Furusato Nozei forGood Launches Project to Address Sports Disparities Arising from Regional Transition of Club Activities

Borderless Japan Inc. (Headquarters: Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, CEO: Kazunari Taguchi), which operates the crowdfunding-based Furusato Nozei portal site 'Furusato Nozei forGood,' has launched a project by the general incorporated association HIZUKI (Representative Director: Takumi Ishizaki) under the 'Support for NPOs and Similar Organizations' initiative implemented by Shimane Prefecture. The project is titled 'Former Professional Athlete Tackles Regional Transition of Club Activities: Protecting Children's 'Right to Play Sports' for All of Society.'

Background: New Disparities Created by the Nationwide Transition of Club Activities to Regional Management

This project aims to resolve the disparities in sports opportunities arising from the nationwide transition of junior high school club activities to regional management. As club activities, traditionally handled by schools, shift to regional sports clubs, children are finding it difficult to continue participating due to increased fees and transportation costs.

This issue is a common challenge nationwide, affecting both urban and rural areas. In Shimane Prefecture's Unnan City, which has many mountainous and sparsely populated areas, the problem is expected to be more severe due to a lack of transportation options.

The general incorporated association HIZUKI, active in Unnan City, is led by former professional basketball player Takumi Ishizaki. They are working to create an environment where local children can continue to participate in sports with peace of mind. Through Furusato Nozei forGood, they are seeking donations from across the country to build a community where everyone can challenge themselves in sports.

Project Overview

Project Name: Former Professional Athlete Tackles Regional Transition of Club Activities: Protecting Children's 'Right to Play Sports' for All of Society.

Implementing Organization: General Incorporated Association HIZUKI (Representative Director: Takumi Ishizaki)

Target Amount: ¥8,800,000

Listing Period: 2026/06/01~2027/02/28

Category: Children and Education

Listing URL: https://furusato-forgood.jp/projects/000426

Donors can support this project through Furusato Nozei donations to Unnan City. The collected donations (equivalent to 95-50% of the donated amount after deducting necessary expenses) will be provided by Unnan City to the general incorporated association HIZUKI and used for improving the sports environment for children.

Reasons This Project is Gaining Attention

① Local Government-Led Response to a Nationwide Social Issue: The transition of club activities is a problem faced by local governments across Japan. Unnan City's method of collaborating with NPOs using Furusato Nozei funds serves as a potential model case for other municipalities.

② Leader with High 'Stakeholder' Identity: Takumi Ishizaki, the representative director, actively engaged in school settings after his career as a professional basketball player and has continued to address club activity issues. His perspective as a former athlete and his community-based activities are garnering support.

③ Citizen Participation-Based Social Investment Model: This is a new approach that utilizes Furusato Nozei not for 'return gifts' but as an 'investment in solving social issues.' It allows individuals to contribute to local challenges while minimizing their actual burden through tax deductions.

About Unnan City's 'Support for NPOs and Similar Organizations' Initiative

This initiative aims to further promote the resolution of diverse regional issues in Unnan City by supporting the efforts of NPOs and similar organizations through the Furusato Nozei system. Projects eligible for support are those conducted by NPOs, general incorporated associations, public interest incorporated associations, community autonomous organizations, and registered citizen activity groups operating within Unnan City.

【Main Features of the Initiative】

・Solicits donations nationwide through the Furusato Nozei platform 'Furusato Nozei for Good.'

・Provides 95-50% of the donated amount to the organization after deducting necessary expenses (e.g., 10% listing fee, 5% administrative fee).

・The requirement for selection is the implementation of the project, even if the target amount is not reached.

・Projects that benefit citizens and fall under the 20 fields of NPO law or social contribution fields are eligible.

Simultaneously Listed Project: Health and Community Development Project by 'Unnan Institute of Physical Education Medicine'

Concurrently, Unnan City is also featuring a project by the 'Unnan Institute of Physical Education Medicine' (Deputy Director: Jun Kitayaguchi) titled 'Small Institute Tackles Co-creation of a Society Where Everyone Can Live Actively' (※This project is separate from Unnan City's 'Support for NPOs and Similar Organizations' initiative).

For approximately 20 years, the institute has accumulated data on improving exercise rates and promoting health among residents, from children to the elderly. They have achieved results through a unique approach applying behavioral science and marketing, aiming to build a healthy societal model that expands Unnan City's achievements nationwide and globally.

Target Amount: ¥1,500,000 (Current Total Support: ¥338,000)

Listing Period: 2026/04/01~2027/02/28

Listing URL: https://furusato-forgood.jp/projects/000404

Through these two projects, Unnan City is disseminating a regional issue-solving model, based on its policy of 'Sustainable Town Development through a Chain of Challenges,' which integrates citizens, NPOs, corporations, and government, to the rest of Japan.

About Furusato Nozei for Good

Furusato Nozei for Good aims to be 'Japan's Most Social Good Furusato Nozei' and is a crowdfunding-based Furusato Nozei platform. Unlike traditional Furusato Nozei focused on return gifts, it highlights the 'purpose of use' for initiatives and individuals challenging themselves in regions, providing a mechanism to connect with donors who resonate with their aspirations.

URL: https://furusato-forgood.jp/

【Inquiries】

Borderless Japan Inc.

Furusato Nozei forGood

Contact: Daiki Suzuki

Email: [email protected]

About Borderless Japan Inc.

Founded in 2007, Borderless Japan Inc. is a company dedicated to solving social issues through business. It operates over 50 businesses in 14 countries, addressing diverse social problems such as poverty, environment, education, and gender. Its revenue reached 10 billion yen in fiscal year 2024. The company's ecosystem for fostering social entrepreneurs has received recognition, including the Good Design Award (Business Model Division, 2019), the 'Companies We Want to Cherish' Award (Special Jury Prize, 2019), and the 'CSA Award ~Company Creating Next-Generation Human Resources Recommended for 20s~.' In October 2023, to advance social issue resolution to the next stage, they announced a new purpose: 'SWITCH to HOPE: Transforming Society's Challenges into Everyone's Hope.' They aim to create mechanisms for more people to work together towards a better society.

Company Name: Borderless Japan Inc.

Location: Tenjin Futata Building 4F, 3-1-1 Tenjin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture

Established: 2007

Representative: Kazunari Taguchi, Representative Director and CEO

Business: Businesses aimed at solving social problems

(Herbal tea business, leather goods business, crowdfunding business, social business school business)

URL: https://www.borderless-japan.com/