Stories
Stories & deep dives
Hot campaigns, record-breakers and the patterns behind them — reported with sources, so your research actually pays off.
Gadget & techOverseas vs Japan — judging 'reverse-imported' Kickstarter hitsConclusion: an overseas hit isn't automatically safe in Japan — check certification, warranty, support.Local & regionalBacking with hometown tax — how GCF worksConclusion: get the tax deduction and choose exactly which municipal project to fund.Social goodEquity crowdfunding 101 — FUNDINNO and the real risksConclusion: this is investing, not buying — capital can be lost. Know the rules.Gadget & techGREEN FUNDING, the quality lane — 85% success, ¥5.14M averageConclusion: a curated, TSUTAYA-backed platform — fewer, larger, high-success projects.Social goodAll-or-Nothing vs All-in: which should you pick?Conclusion: physical products are safer on All-or-Nothing.Gadget & techHow to spot a hot campaign — first-day speed, prototypes, momentumConclusion: opening speed, a working prototype, and update cadence are the real signals.Social goodJapan's crowdfunding market in numbers — ¥43.2B, four players, 90%Conclusion: reward crowdfunding is ~¥43.2B; four platforms hold ~90%.Local & regionalInside CAMPFIRE — ¥100B funded, 5.1M members, 100k projectsConclusion: Japan's largest by scale. Record: PrinCube's ¥300M; its award dropped rankings for diversity.Gadget & techWhat blew up on Makuake in 2025 — AI gadgets, a whisky, a heritage innConclusion: AI products grew 3.5× YoY; the top gadget, AINOTE 2, raised ~¥469M.Social goodJapan's biggest crowdfunding successes ever — a ¥910M museum, a ¥300M printerConclusion: the donation peak is the National Museum's ~¥910M; the reward icon is PrinCube's ¥300M. The records reveal the playbook.Gadget & techCAMPFIRE vs Makuake: fees, review, and fitConclusion: products → Makuake, community → CAMPFIRE.