Media Equity Inc., which operates HEXA, one of Japan's largest NFT marketplaces, announces that applications for Toyama City's official "TOYAMA Mirai Citizen Passport," offered in partnership with Tobu Top Tours Co., Ltd. as Toyama City's project to create a related population — people who maintain an ongoing connection to a region without living there — closed at 23:59 on February 15, 2026 (Sun), with a final total of 2,433 applications.
Applications were invited for a planned issue of 1,000 passports (by lottery if oversubscribed), and they came in at about 2.4 times the planned number, drawing a very strong response as a related population initiative for Toyama City.
The call was open only to people living outside Toyama Prefecture, and the fact that so many applications came from non-residents of the prefecture shows how broad the base of regional fans who "want to support" Toyama City and "want to stay involved" with it has become.
Mainly young people took part, with strong interest in relocating: the "related population" moves to its next stage
An analysis of the applicant profile revealed strong interest, particularly among young people.
[Applicant profile (excerpt)]
41% of applicants were in their 20s and 34% in their 30s (74% in their 20s–30s in total)
On moving to Toyama City in the future
"Seriously considering" and "somewhat considering": 58% combined
Experience living in or visiting Toyama City
"Have lived there": 25%
"Have visited 10 or more times": 22%
"Have visited a few times": 42%
(89% in total have lived in or visited the city)
These results show that the project did not merely generate buzz: many participants already have ties to or affection for Toyama City, and some are even considering relocating in the future, pointing to its potential as a "measure that leads to relocation and settlement" that goes beyond creating a related population.
■ NFTs × community: a "system for lasting relationships"
The "TOYAMA Mirai Citizen Passport" is a digital registration certificate using NFT technology, issued to people who live outside the prefecture and feel that they "love Toyama City" and "want to stay involved with Toyama."
Using a holder-only NFT community on HEXA, the passport provides
Continuous official information from Toyama City (on relocation, U-turn moves back home, jobs, furusato nozei (hometown tax donation), events and more)
Participation in community building through surveys and calls for opinions
Interaction among participants interested in Toyama City
and other mechanisms that keep people connected with the region.
Media Equity Inc., which operates HEXA, one of Japan's largest NFT marketplaces, in partnership with Tobu Top Tours Co., Ltd., has today begun accepting applications on HEXA for the "TOYAMA Mirai Citizen Passport," Toyama City's project to create a related population.
The "TOYAMA Mirai Citizen Passport" is a digital registration certificate using NFT technology, issued to people who live outside the prefecture yet feel that they "love Toyama City" and "want to stay involved with Toyama." The aim of the project is to keep such "regional fans" from being a passing presence and to grow a related population that stays involved with the region over time.
Background: the challenge many municipalities face of "how to grow and sustain a related population"
With a declining birthrate, an aging population and population decline, municipalities across Japan need to build communities that do not rely solely on increasing their settled population. At the same time, even when tourism measures increase the visitor population, the relationship often ends after a single visit. Against these challenges, a key theme is how to increase the related population — "people who live outside the region but keep receiving information, sharing their views, joining events and supporting the region" — and grow it into long-term relationships.
The "TOYAMA Mirai Citizen Passport" is designed as an initiative to systematically grow this related population and turn it into lasting relationships.
A "system for lasting relationships" made possible by NFTs and HEXA
At the core of the passport is an interactive community for NFT holders only, provided on HEXA. People who obtain the passport can
- Continuously receive official information from Toyama City (on relocation, U-turn moves back home, jobs, furusato nozei, events and more)
- Take part in community building through surveys and calls for opinions
- Connect with other people who share an interest in Toyama City
and in these ways join a space where they connect both with the region and with one another as a related population. Because holding the NFT is a condition for joining the community, a major feature is that it tends to form a high-quality community made up not of an unspecified crowd but only of "people who intend to stay involved with the region."
Rather than "obtain it and that's it" or "hand it out and that's it," this system creates a flow in which relationships deepen as people keep taking part, and the related population grows as a result.
Growing the related population by combining information with perks
Passport holders receive information and perks such as the following through the community.
- Information on relocation, U-turn moves, jobs, furusato nozei and more
- Notices of Toyama City-related events held in the Tokyo metropolitan area and elsewhere
- Free admission to the Toyama Glass Art Museum
- Perks for using the coworking space "Sketch Lab"
- Entry to giveaways for hotel stays in the city, experience tickets and more
By combining information with experiences and perks, the passport creates a virtuous cycle of "becoming interested → taking part → becoming even more interested," leading to a larger related population.
TOYAMA Mirai Citizen Passport: overview
Quantity issued: 1,000 (by lottery if oversubscribed)
Application period: January 20, 2026 (Tue), 8:00 – February 15 (Sun), 23:59
Cost: free (cannot be transferred or resold)
Eligibility: people who live outside the prefecture and love Toyama City
*Residents of the city who plan to move out of the prefecture by April 2026 may also apply
Design: by Sapuri Yamaguchi ( @sapuriba ), a manga artist and illustrator from Toyama Prefecture.
Sapuri Yamaguchi
I'm Sapuri Yamaguchi, a manga artist and illustrator who loves Shiba Inu dogs. I draw cute, heartwarming illustrations and manga! I post new manga and illustrations on X and elsewhere, and I also publish my work on HEXA!
https://nft.hexanft.com/users/WQP8iDpJyKOEv0/issued
https://nft.hexanft.com/users/IPzmjQuUIdWRyg/issued
TOYAMA Mirai Citizen Passport: holder perks
- Free admission to the Toyama Glass Art Museum (permanent and special exhibitions)
- 2 hours' free use of "Sketch Lab," a coworking space in front of Toyama Station (drink included)
- Entry to surveys with a chance to win great prizes by lottery
(Examples of prizes)
- A stay voucher for ANA Crowne Plaza Toyama
- A glassmaking experience ticket at the Toyama Glass Studio
- Toyama Card (catalog gift) (worth ¥5,000)
- Sushi voucher (worth ¥5,000)
- Access to the online community
TOYAMA Mirai Citizen Passport application page
https://nft.hexanft.com/application/toyamacity
Campaign to win an Amazon gift card worth ¥10,000
To spread the word about the project, a campaign is also running on X (formerly Twitter) where you can win an Amazon gift card worth ¥10,000 by quote-reposting.
Entry deadline: February 15, 2026 (Sun), 23:59
How to enter: Enter via the post below
https://x.com/HEXANFT/status/2013520873622491373
About HEXA, the NFT marketplace
HEXA is one of Japan's largest NFT marketplaces, offering a simple system that requires no crypto-assets and supports payment in Japanese yen. It provides an environment where NFTs can be used as "practical digital tools," building an ecosystem in which a wide range of issuers, including artists, companies and municipalities, can use NFTs with confidence.
How NFT issuance works: https://hexanft.com/issuermanual/
Apply to issue NFTs here: https://nft.hexanft.com/issue