#Japan #Tokyo #GCF #Trust Bank #Furusato Choice

Trust Bank's Government Crowdfunding Initiative Reaches New Heights

In a remarkable achievement, Trust Bank, headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, announced that their initiative, Furusato Choice Government Crowdfunding (GCF®), has successfully surpassed 5,000 projects. GCF®, which was launched in September 2013, serves as an innovative platform that allows local municipalities in Japan to collect funds for specific challenges they face, by transforming these challenges into tangible projects that attract donor support.

The Essence of GCF®

The GCF® model enables contributors not only to decide which region to donate to but also to specify how their donations will be used. This flexibility helps municipalities to gather necessary funding from across the nation to address critical local issues. Until now, contributions through GCF® have supported a wide array of projects involving over 870 municipalities, benefiting fields such as education, healthcare, disaster recovery, cultural preservation, and urban development, among others. The surpassing of 5,000 projects signifies a growing trend in which municipalities clarify the usage of donations and connect with supporters through shared community values.

Diversity of Local Challenges and a New Era of Donations

Since its inception, the number of GCF® projects has steadily increased, reflecting the expanding utilization by local governments. According to recent statistics as of July 31, 2026:

• - Total projects: Over 5,000
• - Total municipalities involved: 870
• - Total donations collected: Over 26.8 billion yen

This growth is driven by the increasing complexity of local issues, such as population decline, decreasing birth rates, and the need for better educational, medical, and welfare services. Furthermore, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications emphasized the importance of clearly stating the details and outcomes of crowdfunding initiatives, which has encouraged municipalities to engage more with GCF® as a means of fostering a culture of donations across the nation.

The Historical Context of GCF®

The concept behind GCF® came to life when Trust Bank envisioned Furusato Tax as a form of crowdfunding for local governments. The first project launched through GCF® in collaboration with Miyashiro Town in Saitama prefecture raised approximately 9.39 million yen to preserve Yamazaki Mountain, exceeding the goal of 5 million yen. This money has been essential for environmental conservation and education efforts.

Over the years, the project list has grown significantly, crossing 100 projects annually in 2017 and escalating to over 500 by 2022, leading to projections of surpassing 1,000 projects annually by 2025. The cooperation between multiple municipalities tackling common issues and collaborations with nonprofit organizations has addressed challenges that one local government alone may struggle to manage.

Impressive Fundraising Results Through GCF®

To date, GCF® has amassed over 26.8 billion yen in total contributions from approximately 53,000 supporters to various projects. Notably, one of the largest campaigns supported the reconstruction of Shuri Castle in Naha City, Okinawa, after it was devastated by fire in October 2019. The project saw over 53,000 donations amounting to around 940 million yen, a testament to the national solidarity for the cause, achieving the fundraising goal of 100 million yen in just over two days.

Additionally, projects such as Akita Prefecture's initiative for the coexistence of humans and bears have gained traction through effective communication strategies that engaged the community and accurately depicted the local challenges.

Trust Bank’s Vision for Sustainable Local Development

Trust Bank is committed to building self-sustaining, resilient communities through initiatives like GCF®. With systemic changes looming, such as the prohibition on offering rewards for donations starting October 2025, capturing donor empathy through clear insights into how funds tackle local issues and contribute to future community visions have become vital.

The company aims to combine its various programs - individual contributions, GCF®, and corporate donations - to foster an efficient and meaningful approach to Furusato Tax that resonates with contributors’ values. Furthermore, Trust Bank seeks to highlight the inherent value of local support and the importance of transparency in funding allocation, ensuring that community challenges remain visible and that contributions foster sustainable development across Japan.

Note: Government Crowdfunding® and GCF® are registered trademarks of Trust Bank, Inc.