>In Kibi-Chuo Town, Okayama, the Japanese government canceled the town’s participation in the *Furusato Nozei* (hometown tax donation) program because the cost of rice given as a thank-you gift was too high compared to the donations received.
>Between October 2024 and March 2025, the town paid rice farmers about ¥25,000 per 60kg (about 132 lbs) of rice — this included a ¥14,000 purchase price plus an ¥11,000 bonus to encourage farming. However, donors were giving only about ¥44,000, which means over 57% of that donation went to the rice costs — much higher than the government’s 30% limit.
>The Ministry of Internal Affairs said the bonus payments were tied directly to how much rice farmers provided for gifts, so it counted as part of the cost. The town disagreed, saying the bonus was meant to support farming efforts like updating seeds and improving soil — not just to buy rice.
>The mayor, Masanori Yamamoto, apologized and said he was disappointed, especially since this hurts local farming. The town was expecting about ¥2 billion ($12.7 million USD) in donations this year, mostly for rice. With the program canceled, they could lose about ¥1.1 billion ($7 million USD).
>Local farmers are worried. One 73-year-old said the bonus helped cover fertilizer costs and allowed him to keep farming. Without it, he fears more farmers will quit.
>The town hopes to find ways to keep supporting agriculture despite this setback.
gobrocker on
So if I’m mathing right they were getting paid about ï¿¥2000 per 5kg supermarket bag of rice… and because government tax law, thats.. too much. Fuck you JA and your 5k bags.
People actually WANT to support local farmers directly NOT a fucking corrupt cartel. Thats what furunozei was supposed to be about. I’m sure every bit of that 4man from doners was happily given to support the rice industry there and get back a little from it, but nonono…
2 Comments
>In Kibi-Chuo Town, Okayama, the Japanese government canceled the town’s participation in the *Furusato Nozei* (hometown tax donation) program because the cost of rice given as a thank-you gift was too high compared to the donations received.
>Between October 2024 and March 2025, the town paid rice farmers about ¥25,000 per 60kg (about 132 lbs) of rice — this included a ¥14,000 purchase price plus an ¥11,000 bonus to encourage farming. However, donors were giving only about ¥44,000, which means over 57% of that donation went to the rice costs — much higher than the government’s 30% limit.
>The Ministry of Internal Affairs said the bonus payments were tied directly to how much rice farmers provided for gifts, so it counted as part of the cost. The town disagreed, saying the bonus was meant to support farming efforts like updating seeds and improving soil — not just to buy rice.
>The mayor, Masanori Yamamoto, apologized and said he was disappointed, especially since this hurts local farming. The town was expecting about ¥2 billion ($12.7 million USD) in donations this year, mostly for rice. With the program canceled, they could lose about ¥1.1 billion ($7 million USD).
>Local farmers are worried. One 73-year-old said the bonus helped cover fertilizer costs and allowed him to keep farming. Without it, he fears more farmers will quit.
>The town hopes to find ways to keep supporting agriculture despite this setback.
So if I’m mathing right they were getting paid about ï¿¥2000 per 5kg supermarket bag of rice… and because government tax law, thats.. too much. Fuck you JA and your 5k bags.
People actually WANT to support local farmers directly NOT a fucking corrupt cartel. Thats what furunozei was supposed to be about. I’m sure every bit of that 4man from doners was happily given to support the rice industry there and get back a little from it, but nonono…
This fucking government I swear…