Crowdfunding Field Case ⑨ | ¥8.39 Million for a 47-Prefecture Challenge: How One "Big Dream" Translated into Support
機械翻訳 / Machine-translated
In crowdfunding, people sometimes share big dreams.
"I want to spread this across all of Japan."
"I want to reach people everywhere in the country."
"I want to change society."
I love that kind of ambition.
But a big dream alone isn't enough to attract support.
The key is thinking through how supporters can actually be part of that dream.
That's what I believe makes all the difference.
In this post, I'd like to share a project I supported — a challenge to reach all 47 prefectures across Japan.
This was a crowdfunding campaign launched on CAMPFIRE in 2024 by Akio Hiramoto.
The project was called:
"I Want to Hold Akio Hiramoto's 'Counseling Salon' in All 47 Prefectures!"
What Hiramoto-san was aiming for was a third place — somewhere that wasn't home or work — where people across Japan could feel safe speaking their truth.
At the time, he had already started running a counseling salon at a café in Omotesando, Tokyo.
The vision was to eventually expand that activity to all 47 prefectures nationwide.
Of course, going nationwide requires both funding and people.
So the challenge began: use crowdfunding to build a community of supporters who could help grow the movement.
"I want to expand this to all 47 prefectures."
That's a tremendously ambitious goal.
But for someone encountering the project for the first time, it can feel like a distant, abstract idea.
That's why this project laid out a step-by-step plan.
First, strengthen and enrich the salon events in Omotesando throughout 2024.
Next, expand to regions like Osaka and Nagoya.
Then, eventually, aim for all 47 prefectures.
The big dream and what's being done right now are connected.
I believe this kind of thinking is essential in crowdfunding.
Rather than only talking about a far-off future, it's important to show supporters what their contribution connects to today.
That way, it becomes much easier for supporters to understand the meaning of the challenge they're joining.
Another distinctive feature of this project was in the rewards.
For example, there were participation tickets for the counseling salon.
Access to online events.
Books and multi-visit ticket packages.
There was even a reward that let supporters invite a person in their twenties to attend a salon session for free.
In other words, you could show your support not just by attending yourself, but by giving someone else the experience.
Sponsor tiers were also available for both companies and individuals.
Participate yourself. Invite someone else. Financially support the movement.
There were many different ways to be involved in this single challenge.
When I design crowdfunding rewards, I think it's important to consider not just the differences in price, but the differences in why someone might want to support.
Because not every supporter is backing a project for the same reason.
This project went live on August 1, 2024.
The initial goal was ¥5,000,000.
After that, a stretch goal of ¥7,500,000 and 300 supporters was also achieved.
By the time the campaign closed on August 31:
Total funding: ¥8,394,000
Number of supporters: 366
Achievement rate: 167%
I was involved in the project planning, goal-setting, reward design, page creation, outreach, and post-launch support.
Of course, the reason this level of support came together was rooted in the years of work, trust, and relationships that Hiramoto-san had built over time. The results weren't simply a product of well-designed rewards.
That said, this project really drove home for me how important it is to connect the future of an initiative with what supporters can do right now.
In crowdfunding, a big dream can genuinely move people.
But on its own, it can sometimes leave potential supporters unsure of what they're actually supposed to do.
That's why, when I work on a project, I keep coming back to this question:
"If we were to shape this dream into something supporters can be part of — what would that look like?"
Let them experience it firsthand.
Let them invite someone else.
Let them help build a piece of the movement together.
Let them become a fellow believer in a future that's still unfolding.
The form that participation takes will vary depending on the project.
One thing to note: the funds raised in this campaign were intended to support the effort toward a nationwide expansion — they do not mean that salon events have already been completed in all 47 prefectures.
Articulate the big dream. Then make the first step concrete enough to act on.
I believe having both of these elements is one of the most important conditions for a crowdfunding campaign that truly earns support.
The actual project:
I Want to Hold Akio Hiramoto's "Counseling Salon" in All 47 Prefectures! | CAMPFIRE
If you'd like to talk about crowdfunding, please check my profile page.
