Local Payment-Type Furusato Nozei 'Furusato Now' Launches in Ishioka City
Astena Minerva Co., Ltd. has launched 'Furusato Now,' a local payment-type hometown tax donation service, in Ishioka City, Ibaraki Prefecture. Users can make donations at facilities and receive return gifts immediately, contributing to local government cost reduction.
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- 📰 Published: May 7, 2026 at 18:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 7, 2026 at 09:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 7, 2026 at 09:50 (18 min after Collected)
Astena Minerva Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Suzu City, Ishikawa Prefecture; Representative Director and President: Garano Shimizu) is pleased to announce that 'Furusato Now,' a local payment-type 'furusato nozei' (hometown tax donation) service that allows anyone to easily support local regions through 'furusato nozei,' will begin operation in Ishioka City, Ibaraki Prefecture, on Thursday, May 7, 2026.
'Furusato Now' is a system where users can make 'furusato nozei' donations from tablet devices installed at visited facilities or from their personal smartphones, and immediately receive return gifts on the spot. It does not require membership registration and can be used by simply entering the necessary donation information, making 'furusato nozei' possible even during waiting times at facilities. This allows even first-time 'furusato nozei' users to easily participate.
In recent years, the high expense ratio of 'furusato nozei' has been highlighted as a social issue. With the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications reviewing expense ratio calculation standards, local governments are required to further reduce their expense ratios. Unlike e-commerce mall-type 'furusato nozei' websites, 'Furusato Now' involves local donation and direct handover of return gifts, eliminating expenses such as shipping costs. We believe this can significantly contribute to reducing the expense ratios of local governments struggling to meet new standards.
Furthermore, the golf course scheduled for introduction this time is conveniently located near Mito Station, accessible within two hours from the Tokyo metropolitan area, and is an area attracting attention as a tourist resource. We hope that this initiative will lead to the creation of new financial resources through the effective utilization of Ishioka City's tourism revenue and provide an opportunity for visitors to feel the charm of the region and its facilities more strongly.
**Adopting Facilities**
**How Ishioka City's Donations Will Be Used**
Donations collected through 'Furusato Now' will be utilized for the following purposes:
1. Projects related to creating a vibrant town as a center of life and culture.
2. Projects related to creating a town where people can live richly and be proud of.
3. Projects related to creating a town where people can live healthily and be active throughout their lives.
4. Other projects deemed necessary by the mayor for achieving the objectives.
**Contact for Furusato Now**
e-mail: furusato-now@astena-minerva.co.jp
Furusato Now Official HP: https://lp.furusato-now.jp/
**Astena Minerva Co., Ltd. Company Overview**
Company Name: Astena Minerva Co., Ltd.
Location: 177-3 Kamidocho Kitagata Yoji, Suzu City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Representative: Garano Shimizu, Representative Director and President
Established: December 1, 2021 (Reiwa 3)
URL: https://astena-minerva.co.jp/
Business Description: Corporate functions for social impact business
Keywords:
'Furusato Now' is a system where users can make 'furusato nozei' donations from tablet devices installed at visited facilities or from their personal smartphones, and immediately receive return gifts on the spot. It does not require membership registration and can be used by simply entering the necessary donation information, making 'furusato nozei' possible even during waiting times at facilities. This allows even first-time 'furusato nozei' users to easily participate.
In recent years, the high expense ratio of 'furusato nozei' has been highlighted as a social issue. With the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications reviewing expense ratio calculation standards, local governments are required to further reduce their expense ratios. Unlike e-commerce mall-type 'furusato nozei' websites, 'Furusato Now' involves local donation and direct handover of return gifts, eliminating expenses such as shipping costs. We believe this can significantly contribute to reducing the expense ratios of local governments struggling to meet new standards.
Furthermore, the golf course scheduled for introduction this time is conveniently located near Mito Station, accessible within two hours from the Tokyo metropolitan area, and is an area attracting attention as a tourist resource. We hope that this initiative will lead to the creation of new financial resources through the effective utilization of Ishioka City's tourism revenue and provide an opportunity for visitors to feel the charm of the region and its facilities more strongly.
**Adopting Facilities**
**How Ishioka City's Donations Will Be Used**
Donations collected through 'Furusato Now' will be utilized for the following purposes:
1. Projects related to creating a vibrant town as a center of life and culture.
2. Projects related to creating a town where people can live richly and be proud of.
3. Projects related to creating a town where people can live healthily and be active throughout their lives.
4. Other projects deemed necessary by the mayor for achieving the objectives.
**Contact for Furusato Now**
e-mail: furusato-now@astena-minerva.co.jp
Furusato Now Official HP: https://lp.furusato-now.jp/
**Astena Minerva Co., Ltd. Company Overview**
Company Name: Astena Minerva Co., Ltd.
Location: 177-3 Kamidocho Kitagata Yoji, Suzu City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Representative: Garano Shimizu, Representative Director and President
Established: December 1, 2021 (Reiwa 3)
URL: https://astena-minerva.co.jp/
Business Description: Corporate functions for social impact business
Keywords: