Updated daily · Fundraising stories from Japan
We collect new crowdfunding and donation projects from across Japan - on CAMPFIRE, READYFOR, Makuake and more - and explain why each one attracts support. A source of ideas for anyone raising money for a cause, a community or a product.
Chosen automatically every day from the last three days of new projects, based on how much fundraisers can learn from them.
CONGRANT
Certified NPO Child First Japan operates the Kanagawa Center for Child Rights Protection (CAC Kanagawa), a support hub for children who have experienced abuse or sexual violence…
READYFOR
Hikone Castle in Shiga Prefecture, a designated national treasure and special historic site, is seeking funds to restore its damaged rice storehouse water gate stone walls, which…
Makuake
On Bossei Island in the Iえ Islands off Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, a new Makuake project is turning generations of fishermen's home cooking into canned goods. The founder, a…
CAMPFIRE
Noboru Moriya, owner of Jewelry Moriya, which operated in Kichijoji for over 30 years, is a craftsman with more than 50 years of experience in jewelry making. On CAMPFIRE, one of…
CONGRANT
Hyogo Children's Hospital has launched the second phase of its "WISH List" initiative, allowing donors to fund specific equipment and supplies for patients, families, and medical…
CAMPFIRE
PECOLIEN, a doujin circle (indie creative group), is crowdfunding their latest visual novel adventure game 'Waiting for You at the End of Samsara' on CAMPFIRE, Japan's largest…
READYFOR
Floating Island Shrine (Ukishima Jinja) in Kumamoto was damaged in the 2016 earthquakes. This project rebuilds the shrine's torii gate by preserving the original stone foundation…
CONGRANT
Typhoon No. 25 suspended service on JR's Uchibo Line, cutting off students from Futtsu, Kimitsu, and Kisarazu in Chiba Prefecture from their schools. While public…
GlobalGiving
GlobalGiving, an international donation platform, hosts a youth advocacy project that transforms young people into policy advocates and leaders. The program provides leadership…
Kickstarter
DEMASKUS Theater Collective, based in Pittsburgh, is adapting Shakespeare's tragedy Othello for the gridiron. The production reimagines the classic play within American football…
READYFOR
A rescued kitten named Kohaku faces life-threatening injuries: severe pelvic fractures and elimination disorders that require urgent surgical repair and ongoing treatment. Through…
Today's lineup spans a Japanese bathhouse-turned-rakugo project, overseas film and game productions, and international aid efforts. The common thread is how personal memory…
READYFOR
This project transforms heartfelt letters about public baths into rakugo performances—a traditional Japanese storytelling art form. Organizers are crowdfunding on READYFOR…
Kickstarter
A public radio station in Connecticut is crowdfunding a new radio drama that reimagines Orson Welles' famous 1938 'War of the Worlds' broadcast through the lens of modern-day fake…
Kickstarter
Two African American independent film directors launched a Kickstarter campaign to produce and promote more films depicting Black love—romantic relationships between Black…
Every hour we check Japan's major crowdfunding and donation platforms for new projects, from local communities to universities and startups.
Each article explains what makes the campaign persuasive - the story, the rewards, the audience - so you can learn from it.
fundraising.jp is published in Japanese and English by the Public Action Office (公益アクション室), a volunteer-run nonprofit group based in Sendai, with editor-in-chief Hayato Takizawa.
