We’ve seen breweries use crowdfunding for everything from limited releases and equipment upgrades to total reconstruction after disasters.
Now Nagano Prefecture has raised the stakes with a goal of JPY 2 million to be funded through furusato nōzei (“hometown tax”*) and regular donations to pave the way to becoming #1 at the National New Sake Appraisals**. Anyone who contributes JPY 5000 or more will be invited to a sake tasting seminar.
The money will be used for training seminars and analysis of sake. Nagano Prefecture came 4th in the 2025 National New Sake Appraisals with 12 gold awards.
* A Japanese government scheme that aims to redistribute tax revenue from large cities to rural areas by allowing taxpayers to send some of their tax money to their “hometown”, although in practice they can send it to anywhere.
** Officially the Annual Japan Sake Awards, zenkoku shinshu kanpyōkai, 全国新酒鑑評会.
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「八海山」は米国生産も選択肢 関税とコメ高騰で打撃の日本酒 (Nikkei Business, 23 May 2025, Japanese)
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