Japanese turn to crowdfunding to pay for public-interest lawsuits
When a Nagoya-based citizens group calling for the decommissioning of an over 40-year-old nuclear power plant kicked off a crowdfunding campaign in October to cover costs for ongoing litigation, it successfully raised about ¥3.7 million, 1.5 times the target amount, in about two months. The ...
Crowdfunding drive in Japan to help rebuild Okinawa's Shuri Castle raises over ¥250 million
A total of more than ¥250 million has been donated by more than 18,000 people to a crowdfunding campaign set up by the city of Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, to help rebuild Shuri Castle after it was destroyed by fire last week. The campaign, set up ...
Hong Kongers raise money for Japanese typhoon victims
Hong Kongers have raised more than ¥13.8 million to help people in Japan recover from a powerful typhoon that tore through the country earlier this month. The crowdfunding campaign, which ended Sunday with nearly four thousand backers, was created by YouTuber Jason Chau, who said ...
Mother seeks donations to build evacuation shelter in Hokkaido for people with disabilities
The mother of a man with an intellectual disability has launched a crowdfunding campaign to build an evacuation center where people with disabilities can feel safe. She started her efforts following a powerful earthquake that hit Hokkaido in September last year. Akiko Aoki, 51, a ...
Crowdfunding campaign aims to help leukemia patients in Japan have children after treatment
An organization promoting bone marrow donations has launched a crowdfunding campaign intended to help protect the future fertility of leukemia patients and their ability to have children. The group hopes to collect ¥10 million in about two months through the campaign, which was launched Thursday. The ...
In the past, crowdfunding sites were primarily platforms for startups and individuals short of development funds. Now larger companies are seeing the benefits of allowing consumers to participate in the research and development of new products. Here are a couple of crowdfunded ideas that ...
Setouchi sets ¥500 million goal to bring renowned Japanese sword back 'home'
The city of Setouchi in Okayama Prefecture, which once flourished as a major producer of swords, said Tuesday it will use crowdfunding as part of an attempt to raise a total of ¥500 million from in and outside the country to bring back "home" ...
As state subsidies decline, Nagoya University turns to crowdfunding to support student activities
Amid cuts in government subsidies for national universities, Nagoya University has turned to crowdfunding to support student activities and educational projects. So far the university has raised roughly ¥5 million — more than the targeted amount — for five projects, including the development of a ...
Japanese and South Korean firms look to tap global hearing aid market
Litalico Inc., a Japanese social enterprise, will use a South Korean startup's technology to tap the global hearing aid market and provide hearing aids at a much more affordable price. Litalico has acquired an equity stake in Olive Union Inc., which has developed a wireless ...
Figurative and literal lifesavers
Keep your ears open for BoCo Bone-conduction earphones, a relatively new development in personal tech that allows users to listen to devices without blasting the eardrums, is finally being made small enough to be worn like earbuds. Up until now, virtually all bone-conduction earphones have ...
Sing on key with Yamaha This December Yamaha is finally releasing to the public something that vocaloid fans have been waiting for: the Vocaloid Keyboard. Designed as a keytar, the Vocaloid Keyboard allows musicians to play singing voices, including that of the turquoise-haired character Hatsune ...
Pediatric cancer center seeks donations to build more clean rooms
The National Center for Child Health and Development in Tokyo is using crowdfunding to create two additional clean rooms needed to treat pediatric cancer. The center is aiming to raise ¥15 million by Sept. 8. Donations will be returned if the center fails to reach ...
