Real Estate Donation Consultations Increase Tenfold in Two Years, Expanding Asset Utilization Needs; Free Event on New Public Trust System to be Held on April 21

The Semboku Community Foundation, based in Sakai City, Osaka, and led by Representative Michihiro Horaku, has experienced a significant increase in inquiries regarding real estate donations, with a tenfold rise in the last two years. This trend is driven by an expanding need for effective asset utilization, particularly in light of the new public trust system enacted in April 2026. This new system facilitates the inclusion of non-monetary assets, such as real estate, forests, and agricultural land, into public trusts. Annually, over 100 billion yen in 'heirless assets' revert to the national treasury in Japan, a figure influenced by the aging population and increasing number of single-person households. These heirless properties often become abandoned or derelict, posing social challenges due to ongoing management costs even after nationalization. To address these issues and promote the social application of personal assets, the foundation will host a free 'New Public Trust Kick-off Event' on April 21, 2026, at the Kansai Gakuin University Umeda Campus in Osaka (hybrid format). Michihiro Horaku, who also serves as co-chair of the National Community Foundations Association, will explain the significance and utilization methods of the new system, which simplifies procedures for non-monetary assets that were previously complex. The foundation aims to strengthen regional asset circulation by promoting the new public trust system and providing information as the secretariat of the Kansai Public Trust Network.