Yamaguchi Prefecture

Generation of Consumer Demand andFinancial Support for Shops/Restaurants
within the Prefecture Utilising the Purchasetype Crowd Funding System (Reference:ProjectTitle“ProjectSupportingShops/Restaurants That Are Working Hard”)
Background and Reasons for Deciding to Undertakethe scale of the popular “Project Supporting

the ProjectShops/Restaurants that Are Working Hard” wasIn Yamaguchi Prefecture, the first case of theexpanded, and re-implemented.

COVID-19 virus was identified in March 2020, andever since then business has dropped off significantly

Project Aims

in a broad range of sectors, including theProvide “financial support” for shops/restaurants

restaurant/retail/service industries and tourism-that are experiencing difficulties due to the impact ofrelated industries, with regional economies falling

the COVID-19 pandemic and “generate consumer

into a dire situation.

demand”.

Against this background, in May 2020 Yamaguchi
Prefecture began providing restaurant operators

Project Outline

with a fixed-amount payment of 100,000 yen per・ Through the Secretariat (outsourced to crowd-

operator as emergency support, in addition tofunding operators), supporters (consumers) payimplementing urgently needed initiatives such assupport funds to participating shops/restaurants,

subsidising measures aimed at sustaining andand in return for their support receive Genki-ni

expanding business (implementing take-out andYamaguchi-ken premium-added vouchers that caninternet

be used at the shops they supported (the premiumsales,etc.).

Later,

theprefecturalgovernment considered measures that would beportion is borne by Yamaguchi Prefecture).

sure to lead to economic recovery within Yamaguchi

・In addition to being able to participate with no cost

Prefecture. Of these measures, a support initiative

to themselves, the shops/restaurants receive theutilising crowd funding (“Project Supporting Shops

support funds before the vouchers are issued,that Are Working Hard”) was implemented in July

thereby enabling them to secure future sales in2020.

advance.

In 2021, the impact of the spread of the COVID-19

・ In addition to conducting advertising to recruit

virus lengthened. Because of the further support

participant shops/restaurants and supporters, therequired by medium/small businesses in Yamaguchi

Secretariat also assists the shops/restaurants

Prefecture,recruit supporters for themselves.

theprefecturalgovernment

endeavoured to integrally implement business<Main

activity support measures and consumer demand

Participate>

generation

measures,providing

fixed-amount

Conditions

for

Shops/Restaurants

toMust be a medium/small business with offices inpayments of up to 400,000 yen per business operator

Yamaguchi Prefecture.

for operators whose sales had decreased, as well as
subsidies for developing new business. In addition,1

*Targets business operators conducting activities
providing products or services to general
consumers.
<Project Outline>
・Name of voucher: Genki-ni Yamaguchi-ken (choosefrom electronic voucher or paper voucher)・ Support funding target amount: 700 million yen(totalamountforissuing

premium-addedvouchers is 1.05 billion yen)・Support funding recruitment amount: from 1,000
yen/unit up to 100,000 yen per person (perrecruitment period. Supporters can support
Electronic voucher screen for inputting amount tomultiple shops/restaurants.)
・ Maximum support funding per shop/restaurant:

be used

500,000en per period・Premium rate 50%
・Participant shop/restaurant recruitment period:
13 July – 14 September, 2021・Supporter recruitment period:
17 August – 24 November, 2021
・Voucher usage period:
13 September, 2021 – 31 March, 2022
PeriodPeriod 1

Period 2

Period 3

Paper voucher

Period 4

shop/restaur

Participant

recruitment

Supporter

13 – 30 July , 2021: Participate in Periods 1 – 4
31 July – 19 Aug., 2021: Participate in Periods 2 – 4
20 Aug. – 14 Sept., 2021: Participate in Periods 3 – 4
31 Aug. –17 – 30

26 Oct. –28 Sept –27 Sept.,
Aug., 2021

24 Nov.,
25 Oct., 2021

2021

2021

Transfer offunds toshop/restaurant

Combined amount of support funding and premium istransferred to the shops/restaurants receiving support
before the start of each voucher usage period.

Voucher usageperiod

12 Oct., 2021

11 Nov.,

10 Dec.,–2021 –

2021 –

31 Mar.,

31 Mar.,

31 Mar.,

2022

2022

2022

13 Sept,
2021 –
28 Feb., 2022

Flier recruiting supporters2

<Project Scheme>a means of preventing the spread of the COVID-19virus.
Results of the Project◆Supporter recruitment period
17 August – 2 September, 2021 (initially scheduled
to end on 24 November, but ended immediately
after the Second Period began as the target
support funding amount had been reached)◆Number of participating shops/restaurants
2,516
・Not only restaurants but a wide range of business

Project Features and Innovation
Selling shopping premium-added vouchers is thetypes participated in the project, including barbermostshops, hair salons, and retailers.

broadlyusedmethodforgenerating◆Number of supporters

consumer demand. Shopping voucher projects
generally

have

theadvantageofenabling

19,932 people in total◆Support funding amountconsumers to use the vouchers at any of theparticipating shops/restaurants, but are structured

702,742,000 yen (Total sales amount for premium-so that the shop/restaurant only receives the funds

added vouchers issued: 1,054,113,000 yen)after cashing in the shopping vouchers they receive・Support was provided to 85% of the participatingfrom consumers. In contrast, this project wasshops/restaurants

designedtofirstdeliver

funding

toshops/restaurants as a means of supporting theIssues and Responses

large number of shops/restaurants who areWith regard to setting achievable support

experiencing daily financial difficulties because offunding amounts, although an even greater amountthe COVID-19 pandemic, as well as also enablingof support was required compared to 2020, careful

and promoting the invigoration of consumption.

discussions were held with crowdfunding operators

Furthermore, Yamaguchi Prefecture focused on

based on the performance in the previous year.

making it as easy as possible for shops/restaurants

Furthermore, to enable support to be provided

to participate in this project by not only bearing theto as many business operators as possible, methods

participation fees and credit card handling fees offor recruiting participant stores and supporters

the participating shops/restaurants, but also

(advertising through TV adverts, social media, etc.)

enabling the participation of a diverse range ofwere also considered together with crowdfunding

business types.

operators.

In addition, two types of premium-added vouchers
were provided, electronic vouchers and paper

Future Developments (Anticipated Results, Outlook

vouchers, enabling consumers to choose. Although

for the Project, Issues, etc.)

paper vouchers are familiar to many people,

If crowdfunding methods becomes widely known

electronic vouchers were also included because thethroughout the prefecture, we believe we have built

use of cashless payment is now being promoted asa foundation for business operators to undertake3

crowdfunding for themselves to obtain funding in thefuture.
It is anticipated that by continuing to approach
supporters rather than regarding participation in thisproject as a temporary measure, shops/restaurants
will be able to acquire and establish customers in thefuture.
Reference URLs
https://www.pref.yamaguchi.lg.jp/press/202107/04
9526.html(Press release: About recruitment of participant
shops/restaurants)
https://www.pref.yamaguchi.lg.jp/press/202108/04
9888.html(Press release: About recruitment of supporters)
Contact
Division in Charge: Commerce and Industry Policy
Division, Commerce, Industry and Labor
Department
Phone: ＋81-083-933-3110
E-mail: a16100@pref.yamaguchi.lg.jp
Key Terms4