Save the planet's treasures — the National Museum's ¥916M drive
Conclusion: a ¥100M goal became ~¥916M — Japan's largest crowdfunding ever (2023, funded).
Why it's a legend
With the pandemic and soaring energy costs threatening its collection work, the National Museum of Nature and Science (Kahaku) ran a donation drive with a ¥100M goal. It hit ¥100M in just nine hours and, over 90 days, drew ¥916,025,000 from 56,584 backers — Japan's all-time record in both yen and people.
What moved people
A crystal-clear cause (“save the planet's treasures”), a tangible scale (5 million specimens), and deep public trust. Empathy, not rewards, produced the extraordinary opening surge.
Editor's note (as a success story)
The peak of donation-type crowdfunding — a textbook case that public meaning, story and opening speed scale a campaign fast. This project has ended.
Sources
Opens the official campaign page in a new tab.
