{"id":4771,"date":"2026-10-01T10:28:55","date_gmt":"2026-10-01T01:28:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/univacap.com\/uni-sight\/?page_id=4771"},"modified":"2026-10-01T10:28:55","modified_gmt":"2026-10-01T01:28:55","slug":"vol154-uni-square","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/univacap.com\/uni-sight\/en\/vol154\/vol154-uni-square\/","title":{"rendered":"vol154-uni-square ENG"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>\r\n    .page-section-inner h2,\r\n    .uni-suare-image-wrap {\r\n        display: flex;\r\n        flex-direction: column;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    .page-section-inner h2 span.sub-title,\r\n    {\r\n        font-size: 18px;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    .uni-suare-image-wrap .comment {\r\n        text-align: left;\r\n        margin-bottom: 10px;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    .page-section-inner h3 {\r\n        margin-bottom: 10px;\r\n    }\r\n<\/style>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"page\">\r\n    <div class=\"container-fluid\">\r\n\r\n        <!-- CONTENTS ====================-->\r\n        <article>\r\n            <div class=\"page-wrap\">\r\n\r\n                <div class=\"page-title-wrap\">\r\n                    <p class=\"page-category\">\r\n                        UNI-SQUARE\r\n                    <\/p>\r\n                    <h1 class=\"uni-square-title\">Nurturing the Future While Savoring the Moment: The \u201cNew Hometown Tax Donation\u201d Is Born.\r\n                    <\/h1>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n\r\n                <div class=\"uni-suare-image-wrap\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-1927\"\r\n                        src=\"\/uni-sight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/154_uni_square_cover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\"\r\n                        height=\"269\" \/><\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n                <div class=\"page-section\">\r\n                    <div class=\"page-section-inner\">\r\n                        <p>What comes to mind first when you hear \u201cHometown Tax Donation\u201d? Delicious-looking thank-you gifts, tax savings\u2026 Many people may have those kinds of images in mind. However, \u201cCoco Furu,\u201d a local consumption-based Hometown Tax Donation service operated by UNIVA Paycast Co., Ltd. (hereinafter UPC), began with a slightly different question: \u201cCouldn\u2019t donations serve as a catalyst to connect people with their communities?\u201d\u2014That question has now grown into a project supporting the future of children in Hokkaido.<br>\r\n                            <br>In this article, we sat down with Yasuki Yano and Ami Saito, who are in charge of Coco Furu, to talk at length about everything from the service\u2019s origins to its latest initiatives. Their pride in the group and their passion for the local community shine through in every word they speak. We hope this article will serve as a catalyst for all of you, our NAKAMA, to \u201csupport the future.\u201d<br>\r\n                            <br>\r\n                            At the end of the article, we\u2019ll introduce \u201cHokkaido\u2019s Top Recommended Thank-You Gifts You Absolutely Must Try,\u201d handpicked by the two of them. Don\u2019t miss it!\r\n\r\n\r\n                        <div class=\"uni-suare-image-wrap\">\r\n                            <span\r\n                                class=\"comment\">Univa Paycast Co., Ltd.<br>Payment Business Division, Market Development Department<br>CocoFuru Team<br>Yasuki Yano (Team Leader) and Ami Saito<\/span>\r\n\r\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-1927\"\r\n                                src=\"\/uni-sight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/154_uni_square_01.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\"\r\n                                height=\"269\" \/>\r\n                        <\/div>\r\n\r\n                        <\/p>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n\r\n                <div class=\"page-section\">\r\n                    <div class=\"page-section-inner\">\r\n                        <h2>We want to turn the excitement of traveling into \u201csupport\u201d<\/h2>\r\n                        <p>\u201cWe didn\u2019t want it to end with just receiving a gift; we wanted to create a system where people and communities could stay connected forever,\u201d says Yano, leader of \u201cCocoFuru,\u201d a local consumption-based hometown tax donation service.<br>\r\n                            This vision gave birth to Coco Furu. It all began when UPC, through discussions with local governments and regional businesses, realized how much potential was being wasted within the system. High commission fees charged by major portal sites, staff overwhelmed by the packaging and shipping of thank-you gifts\u2026 and above all, the fact that the focus was solely on the \u201csense of getting a good deal,\u201d while the pure desire to \u201csupport this region!\u201d was being overshadowed.<br>\r\n                            <br>\r\n                            \u201cCoco Furu\u2019s greatest appeal is its system that allows meals and experiences enjoyed while traveling to count directly toward hometown tax donations, creating a \u2018win-win-win\u2019 situation for travelers, the region, and local businesses,\u201d says Saito.<br>\r\n                            <br>\r\n                            \u201cAt its core is our desire to make a brighter future for rural areas by leveraging UPC\u2019s expertise in \u2018payment\u2019 technology and the \u2018mini-app\u2019 concept,\u201d says Yano.\r\n                        <\/p>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"page-section\">\r\n                    <div class=\"page-section-inner\">\r\n                        <h2>As the service expanded from \u201cduring the trip\u201d to \u201cbefore and after the trip\u201d<\/h2>\r\n                        <!-- <div style=\"position: relative; margin-bottom: 40px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full\"\r\n                                src=\"\/uni-sight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/154_uni_square_02.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\"\r\n                                style=\"margin-bottom: 0;\" \/>\r\n                        <\/div> -->\r\n                        <p>Once we launched the service, we began receiving feedback from users and local governments: \u201cWe want to continue supporting the regions we fell in love with while traveling, even after we return home.\u201d<br>\r\n                            In response to these requests, we added a delivery-based ordering feature, and CocoFuru evolved from a service focused solely on \u201cduring the trip\u201d into a comprehensive service that allows users to maintain a connection with the region from \u201cbefore the trip\u201d through \u201cafter the trip.\u201d<br>\r\n                            <br>\r\n                            \u201cWe\u2019re now able to offer the option to stay connected with a region you visited and fell in love with, even after you return home,\u201d says Saito.<br>\r\n                            <br>\r\n                            \u201cIt used to be just about \u2018visiting a region to support it,\u2019 but we\u2019ve expanded the options to include \u2018getting to know a region to support it\u2019 and \u2018supporting the region\u2019s future\u2019! Of course, even if you\u2019ve never been to that region, as long as you have the desire to support it, that\u2019s perfectly fine,\u201d says Yano.<br>\r\n                            <br>\r\n                            Ensuring that the \u201cexcitement of travel\u201d doesn\u2019t end as a fleeting memory but turns into long-lasting support\u2014that is the \u201cexpansion of the connected population\u201d that Coco Furu aims to achieve.\r\n                        <\/p>\r\n                        <div style=\"position: relative; margin-bottom: 40px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full\"\r\n                                src=\"\/uni-sight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/154_uni_square_02.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\"\r\n                                style=\"margin-bottom: 0;\" \/>\r\n                        <\/div>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"page-section\">\r\n                    <div class=\"page-section-inner\">\r\n                        <h2>How the Group\u2019s Bonds Took Root in Horokanai Town, Hokkaido<\/h2>\r\n                        <!-- <div style=\"position: relative; margin-bottom: 40px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full\"\r\n                                src=\"\/uni-sight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/154_uni_square_03.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\"\r\n                                style=\"margin-bottom: 0;\" \/>\r\n                        <\/div> -->\r\n                        <p>\u201cThe project in Hokkaido would never have been realized without UJP,\u201d says Yano, and Saito nods vigorously in agreement.<br>\r\n                            UJP has been deeply involved in Horokanai Town\u2019s future across three key areas\u2014energy, work styles, and education\u2014starting with \u201cvertical double-sided solar panels.\u201d The relationship of trust between UJP and Horokanai Town is said to be very strong; they were truly \u201cpartners of the town,\u201d going far beyond mere business partners.<br>\r\n                            <br>\r\n                            \u201cUJP\u2019s desire to revitalize the region, Horokanai Town\u2019s desire to improve the town, and UPC\u2019s desire to try new things together with the local government\u2014all of these aspirations came together. We\u2019ve been nurturing this relationship for three years now.\u201d (Yano)<br>\r\n                            UPC\u2019s payment technology and UJP\u2019s regional network\u2014combined as a group, they have created a truly one-of-a-kind initiative.\r\n                        <\/p>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"page-section\">\r\n                    <div class=\"page-section-inner\">\r\n                        <h2>\u201cI\u2019m Donating Because I Want to Support Them\u201d\u2014A New Form of Hometown Tax Donation That Connects Children\u2019s Futures<\/h2>\r\n                        <!-- <div style=\"position: relative; margin-bottom: 40px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full\"\r\n                                src=\"\/uni-sight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/154_uni_square_04.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\"\r\n                                style=\"margin-bottom: 0;\" \/>\r\n                        <\/div> -->\r\n                        <p>In July 2026, UPC, in collaboration with the nonprofit organization Minna no Hokkaido 2100, launched the \u201cChildren, Students, and Youth Support Project\u201d with the participation of Shibecha Town and Horokanai Town in Hokkaido. This is a \u201ccrowdfunding-style hometown tax\u201d initiative that leverages the hometown tax system to collect donations from across the country to nurture the region\u2019s next generation.<br>\r\n                            The donations collected will be used for three types of support.<br>\r\n                            \u30fbSupport for Higher Education: Creating \u201ceducational opportunities\u201d so that young people do not have to give up their dreams due to financial reasons<br>\r\n                            \u30fbMarriage Support: Reducing the burden of student loan repayment to foster a society where young people can plan their lives with hope<br>\r\n                            \u30fbChild-rearing support: Providing opportunities for experiences and learning that help all children reach their full potential<br>\r\n                            \u201cDon\u2019t donate just to get a thank-you gift\u2014donate because you want to support this future.\u201d Saito\u2019s words perfectly encapsulate the essence of this project.<br>\r\n                            <br>\r\n                            People can directly participate in solving social issues while enjoying the tax benefits of the Hometown Tax Donation program. This system is gaining momentum as an \u201caccessible gateway to social contribution.\u201d<br>\r\n                            \u201cI want to spread this new form of the Hometown Tax Donation program,\u201d says Saito, looking toward the future.<br>\r\n                            <br>\r\n                            UJP contributes to the town through energy, work styles, and education, while Coco Furu connects the nation through donations\u2014the initiatives of each group company are expanding not as isolated points, but as lines and a broader network. And Coco Furu is now right at the heart of this project.<br>\r\n                            \u201cThe bonds we\u2019ve forged as a group and the efforts we\u2019ve built up over three years in Hokkaido are shaping the children\u2019s future. That makes me happy and proud,\u201d says Yano.<br>\r\n                            <br>\r\n                            Yano and Saito truly looked proud. This project will grow even larger with the support of each and every one of you, our NAKAMA. Why not join us in supporting Hokkaido\u2019s future?\r\n                        <\/p>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n                <div class=\"page-section\">\r\n                    <div class=\"page-section-inner\">\r\n                        <h2>Our staff wholeheartedly recommends these special thank-you gifts!<\/h2>\r\n                        <!-- <div style=\"position: relative; margin-bottom: 40px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full\"\r\n                                src=\"\/uni-sight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/154_uni_square_05.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\"\r\n                                style=\"margin-bottom: 0;\" \/>\r\n                        <\/div> -->\r\n                        <p>We deliver Hokkaido\u2019s finest local specialties to everyone who supports this project. Please enjoy the flavors of Hokkaido while helping to build a brighter future!<\/p>\r\n                        <h3>[Horokanai Town] The Ultimate \u201c100% Buckwheat Soba\u201d with an Explosive Aroma<\/h3>\r\n\r\n                        <div style=\"position: relative; margin-bottom: 40px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full\"\r\n                                src=\"\/uni-sight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/154_uni_square_03.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\"\r\n                                style=\"margin-bottom: 0;\" \/>\r\n                        <\/div>\r\n                        <p>Horokanai Town\u2014the mecca of soba\u2014takes pride in this 100% buckwheat soba made without any binders. With just one bite, a rich sweetness and aroma spread across your palate\u2014a masterpiece you can only find here.<br>\r\n                            <strong>&#x25b6; Check out Horokanai Town\u2019s famous soba!\u3000<a href=\"https:\/\/horokanai-town-cf.cocofuru.jp\/\"\r\n                                    target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/horokanai-town-cf.cocofuru.jp\/<\/a><\/strong>\r\n                        <\/p>\r\n                        <h3>[Shibecha Town] \u201cStarry Sky Black Beef\u201d\u2014Exquisite Branded Meat That Melts in Your Mouth<\/h3>\r\n\r\n                        <div style=\"position: relative; margin-bottom: 40px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full\"\r\n                                src=\"\/uni-sight\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/154_uni_square_04.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\"\r\n                                style=\"margin-bottom: 0;\" \/>\r\n                        <\/div>\r\n                        <p>A black beef brand originating from Shibecha Town, raised amidst Hokkaido\u2019s vast natural landscapes. With its exquisite juiciness and rich, savory flavor, you\u2019re sure to come back for more once you try it.<br>\r\n                            <strong>&#x25b6; Check out Shibecha Town\u2019s melt-in-your-mouth meat!\u3000<a href=\"https:\/\/shibecha-town-cf.cocofuru.jp\/\"\r\n                                    target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/shibecha-town-cf.cocofuru.jp\/<\/a><\/strong>\r\n                        <\/p>\r\n                        <p><strong>&#x25b6;  CocoFuru Crowdfunding Special Site\u3000<a href=\"https:\/\/future-gate.cocofuru.jp\/\"\r\n                                    target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/future-gate.cocofuru.jp\/<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n\r\n        <\/article>\r\n        <!--\/\/ CONTENTS ====================-->\r\n\r\n    <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"UNI-SQUARE Nurturing the Future While Savoring the Moment: The \u201cNew Hometown Tax Donation\u201d Is Born. 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