Nagano Prefecture's Matsukawa Town and SAGOJO Inc. Launch 70th Anniversary NFTs with Experiential Benefits like "Mayor for a Day" and "Secret Base Building"

Matsukawa Town (Mayor: Hidenori Kitazawa) in Nagano Prefecture, which celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, is launching a project to create related population using NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) in collaboration with SAGOJO Inc. (Location: Toshima Ward, Tokyo; Representative Director: Takuya Shinn, hereinafter "SAGOJO"), with whom it has a comprehensive partnership agreement.

Starting June 30, 2026, the town will sell four types of NFTs as "resident rights" for "Minamishinshu Matsukawa 'Omoshirogari no Kuni'" (Land of Fun Seekers): "Adult Resident" (30,000 yen/year, 30 sets), "Parent-Child Resident" (50,000 yen/year, 20 sets), "Parent-Child Resident Premium" (50,000 yen/year, 3 sets), and "Traveler" (10,000 yen/year, no limit on number of people).

Purchasers will receive benefits tailored to each resident status, such as delivery of local products and participation in exclusive communities and events. The aim is to strengthen relationships with existing fans of Matsukawa Town and potential related populations nationwide, using NFTs as an entry point.

Benefits and community designed with the concept of enjoying "fun hunting" in Matsukawa Town, famous for fruit picking.

The NFT art is an original illustration by artist Narano.

Minamishinshu Matsukawa 'Omoshirogari no Kuni'

https://matsukawa-omoshirogari.studio.site/

Background to the NFT Sale

For local governments, creating and expanding "related population" – individuals who engage with the region in diverse ways – is a crucial policy theme, in addition to securing permanent residents. Matsukawa Town has been continuing initiatives to foster related population, such as community projects where people from outside the town participate in regional revitalization. It has confirmed that the engagement of related population has a certain effect in creating vibrancy and addressing labor shortages. However, existing projects have limitations on the number of participants and face challenges in economic sustainability, necessitating a mechanism that creates more touchpoints with related population while generating operating funds from their engagement.

In response to these challenges, Matsukawa Town, celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, has taken a new approach using NFT, a digital technology, in collaboration with SAGOJO. By leveraging NFT's capabilities, such as "proof of uniqueness," a system will be built to visualize and sustain connections with Matsukawa Town digitally. In the future, the town plans to promote visits in anticipation of the opening of the Chuo Shinkansen (maglev train) and the San'en-Nanshin Expressway, and to link this with the circulation of the local economy through cooperation with the "furusato nozei" (hometown tax donation) system and the "furusato resident registration" system.

Program Features

1. Four types of resident rights (NFTs) for "fun hunting" according to your level of engagement.

Named "Minamishinshu Matsukawa 'Omoshirogari no Kuni'," the resident rights are being tokenized as NFTs. The town is selling the right to enjoy special "fun hunting" in Matsukawa Town, which is famous for fruit picking.

Four resident rights are available: "Adult Resident," "Parent-Child Resident," "Parent-Child Resident Premium," and "Traveler." Participation starts from 10,000 yen per year (tax included), and can be selected based on the depth of relationship and purpose.

2. Delivery of local products and participation in exclusive communities and events are common benefits.

All resident right holders will receive local products such as fruits delivered to their homes once a year. They can also participate in the exclusive "Omoshirogari no Kuni" community, where they can interact with other participants and get involved in the planning of future content (events, etc.) from the outset.

In addition to interaction among participants, special content will be offered at events, allowing participants to experience the daily lives of Matsukawa Town's local residents.

3. Experiential benefits unique to each NFT (Playing with a "Fun Hunting Tree," building a secret base, being "Mayor for a Day").

Each resident right comes with unique special experience benefits. The validity period is one year from the date of purchase, with automatic renewal each year.

- Adult Resident: Play with your own "Fun Hunting Tree."

Become the owner of an apple tree and experience various activities from caretaking to harvesting. Participation is possible even for those who cannot visit in person. This program allows you to enjoy Matsukawa Town's specialty, apples, from the "tree."

- Parent-Child Resident: Build a secret base (treehouse).

Through four events per year, a secret base will be built in the forest. Nature experiences such as camping and BBQ can also be enjoyed. This is a project for parents and children to build a treehouse together.

- Parent-Child Resident Premium: Become Matsukawa Town Mayor (Mayor for a Day).

Your child will experience "mayoral duties" such as town patrols and PR as the "Mayor for a Day" of Matsukawa Town.

4. Limited illustrations by artist Narano can be held indefinitely.

The NFT art is an original creation by popular illustrator Narano. Acquired NFTs can be held indefinitely, regardless of the benefit validity period, serving as a symbol of connection with Matsukawa Town.

5. Matsukawa Town and SAGOJO jointly provide a system to create related population both online and on-site.

SAGOJO, with over 30,000 registered users and a track record of creating and utilizing related population across the country, will be responsible for the entire operation, from customer acquisition to providing benefits and community management. By operating in line with the needs of related population, the project aims to turn interest in Matsukawa Town into ongoing relationships. Matsukawa Town plans to hire regional revitalization cooperation volunteers around September 2026 to involve local residents and provide on-site support for benefit operations.

Information on this Project

Project Name

Minamishinshu Matsukawa 'Omoshirogari no Kuni'

Sales Start Date

June 30, 2026

Sales Location

Exclusive sales page provided by Matsukawa Town and SAGOJO

Link here

Types and Prices

Adult Resident: 30,000 yen/year (30 sets) / Parent-Child Resident: 50,000 yen/year (20 sets) / Parent-Child Resident Premium: 50,000 yen/year (3 sets) / Traveler: 10,000 yen/year (no limit on number of people) *All prices include tax.

Common Benefits

Delivery of local products, participation in exclusive community, participation in exclusive events

Product-Specific Benefits

Adult Resident: Play with a "Fun Hunting Tree" / Parent-Child Resident: Build a secret base (treehouse) / Parent-Child Resident Premium: Become Matsukawa Town Mayor (Mayor for a Day)

Benefit Validity Period

1 year (with automatic renewal thereafter every year)

*NFTs can be held indefinitely.

Contact Information

Matsukawa Town Hall, Community Development Policy Division / SAGOJO Inc.

(Contact details below)

Future Outlook and Comments from Representatives

Ten Matsuo, Community Development Policy Division, Matsukawa Town Hall

While facing challenges such as the outflow of young people to urban areas, we are launching a new initiative targeting the next generation on the occasion of our 70th anniversary. We hope that those who connect with Matsukawa Town through this project will experience the town's specialty fruits and rich nature as supporters of the town, "feel happiness," and choose to settle here. We aim to achieve a sustainable Matsukawa Town towards the next era of the Chuo Shinkansen in our 80th anniversary.

Takuya Shinn, Representative Director, SAGOJO Inc.

As initiatives to create related population accelerate nationwide, sustainability is increasingly demanded in their provision systems. By utilizing NFTs, we aim to build an ecosystem that leverages related population from both the perspective of contributors and consumers, and we want to foster this project as a beneficial advanced example for municipalities nationwide facing challenges of population decline and aging.

We will maximize the town's potential while expressing our love for Matsukawa Town together with the residents of 'Omoshirogari no Kuni.'

About Matsukawa Town and SAGOJO (Contact Information)

About Matsukawa Town

Located in the Ina Valley, overlooking the Central and Southern Alps, the town has a 100-year history of fruit cultivation, boasting abundant natural environments such as orchards of apples, pears, grapes, and persimmons, satoyama in the Tenryu River basin, and the clear streams of the Katagiri-Matsukawa River flowing through the town. On the other hand, the town faces structural challenges including population decline, aging, labor shortages, natural disaster risks associated with climate change, as well as dispersed tourism resources and weak public transportation and circulation routes, making it difficult to encourage stays and multi-stop visits.

Official Website: https://www.town.matsukawa.lg.jp/

<Contact Information> Matsukawa Town Hall, Community Development Policy Division Contact: Matsuo TEL: 0265-36-7014 Mail: seisaku@town.matsukawa.lg.jp

About SAGOJO Inc.

Operates "SAGOJO," a matching platform that connects "traveler-type human resources" interested in travel and regional contribution with regional businesses and local governments nationwide. As of June 2026, SAGOJO has over 30,000 registered traveler-type human resources and collaborates with over 250 local governments and regional organizations nationwide, undertaking projects such as tourism promotion, experience creation, labor shortage solutions, and related population creation.

Official Website: https://www.sagojo.link

<Contact Information> SAGOJO Inc. Contact: Takuya Shinn TEL: 03-6820-2735 (Main) Mail: info@sagojo.link