The authorities in the Shibuya district of Tokyo have launched an unusual tax initiative. They announced that residents of Japan can receive a tax deduction in the form of in-game currency if they allocate part of their taxes to the district's budget.
Monster Strike
The currency will be provided for two popular mobile games in the country—Monster Strike and Kotodaman. According to the authorities, the greater the amount of taxes, the larger the reward will be.
As reported by the Automaton Media portal, the campaign in Shibuya is part of a national program called Furusato Nozei (ふるさと納税), which has been active in Japan for many years. Under this program, Japanese people choose a specific locality that will collect part of their income tax, and in return, offer "gifts"—usually goods and products produced in that area. It is intended to allow citizens to support the prefectures they like.
It is unknown how long the initiative will last. Journalists from Automaton Media do not rule out that the authorities in Shibuya are merely experimenting for now. Furthermore, their project might not be well-received by the national government. Previously, the government prohibited giving certain gift certificates under Furusato Nozei because they could be resold for cash, essentially enabling tax evasion.