"Furusato Nozei" (hometown tax donation) is a highly popular system, with over 90% of people who try it once wanting to use it again the following year. Mitsukoshi Isetan's Furusato Nozei offers return gifts unique to a department store. At this time of year, Mitsukoshi Isetan stores set up special counters to support "Furusato Nozei." So this time, we gathered Mitsukoshi Isetan employees, including those who are already using it and those who are thinking of using it in the future, to talk to them while looking at the return gift catalog.

"Hometown tax donation" is a system that anyone can easily use.

"Furusato Nozei" is a system where you donate to a local government of your choice and receive a gift in return. These gifts are usually local specialties and famous products, but did you know that Mitsukoshi Isetan's "Furusato Nozei" website offers special gifts that are hard to find anywhere else? So, this time, we gathered ISETAN MEN'S buyers, along with a Furusato Nozei specialist, including people who are already using it and those who are very interested in trying it out.

Chief buyer Shibata has been using the "hometown tax donation" system for some time, and has enjoyed various return gifts with his family, including local seafood and seasonal fruits. New return gifts are added daily, so he looks forward to new ones, but he says that recently he has noticed a change in how he chooses which places to donate to. Sales floor manager Miyashita is very interested in the "hometown tax donation" system, which can be done like online shopping. However, buyer Uematsu says that even though he is interested, there are reasons why he hasn't taken the plunge yet.

So, this time, we started by selecting some great return gifts, with the help of Seki, who is in charge of the hometown tax donation program at Mitsukoshi Isetan.



Seki : Are you all familiar with "hometown tax donation"?
Miyashita : That's something I'm very interested in right now.
Shibata : I've been using it for several years now. I tried it once and found it very convenient and cost-effective, so I've been using it every year since.
Uematsu : When you hear the word "tax payment," it sounds like you have to fill out and submit application forms and go through troublesome procedures, so it's kind of hard to get involved.


Shibata : I was the same way at first, but if it's only a few tens of thousands of yen, you don't need any complicated procedures, and you can use it just like ordering rare local specialty products online.
Seki : For company employees, the process is mostly simple, involving only submitting an application form with a copy of your My Number Card or equivalent identification documents attached. You can even complete the process easily online. For those who are still unsure, we've set up counters at each Mitsukoshi Isetan store this年末 to assist with everything from member registration to consultations and applications for return gifts.
Uematsu : Is that something we can use as well?
Seki : Of course. The maximum amount varies depending on family structure and income, but the amount donated minus 2,000 yen will be deducted from your resident tax from June of the following year.
Miyashita : I'm still in my twenties, and my tax payments aren't that significant, but is that okay?
Seki : Anyone who pays taxes, including company employees and self-employed individuals, can use it.
Shibata : Once you try it, it's really easy. When you donate to a local government you want to support, you receive local specialties and products as a thank you gift, and they're so varied that it's fun just to browse the site like an online shopping site.
Seki : The Mitsukoshi Isetan Furusato Nozei (hometown tax donation) website features over 4,000 return gifts. We hope you'll use it like choosing a catalog gift with your family.


Uematsu : Wow, that's true. There's so much! It's the perfect time of year for crabs and fruits.
Seki : The return gifts vary depending on the season, and in the spring, you'll find return gifts that are appropriate for spring.
Uematsu : I see, so you can use the hometown tax donation system anytime.
Seki : Yes, anytime throughout the year. Some people make annual plans not only to enjoy seasonal produce, but also to spread out the timing of when the return gifts arrive.
Shibata : You can also choose the recipient, so you can send it not only for yourself but also to your parents back home.
Seki : At this time of year, some people use it as an alternative to year-end gifts. I think it's appealing that Mitsukoshi Isetan, which is deeply rooted in the local community, offers a selection of return gifts that meet department store standards.
Miyashita : There are so many delicious-looking things. Actually, this year, during the stay-at-home period, I got hooked on ordering food from other regions (laughs). If I can support those regions at the same time as ordering delicious food, I'd definitely like to try it.
Shibata : So there's something called " Special Selection Salmon in a Wooden Box, Whole Seasonal Salmon, Cut into Pieces " from Kushiro City, Hokkaido. That makes you want to donate to it, doesn't it? (laughs)


Miyashita : I just noticed that something I previously purchased online is listed as a thank-you gift. The dried firefly squid from Hamaoka Seafood in Uozu City, Toyama Prefecture, is really delicious. I was thinking of ordering it again, so I think I'll make a donation to include it next time.


Seki : For those who enjoy ordering local specialties online or through mail order, I highly recommend them. The Mitsukoshi Isetan Furusato Nozei website features seasonal and themed specials, so you're sure to find something that catches your eye no matter when you visit. In particular, the gifts marked " Mitsukoshi Isetan Selection " are specially prepared items.
Miyashita : I'm from Fukuoka Prefecture, so I feel a strong sense of local pride in the Kyushu region. I've grown up with local specialties like mentaiko (spicy cod roe), and I've rediscovered many handicrafts that I didn't know about before. It's interesting just to look at the website.
Shibata : I didn't know there were categories like handicrafts and travel tickets. A meal voucher for the Uesugi Count's Residence in Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture would be nice too.
Seki : The return gifts aren't just food. In Oamishirasato City, Chiba Prefecture, there's a tumbler set from the long-established local company Sugahara , in Miyoshi Town, Saitama Prefecture, there's an electric guitar , and in Shinjo City, Yamagata Prefecture, there's a leather wallet made from cordovan leather by Shinki Leather .

There are various ways to choose a recipient for your donation, not just your hometown, but also places you've traveled to that hold special memories.

Uematsu : But I always thought that paying taxes was something you did for the region where you live, so I'm honestly a little hesitant to donate to a place I have no connection to whatsoever.
Miyashita : How about donating to your hometown or the town where you spent your student years?
Uematsu : I was born and raised in Tokyo. I love my hometown.
Shibata : In the future, I'd like to live in the countryside during my second life after retirement. I've picked out a few potential locations and decided to support them by making donations, while also looking for a municipality that I might one day live in.
Seki : Some people might find a way to learn about a region through its products, while others might find it easier to choose based on the region rather than the products. Being the hometown of a sports team you support, or a place with fond memories from a past trip, can also be a starting point.


Shibata : I think the concept behind the hometown tax donation system is about how to distribute tax revenue, which tends to be concentrated in urban areas, to rural areas. At first, my goal was to get a delicious return gift that my family could enjoy, but recently my perspective has changed. Now, I look into the return gifts of towns that I think are nice, and I become even more interested in them by learning about the local specialties.
Uematsu : I see, the order of choosing an item and then donating it might have felt a bit strange.
Miyashita : When you look into it, it's really profound. There are so many different ways to show support.
Uematsu : I see. Last year, I took a private trip around the Chugoku region, and it was wonderful, so I might try to find some places to reminisce about.