Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications plans to introduce a “Furusato Resident Registration” system that lets people register with local municipalities they support, even if they don’t live there full-time. A “premium registration” option will be available for those actively contributing to the community through volunteering, side jobs, or other engagement, potentially offering perks like discounted lodging. The program aims to boost regional revitalization and is slated to launch next fiscal year.
Under the system, users will select municipalities via a dedicated app. Registered residents will receive information from the municipality and may enjoy services similar to local residents. There will be two levels: “basic registration,” for general support such as donations or tourism, and “premium registration,” for those with deeper involvement—such as people living in cities on weekdays and participating in rural activities on weekends. Eligibility for premium registration will be verified through documentation of volunteer or side-job activities.
The ministry plans to finalize the system by year-end and has included app development in its 2026 budget proposal. The initiative is part of the government’s broader “Regional Revitalization 2.0” strategy, which aims to create 10 million actual participants and 100 million total engagements over the next decade. By encouraging registrations, officials hope to better quantify “relationship populations” and use the data to guide future regional development policies.
by MagazineKey4532