2026 Kumamoto Earthquake — CAMPFIRE official emergency relief fund
Conclusion: CAMPFIRE's own official relief fund — ¥10,950,113 from 2,056 backers (1,095%), open until Sep 25, 2026 (as of Aug 31, 2026).
Social good
CAMPFIRE's data breach (up to 225k) — what backers should do now
Conclusion: up to 225,846 records possibly exposed — no card data, no confirmed exfiltration. Here's the backer takeaway (2026).
READYFOR, the cause lane — Japan's first platform, ¥50B funded, home of donation crowdfunding
Conclusion: Japan's first platform (2011), strong on social and donation, ¥50B cumulative — home of the ¥916M museum drive.
A billion yen — the new record, and the '0% fee' alternative
Conclusion: reward crowdfunding passed ¥1B (UGREEN); meanwhile 0%-fee For Good answers differently — funds reach the runner in full.
A safe gym for the kids — non-slip floor & heat relief (0%-fee For Good)
Conclusion: making a school gym safer — closed at 121% on the 0%-fee For Good (funded, Jun 30 2026).
Delays, refunds and 'it never came' — what really happens after you back
Conclusion: backing isn't buying. All-or-Nothing refunds if it misses; All-in proceeds anyway; delays are common.
Save the planet's treasures — the National Museum's ¥916M drive
Conclusion: a ¥100M goal became ~¥916M — Japan's largest crowdfunding ever (2023, funded).
More than just surviving — a future for children in India
Conclusion: education for children in need in India — donation-type, closed at 1,085% (funded, Jun 30 2026).
Equity crowdfunding 101 — FUNDINNO and the real risks
Conclusion: this is investing, not buying — capital can be lost. Know the rules.
All-or-Nothing vs All-in: which should you pick?
Conclusion: physical products are safer on All-or-Nothing.
Japan's crowdfunding market in numbers — ¥43.2B, four players, 90%
Conclusion: reward crowdfunding is ~¥43.2B; four platforms hold ~90%.
Japan's biggest crowdfunding successes ever — a ¥910M museum, a ¥300M printer
Conclusion: the donation peak is the National Museum's ~¥910M; the reward icon is PrinCube's ¥300M. The records reveal the playbook.
Japan's Equity-Crowdfunding Issuance Cap Jumps to ¥500m -- What Changed in 2026
Conclusion: a revised law raised Japan's per-company equity-crowdfunding issuance cap from under ¥100m to under ¥500m. FUNDINNO rolled it out in January 2026. The individual investor cap is largely unchanged.
How to Spot an AI-Generated 'Prototype' Video Before You Back a Campaign
Conclusion: 2026 is the year AI video generation went mainstream. Check hands, physics, audio-sync and reverse-video-search before trusting a 'working prototype' clip.
How to Verify a Japanese Crowdfunding Creator Is Legitimate (From Overseas)
Reverse-image search photos, check the NTA registry, review SNS history.
Crowdfunding Platform Fees in Japan Compared: Makuake, CAMPFIRE, READYFOR and 7 More (verified Sep 2026)
Creator fees: Makuake 20% (excl. tax, payment included), CAMPFIRE 17% (12% platform + 5% payment, excl. tax) and READYFOR 14% (Basic plan, excl. tax). All three also charge backers per pledge: Makuake 2.2% (excl. tax), CAMPFIRE ¥228 + tax or 2.27% + tax, READYFOR ¥220 (tax incl.). Reward-type fees overall run roughly 10–20%; MOTION GALLERY is 10%, kibidango 15%, and For Good charges creators a ¥0 listing fee (verified on each platform's official page, 18 Sep 2026).
Equity Crowdfunding in Japan: The Real Risks and Downsides Before You Invest
Equity-type crowdfunding means buying shares in an unlisted company, and total loss, illiquidity, dilution and issuer bankruptcy are risks built into the product itself.
What Is Japan's "Futokuho" Real Estate Crowdfunding License — and What Does It Actually Protect You From?
Futokuho is Japan's licensing framework for real estate crowdfunding operators, mandating preferred/subordinated loss allocation and disclosure rules — but it does not guarantee principal.
Donation vs. Crowdfunding in Japan: Which One Actually Gets You a Tax Deduction?
Donations to certified nonprofits or via furusato nozei can qualify for a Japanese tax deduction. Ordinary reward or donation-based crowdfunding usually does not, due to the nature of the exchange and the recipient's status.
Social Lending vs. Crowdfunding in Japan: Why the Rules — and the Risk — Are Completely Different
Social lending is a loan-based form of crowdfunding regulated under Japan's Money Lending Business Act and Financial Instruments and Exchange Act — unlike reward or donation crowdfunding, principal is not guaranteed.