NPO Workshop Hinatabokko Acquires Certified NPO Status
Workshop Hinatabokko, an NPO in Amakusa City, Kumamoto Prefecture, has become the first organization in the region to acquire Certified NPO status. This achievement will strengthen its activities aimed at creating a society where people with disabilities can live naturally within the community, leveraging donation tax benefits and enhanced regional partnerships.
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- 📰 Published: May 10, 2026 at 17:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 10, 2026 at 08:01
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 10, 2026 at 08:03 (1 min after Collected)
Certified NPO Workshop Hinatabokko (Location: Amakusa City, Kumamoto Prefecture; Chairperson: Gontaro Yamanaka) has recently received certification as a "Certified NPO Corporation" from the competent authorities. This certification is granted only to organizations that meet strict criteria for public benefit, transparency, and proper organizational management. Notably, this is the first such acquisition in the Amakusa region.
**Purpose and Journey of Certification**
Hinatabokko has been active with the goal of creating a society where people with disabilities are not treated as "special beings" but are naturally accepted and can live with a role in the community.
To achieve this, we have not merely provided welfare services but have emphasized building relationships with the community and accumulating daily practices. We not only create employment opportunities through job support but also increase contact points with local residents, working to create an environment where mutual understanding naturally arises.
Continuing these activities, we strongly felt the need to make more people aware of our organization and its initiatives, and to enhance our credibility. As one step toward this, we aimed to obtain "Certified NPO Corporation" status, which is an objective evaluation by a third party.
Furthermore, our organization has continued to operate a community dining hall without relying on public funds, nurturing it as a "community hub" where anyone can freely drop by. While this initiative provides an important opportunity for people with disabilities and local residents to interact naturally, its operation requires continuous support, especially through donations.
By obtaining certification, we aim to expand our circle of support by utilizing the system of tax benefits for donations, thereby enhancing the sustainability of our activities. We also aspire to build relationships of mutual support within the community, moving beyond a simple relationship of recipients and providers of aid.
**Positioning in Kumamoto Prefecture (Rarity)**
While the total number of NPO corporations in Kumamoto Prefecture and Kumamoto City amounts to approximately 720, Certified NPO corporations remain at only 12.
Number of NPO Corporations:
Kumamoto Prefecture: Approximately 431 (as of December 2025)
Kumamoto City: Approximately 289 (as of January 2026)
Total: Approximately 720
Number of Certified NPO Corporations:
Kumamoto Prefecture: 6 (as of March 2026)
Kumamoto City: 6 (as of March 2026)
Total: 12
(Source: Administrative Website)
As such, Certified NPO corporations are extremely limited among all NPOs, and our organization's acquisition of certification demonstrates recognition of its high public benefit and credibility in the region.
**Benefits of the Certified NPO System and Donation Tax Benefits**
Donations to Certified NPO corporations are eligible for the following tax benefits:
For Individuals:
Up to approximately 40% of the donated amount is deductible from income tax (tax credit)
Can be used in conjunction with resident tax deductions (varies by municipality)
For Corporations:
Deductible as an expense separately from general donations
This reduces the actual burden on donors and leads to continuous support.
**Announcement of Courtesy Visit to Amakusa Mayor**
To report on the certification acquisition and strengthen future regional cooperation, a courtesy visit to the Mayor of Amakusa will be conducted as follows:
Date and Time: May 12, 2026, 11:30 AM
Location: Amakusa City Hall
Content: Report on certification acquisition, explanation of future initiatives, exchange of opinions
Comments: Available (Chairperson)
**Future Prospects**
While fulfilling our responsibilities as a Certified NPO, we will develop even more community-based activities and work towards realizing a society where everyone, regardless of disability, can live with peace of mind.
Firstly, we will further enhance our existing employment support and community dining hall initiatives, expanding our points of contact with the community. Within this, we will increase opportunities for people with disabilities to naturally participate as community members, fostering an environment where coexistence is realized through daily relationships.
In addition, while appropriately utilizing public systems, we will also work on building a foundation where people with disabilities can continue to live securely in the community for a long time. Specifically, with an eye toward developing residential support functions such as group homes, we aim to establish a system that comprehensively supports "working," "living," and "connecting."
Furthermore, instead of advancing these initiatives alone, we will strengthen cooperation with diverse entities such as government, educational institutions, corporations, and citizen groups. By sharing regional challenges and collaborating while leveraging each party's position and strengths, we will promote the creation of more effective mechanisms.
As a first step, we will prioritize dialogue and building trust with related organizations, establishing a system where concrete measures can be jointly discussed and implemented.
By leveraging the credibility of a Certified NPO, we will build a sustainable support model that involves the entire community and disseminate practices for realizing an inclusive society from Amakusa.
**Purpose and Journey of Certification**
Hinatabokko has been active with the goal of creating a society where people with disabilities are not treated as "special beings" but are naturally accepted and can live with a role in the community.
To achieve this, we have not merely provided welfare services but have emphasized building relationships with the community and accumulating daily practices. We not only create employment opportunities through job support but also increase contact points with local residents, working to create an environment where mutual understanding naturally arises.
Continuing these activities, we strongly felt the need to make more people aware of our organization and its initiatives, and to enhance our credibility. As one step toward this, we aimed to obtain "Certified NPO Corporation" status, which is an objective evaluation by a third party.
Furthermore, our organization has continued to operate a community dining hall without relying on public funds, nurturing it as a "community hub" where anyone can freely drop by. While this initiative provides an important opportunity for people with disabilities and local residents to interact naturally, its operation requires continuous support, especially through donations.
By obtaining certification, we aim to expand our circle of support by utilizing the system of tax benefits for donations, thereby enhancing the sustainability of our activities. We also aspire to build relationships of mutual support within the community, moving beyond a simple relationship of recipients and providers of aid.
**Positioning in Kumamoto Prefecture (Rarity)**
While the total number of NPO corporations in Kumamoto Prefecture and Kumamoto City amounts to approximately 720, Certified NPO corporations remain at only 12.
Number of NPO Corporations:
Kumamoto Prefecture: Approximately 431 (as of December 2025)
Kumamoto City: Approximately 289 (as of January 2026)
Total: Approximately 720
Number of Certified NPO Corporations:
Kumamoto Prefecture: 6 (as of March 2026)
Kumamoto City: 6 (as of March 2026)
Total: 12
(Source: Administrative Website)
As such, Certified NPO corporations are extremely limited among all NPOs, and our organization's acquisition of certification demonstrates recognition of its high public benefit and credibility in the region.
**Benefits of the Certified NPO System and Donation Tax Benefits**
Donations to Certified NPO corporations are eligible for the following tax benefits:
For Individuals:
Up to approximately 40% of the donated amount is deductible from income tax (tax credit)
Can be used in conjunction with resident tax deductions (varies by municipality)
For Corporations:
Deductible as an expense separately from general donations
This reduces the actual burden on donors and leads to continuous support.
**Announcement of Courtesy Visit to Amakusa Mayor**
To report on the certification acquisition and strengthen future regional cooperation, a courtesy visit to the Mayor of Amakusa will be conducted as follows:
Date and Time: May 12, 2026, 11:30 AM
Location: Amakusa City Hall
Content: Report on certification acquisition, explanation of future initiatives, exchange of opinions
Comments: Available (Chairperson)
**Future Prospects**
While fulfilling our responsibilities as a Certified NPO, we will develop even more community-based activities and work towards realizing a society where everyone, regardless of disability, can live with peace of mind.
Firstly, we will further enhance our existing employment support and community dining hall initiatives, expanding our points of contact with the community. Within this, we will increase opportunities for people with disabilities to naturally participate as community members, fostering an environment where coexistence is realized through daily relationships.
In addition, while appropriately utilizing public systems, we will also work on building a foundation where people with disabilities can continue to live securely in the community for a long time. Specifically, with an eye toward developing residential support functions such as group homes, we aim to establish a system that comprehensively supports "working," "living," and "connecting."
Furthermore, instead of advancing these initiatives alone, we will strengthen cooperation with diverse entities such as government, educational institutions, corporations, and citizen groups. By sharing regional challenges and collaborating while leveraging each party's position and strengths, we will promote the creation of more effective mechanisms.
As a first step, we will prioritize dialogue and building trust with related organizations, establishing a system where concrete measures can be jointly discussed and implemented.
By leveraging the credibility of a Certified NPO, we will build a sustainable support model that involves the entire community and disseminate practices for realizing an inclusive society from Amakusa.