Can You Get "Kochikame" Through Katsushika Ward's Furusato Nozei? Promoting Local Charm with a Nationally Beloved Manga

Starting in March 2025, Yamato Co., Ltd., a company dedicated to creating new kinds of gifts, has partnered with Katsushika Ward to offer the manga "Kochira Katsushika-ku Kamearikouen-mae Hashutsujo" ("Kochikame") as a return gift for Furusato Nozei (hometown tax donations).

Through this nationally beloved manga set in Katsushika Ward, the initiative aims to promote the area's charm across Japan and bring smiles to donors. The proposal to include "Kochikame" in Katsushika Ward's Furusato Nozei comes from the idea of utilizing locally significant masterpieces as "gifts" to bring joy to donors nationwide. This also aligns with Yamato's vision of creating a world where "special gifts that people can't help but want to give" increase the opportunities for giving, allowing the emotions of the giver and the joy of the receiver to resonate with each other.

"Kochikame," a masterpiece by manga artist Osamu Akimoto, who hails from Katsushika Ward, was serialized from 1976 to 2016. The protagonist, Kankichi Ryotsu, is depicted as working at a police box in Kameari, and statues of the characters are installed near the actual Kameari Station, making it a beloved symbol of Katsushika Ward.

It is rare for municipalities to offer manga as a return gift for Furusato Nozei, and "Kochikame" stands out as a return gift that highlights Katsushika Ward's uniqueness. On March 22, 2025, the "Kochikame Memorial Hall" is set to open in Kameari, Katsushika Ward. As a five-story facility where visitors can experience the world of the manga, it is expected to become a new landmark in Katsushika Ward.