Commemorative Funds Channeled into Community to safeguard Historical Accounts from WWII

The Chiran Peace Museum, located in the southwestern Japanese city of Minamikyushu, Kagoshima Prefecture, has recently unveiled a revamped 3D diorama of the Chiran airfield and its surroundings. The museum, which preserves materials on the young pilots who flew from the Imperial Japanese Army's largest suicide attack base in the closing months of World War II, is a significant hub for the preservation of World War II history.

The city running the Chiran Peace Museum utilized the "furusato nozei" hometown donation program for fundraising, allowing people to donate to any local government, not just their hometown. The fundraising drive, which started last November and lasted for about three months, aimed to raise 5 million yen but fell short, garnering 4,065,000 yen.

Despite not meeting the goal, the initiative proved successful in reaching prospective donors nationwide. Over 90% of the donors (109) were from outside the prefecture where the Chiran Peace Museum is located. The crowdfunding-style appeal under the hometown donation program enabled the city to tap into a wider donor base.

Since November 2020, local governments such as Hiroshima City, Nagasaki City, and Okinawa Prefecture have also collected donations through the "furusato nozei" tax gift program for projects aimed at passing on World War II memories to younger generations. Initiatives to prevent World War II history from fading are underway in some regions, using digital technology to renovate exhibition facilities and produce documentary footage.

The Chiran Peace Museum is one of these initiatives. In addition to its physical exhibits, the museum utilizes digital technology in its efforts to preserve and present the history of World War II. The exhibits at the Chiran Peace Museum are dedicated to the young pilots who flew from the Chiran airfield during World War II, particularly focusing on the tragic events such as kamikaze suicide attack units and devastating air raids.

Most of the donations were deductible from resident and income taxes, making it an attractive option for those wishing to support the preservation of World War II history. The city official involved in the project stated that the platform enabled them to reach prospective donors nationwide, demonstrating the potential of the hometown donation program in funding such initiatives.

While the fundraising drive fell short of its goal, the revamped exhibit at the Chiran Peace Museum was opened on July 31. The museum continues its efforts to preserve and present the history of World War II, relying on the support of donors and visitors alike.

Commemorative Funds Channeled into Community to safeguard Historical Accounts from WWII