerable impact on the growth of eucalyptus, and the recent rise in labor and utility costs has made it difficult to secure funds to maintain this system. is also in a difficult situation. Therefore, in order to continue to secure a stable supply of food for the koalas kept at the zoo, we will use GCF to collect donations.
[Image 1
 is a hometown tax crowdfunding campaign that collects donations based on how they will be used. Local governments widely disseminate local issues and solutions, gain sympathy, and collect donations. This gives donors an opportunity to learn about local issues and allows them to choose a more specific way to use their donations. Donations are made out of support for the project, which leads to continued interest in the community.
It is also expected to have the effect of creating local fans and increasing the number of local relationships and exchanges.
GCF(R) is a system provided by Trust Bank in September 2013. The number of projects and the number of local governments using the program are increasing year by year, and as of July 2023, total donations have exceeded 14.7 billion yen and approximately 2,100 projects have been implemented.
*Government Crowdfunding (R) and GCF (R) are registered trademarks of Trust Bank Co., Ltd.
□■ Project overview ■□
◆ Project name: Number of animals raised is the highest in Japan! Koala support project at Hirakawa Zoological Park
◆ Donation reception site: Furusato Choice “Government Crowdfunding (R)” (operated by Trust Bank Co., Ltd.)
◆ Target amount: 10 million yen
◆ Recruitment period: December 4, 2023 to March 2, 2024 (90 days) ◆ How the donation will be used: In order to secure a stable supply of eucalyptus to feed the koalas, it will be used to purchase the amount that Hirakawa Zoological Park cannot grow alone.
◆ Project URL: <a href=){kind=spacer}
https://www.furusato-tax.jp/gcf/2779*The recruitment period may be extended.
[Image 2
https://www.city.kagoshima.lg.jp/) Kagoshima City is blessed with abundant nature, including Sakurajima and Kinko Bay, and is overflowing with rich ingredients such as Japanese black beef, black pork, seafood, and tea. It is a treasure trove of delicious food such as shochu and fish cakes that are unique to the production area. There are “special pieces” that shine through the craftsmanship, such as Satsuma Kiriko and Satsuma ware, which are created using high technology and inherited traditional techniques. In addition, as an exchange hub city in the south, various urban functions are concentrated, and we are working to locate businesses that take advantage of these.What is Government Crowdfunding(R) (GCF(R))?
A crowdfunding-type mechanism for collecting hometown tax donations provided by Trust Bank in September 2013. The local government becomes the project owner and raises a wide range of funds by presenting specific solutions to local issues, the amount of donations needed and how they will be used, and the period for collecting donations. Donors can choose how their donated money will be used. Received the 2019 Good Design Award.
*“Furusato Choice Government Crowdfunding (R)” site:
https://www.furusato-tax.jp/gcf/
Trust Bank Co., Ltd. (https://www.trustbank.co.jp/)
The vision is to “create an independent and sustainable region.” Founded in April 2012, we launched Japan’s first comprehensive hometown tax donation website, Furusato Choice, in September of the same year. The site has grown to become one of the largest hometown tax donation sites in Japan, with over 1,700 local governments (as of November 2011), approximately 95% of the total, and the number of thank-you items available over 550,000 (as of September 2013). In November 2018, we formed a group with Change Co., Ltd. (currently Change Holdings Co., Ltd.) on the TSE Prime Market and entered the public tech business. In September 2019, we released “LoGo Chat”, a business chat for local governments, and in March 2020, we released “LoGo Form”, a no-code electronic application tool. In October 2011, we launched the e-commerce site “Meibutsu Choice,” which sells local Meibutsu. In addition, we are developing a local currency business that promotes local economic circulation, and an energy business that promotes local production and local consumption of renewable energy. *No. 1 in number of local governments that can apply and No. 1 in number of thank you items posted (as of September 2023, JMRO research) More details about this release:
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000001143.000026811.html