Aomori City

Japan's hometown tax donation (furusato nōzei) system faces stricter rules from October 1, with tighter standards for locally produced return gifts. About 20,000 popular gift items are set to disappear by September 30, prompting a last-minute rush by donors. Cities like Aomori, which could lose around 30 million yen, and municipalities in Nagano are suspending some gifts, while commentators debate the reform's impact on local government finances.