Shibetsu Town Launches Crowdfunding Campaign via Furusato Tax to Tackle Regional Challenges with Robotics

Shibetsu Town, Hokkaido (Mayor: Shogo Yamaguchi) has launched the government crowdfunding initiative 'Creating a Primary Industry for the Next 100 Years with Robotics! Try-it-all Shibetsu Town Project' on Furusato Choice GCF®️, starting July 1, 2026. The fundraising period runs for 90 days until September 28, 2026, with a target amount of 3 million JPY.

This project aims to address challenges facing Shibetsu Town’s primary industries—threatened by labor shortages and aging populations—by promoting robotics-based solutions. By establishing development hubs and demonstration fields, and creating a system to attract engineering talent from across Japan, the town seeks to concentrate human resources and technology near industrial sites, advancing labor-saving measures and building sustainable industry models.

Addressing Population Decline in a Primary Industry Town

Located at the eastern tip of Hokkaido, Shibetsu Town is blessed with scenic natural beauty, including forests covering 69% of its area. It is a town where dairy farming, fisheries, and forestry thrive. However, all these industries face challenges due to population decline.

In forestry, many tasks are physically demanding and dangerous, and labor shortages and aging are becoming increasingly severe. In dairy farming, while the number of livestock per household is increasing, labor remains limited. Fisheries also face a shortage of successors. With the town’s population projected to decline to about 3,000 in 30 years, continuing to rely solely on manual labor at worksites is becoming unfeasible.

To solve these issues, Shibetsu Town has begun efforts to transform the future of primary industries using robotics.

Turning Vast Fields into a 'Research and Development Hub for Primary Industry Robotics'

The 'Try-it-all Shibetsu Town' project aims to build sustainable industry models with the mission of 'connecting the town to the future' while confronting challenges like population decline and aging. To solve on-site challenges in primary industries—where many tasks are physically demanding and hazardous—through robotics, the town will establish development hubs and demonstration fields and create a system to attract engineering talent.

This is a forward-looking project aiming to advance labor-saving in primary industries and realize sustainable models by concentrating talent and technology near industrial sites—looking ahead 100 years.

This fiscal year, the town will implement the grant program 'Hokkaido Field Robotics Challenge,' targeting robotics development to solve forestry challenges, and aims to allow more people to experience Shibetsu Town as a field robotics development site.

Use of Donations Received

[Use of Funds]

- Hosting costs for the Hokkaido Field Robotics Challenge - Robotics development environment setup costs - Operational costs for the 'Try-it-all Shibetsu Town' project

[This Fiscal Year's Implementation Schedule]

- September to November 2026: Implementation of the Hokkaido Field Robotics Challenge - January 2027: Results report meeting for the Hokkaido Field Robotics Challenge - Throughout FY2026: Research and development of robots for wildlife damage prevention, environmental setup of robotics development hubs

[Overall Project Timeline]

- Years 1–3: Talent retention, building achievements in forestry (Year 1 is FY2026) - Years 4–5: Technology expansion into dairy farming and fisheries - Years 6–15: Establishing Shibetsu as a development hub, ecosystem formation - Years 16–30: Establishing a sustainable primary industry model

The project will first focus on talent retention through the Hokkaido Field Robotics Challenge in forestry, then expand technology to dairy farming and fisheries. In the future, Shibetsu Town aims to establish itself as a field robotics development hub, forming an ecosystem and building a sustainable primary industry model.

GCF Project Overview

Project Name

Creating a Primary Industry for the Next 100 Years with Robotics! Try-it-all Shibetsu Town Project

Target Amount

3,000,000 JPY

Fundraising Period

July 1, 2026 (Wed) – September 28, 2026 (Mon) (90 days)

Platform

Furusato Choice GCF®️

URL

https://www.furusato-tax.jp/gcf/5522

Message from Mayor Shogo Yamaguchi of Shibetsu Town

Our town is built on primary industries including dairy farming, fisheries, and forestry. However, labor shortages are worsening each year, and we are being challenged to pass on these rich industries to the next generation. With the mission of 'connecting the town to the future,' we have begun the challenge of pioneering the future of primary industries with robotics. We aim to establish robotics development hubs and demonstration fields within the town, creating a town where engineers from across Japan gather. We sincerely appreciate your support for this initiative.

About Try-it-all Shibetsu Town

In 2024, Shibetsu Town launched 'Try-it-all Shibetsu Town,' with the mission of 'connecting the town to the future' by building sustainable industry models while confronting challenges like population decline and aging. Through operating the outdoor robotics R&D base 'Shibetsu Frontier 100' and accepting demonstration tests from private companies and research institutions, we aim to 'create a primary industry that continues for 100 years with robotics.'

Operator: Try-it-all Shibetsu Town Project Office, Planning and Policy Division & Agriculture, Forestry Division, Shibetsu Town

Address: 1-1-3 Kita 2-jo Nishi, Shibetsu-cho, Shibetsu-gun, Hokkaido 086-1632

Official Website: https://tameseru-shibetsu.com/

About Shibetsu Town

Located in eastern Hokkaido at the base of the Shiretoko Peninsula, Shibetsu Town is surrounded by majestic seas and mountains. Developed primarily around dairy farming and fisheries, it is a member of the 'Most Beautiful Villages in Japan' association. The town boasts rich natural environments, including vast forests and pastures.

Address: 1-1-3 Kita 2-jo Nishi, Shibetsu-cho, Shibetsu-gun, Hokkaido 086-1632

Mayor: Shogo Yamaguchi

Population: Approximately 4,650 (as of June 2026)

Official Website: https://www.shibetsutown.jp/

Inquiries

Try-it-all Shibetsu Town Project Office, Planning and Policy Division & Agriculture, Forestry Division, Shibetsu Town

Email: [email protected]