Government DX Promotion Council Announces Addition of Sankaku Kikaku Inc. ~Store-based Hometown Tax Donation® 'Furusato-Zu', a Patented Business Model to Turn 'Store Fans' into 'Town Fans'~

The Government DX Promotion Council (hereinafter, GDX) is pleased to announce that Sankaku Kikaku Inc. (hereinafter, Sankaku Kikaku), which develops the store-based hometown tax donation® 'Furusato-Zu', has joined our council. Contrary to the conventional model where donors choose return gifts online, 'Furusato-Zu' is designed with the 'store' as the entry point. Its design, which avoids recommendations and comparisons, nurtures 'store fans' into 'town fans,' creating a new regional circulation model. It has obtained a business model patent and is expanding nationwide.

About Sankaku Kikaku

Sankaku Kikaku is a design and planning company founded in Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture, in 2012. With the corporate mission of 'unleashing regional strengths through the power of design and planning,' the company has been involved in design production for small and medium-sized enterprises, regional DX support, and community development projects with Chambers of Commerce and Industry. Amid these activities, it launched the hometown tax donation project 'Furusato-Zu' in 2021.

Approach to the Hometown Tax Donation Market

'Furusato-Zu', developed by Sankaku Kikaku, is a unique service that has obtained a business model patent as a store-based hometown tax donation®. Contrary to the conventional mechanism where donors select return gifts on a portal site, this service provides a dedicated hometown tax donation page for each store, featuring a design where the store itself becomes the 'face of the municipality.' This 'noiseless' donation experience, which intentionally excludes comparisons and recommendations, creates a system where store fans can donate without hesitation, driven purely by their desire to support.

As for its track record, it maintains high standards with a 37% repeat rate at golf courses and an average donation amount of approximately 120,000 yen. Some businesses have even raised 30 to 50 million yen through a single store. Its design, which does not incur logistics costs, also contributes to reducing the expense ratio for municipalities. To accommodate the IT literacy of businesses, it offers four donation authentication methods: smartphone approval, PC code, QR code, and online coupon, unlocking the true potential of locally-rooted brands and stores with passionate fans.

Activities within GDX

With Sankaku Kikaku joining GDX, we anticipate being able to provide more practical support to a larger number of municipalities by leveraging unprecedented expertise. This includes a donation acquisition model based on 'local experiences' in hometown tax donations, the establishment of a business-led operational structure involving local stores, and the dual achievement of reducing expense ratios while cultivating regional fans.

Publication in our Journal

To mark their joining, an interview article with Mr. Keigo Usagawa, CEO of Sankaku Kikaku, will be featured in the May 2026 issue of our journal, 'Government DX Guide Vol.9,' under the special feature 'Hometown Tax Donation, Back to Basics.' It will also be published on the Government DX Guide (web version).

<Government DX Guide (web version)> ▶ From 'Store Fans' to 'Town Fans' -- The Reverse-Arrow Regional Circulation Model Envisioned by Store-Based Hometown Tax Donation® 'Furusato-Zu'

GDX will continue to strengthen its collaboration with member companies, including Sankaku Kikaku, to support the promotion of DX in municipalities and the sustainable development of local communities.

<Company Information>

▶ Sankaku Kikaku Inc. Head Office: 10F, Yoneki Building, 1-1 Tenjin-machi, Kurume-shi, Fukuoka 830-0033 CEO: Keigo Usagawa Established: 2012 Business: Operation of store-based hometown tax donation® 'Furusato-Zu', design production, regional DX support

The Government DX Promotion Council (GDX) is an organization that aims for the sustainable development of local communities by promoting digital transformation in municipalities. While collaborating with each local government, we support the resolution of regional issues and the creation of innovation using digital technology.

We provide a partnership platform that serves as a bridge between local governments and businesses to accelerate regional revitalization through digital transformation. Please feel free to contact us.

[For inquiries about this press release, please contact:] Government DX Promotion Council (GDX) Secretariat Phone: 03-6683-0106 Email: info@gdx.or.jp

https://www.gdx.or.jp/contact/