[Proposal setup] Proposal title

Please provide your proposal title

JAPANGO: DID/SBT passport to reach 36M+ visitors to japan

[Proposal Summary] Budget Information

Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA

56732

[Proposal Summary] Time

Please specify how many months you expect your project to last

10

[Proposal Summary] Translation Information

Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated

No

Original Language

en

[Proposal Summary] Problem Statement

What is the problem you want to solve?

Japan’s lesser-known regions and small local businesses lack visibility and customers; micro-influencers lack sponsors. No bridge links them, worsening overtourism while areas stay under-visited.

[Proposal Summary] Supporting Documentation

Supporting links

• https://japango.io/
,
• https://note.com/ango_nft/n/n20f6ce8f8614

[Proposal Summary] Project Dependencies

Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

No

Describe any dependencies or write 'No dependencies'

No dependencies

[Proposal Summary] Project Open Source

Will your project's outputs be fully open source?

Yes

License and Additional Information

[Theme Selection] Theme

Please choose the most relevant theme and tag related to the outcomes of your proposal

Events

[Campaign Category] Category Questions

Who you’re targeting, how you’ll reach them, and why this matters for Cardano.

Primary targets: Japan-focused travel creators (JP & international micro/mid), local hosts/DMOs & tourism SMEs, and inbound travelers. Reach: open calls and referrals, creator contests, SNS collabs, off line events, partner channels, and an SBT “Travel Passport” with perks. For Cardano: converts audiences to wallets; SBT/rewards prove real utility and drive transactions.

Provide a list of key activities of your project?

Build & ship:

1. SBT Travel Passport (mint, verify, reward).

2. Marketplace for regional experiences.

3. Creator onboarding pipeline (guidelines, referral tree).

4. passport setup/helpdesk for newcomers.

5. Content campaigns with measurable CTAs.

6. Co-creation events.

7. Analytics/fraud checks.

8. Docs, OSS repos, final reports.

What are your success metrics?

Success Metrics (6–10 months):

Community & reach—500+ creators contacted, 50+ JAPANGO Ambassadors onboarded; 5 events with 1,000+ participants; 300k+ views; 100+ SBTs issued. On-chain—2,000+ Cardano transactions from SBT/reward flows; 1,000+ new ADA users onboarded. Impact—≥3 partnerships with local governments/tourism boards (e.g., Ikusakamura, Awaji); 10+ regional co-creation PoCs. Evidence via public links, reports, and on-chain tx IDs.

[Your Project and Solution] Solution

Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem

日本語はこちら(https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QBGFoJGxd1JYDWeDxuEJVCL8x-b2fg2S/view?usp=sharing))

Problem:

Japan has numerous places that remain unknown to tourists and the general public. Local businesses and municipalities struggle to showcase and promote their services and products due to a lack of financial resources for advertising and promotional campaigns. While some major cities in Japan are grappling with overtourism, there are regions with low recognition that lack customers to utilize their products and services. Meanwhile, influencers with smaller audiences find it difficult to secure sponsorship and promotional collaboration opportunities, and they are motivated to participate in meaningful activities that provide value not only in terms of monetary compensation but also for themselves and their audiences.

Our goal is to organize events for recruiting influencers that will connect local governments and businesses with micro-influencers to promote Japan's hidden gems by highlighting culture and traditions. Through these events, this would create a valuable exchange where micro-influencers gain opportunities to promote local businesses and obtain fresh, valuable content for their audiences, while businesses can be discovered by the general public and acquire more customers.

Prototype:

JAPANGO is the central hub of the ecosystem that facilitates connections and transactions between influencers and businesses. Through this Grant, we will organize events for influencer recruitment. It manages the issuance of SBTs and tokens.

Influencers use their SBT to access benefits from partner businesses. Businesses post "Quests" on the JAPANGO platform. Influencers accept Quests, experience them, and create promotional content. JAPANGO rewards influencers with tokens for their content creation. Influencers can redeem tokens for exclusive rewards and discounts from local businesses.

JAPANGO's treasury is sustained by annual partner membership fees, Quest posting fees, and exclusive reward exchange fees. The entire ecosystem is governed by the DAO, with token holders having voting power.

Value of prototype:

JAPANGO presents solutions to multiple social and local problems by presenting a new ecosystem.

First, it uses unutilized products and experiences to promote small and medium businesses with limited financial resources. By presenting authentic and unique experiences for influencers, they promote their businesses without spending much for PR services. Meanwhile, micro-influencers get the experience as well as content for their audience.

Second, it reduces overtourism and over-concentration in metropolitan cities such as Tokyo. Most people can discover local and unknown places in Japan. This would raise awareness about rural places and assist with the distribution of tourists all over Japan. This presents an opportunity to Japan’s regional businesses to gain international recognition.

Third, long-term collaboration opportunities. Digital Passport would be used to get discounts from local businesses and this would create opportunities to expand the loyal community of people who would like to work long-term.

Our approach:

The JAPANGO Project is a new model directed to regional revitalization in Japan by connecting micro-influencers with local businesses through the application of Web3 technology. This project addresses two main problems: the lack of PR opportunities and surplus service capacity of local businesses and the monetization difficulties faced by influencers. JAPANGO brings together a collective of micro-influencers into a cooperative DAO to collectively increase economic leverage. Our service will issue non-transfareble NFTs, Soulbound Tokens (SBTs), as Digital Passports to influencers, which could give access to benefits such as discounts and complimentary services. This model aligns with the Japanese government's "Regional Revitalization 2.0" initiative, supporting goals such as creating appealing regions for youth and women, fostering an engaged non-resident population, and maximizing the use of local resources.

Engagement:

Local communities and people around the world can engage in creating and contributing to this ecosystem. Influencers from different parts of the world can create content about Japan and share their stories with their audience, which would provide opportunities to unknown local regions and businesses to get recognized globally. Thus, this project will broaden the reach of Cardano and local communities by revitalizing regions through Web3 Technology.

Specificity:

This ecosystem will directly connect the creative power of individuals with the latent potential of local regions using Web3 technology the Cardano blockchain, thereby achieving sustainable regional revitalization and a new, individual-centric economic sphere.

Importance to Cardano:

JAPANGO ecosystem will broaden Cardano's global reach through influencers all over the world. Global audiences will bring awareness to the Cardano technology and local businesses and influencers will bring together people to the Cardano ecosystem.

[Your Project and Solution] Impact

Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community

日本語はこちら

(https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cqPq1IhlfYDCwMV_iqjTGlG8U8MXZZr5/view?usp=sharing))

1. Setting Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

To measure the progress and success of our proposal, we establish the following KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) as short-term objectives:

1-1.Community Building and Engagement:

• JAPANGO Ambassador Acquisition: Through promotional activities on social media and other channels, we will reach over 500 influencers and welcome more than 50 influencers to our community as "JAPANGO Ambassadors."
• Event Participants: We will secure over 1,000 total participants across 5 events, including online events.
• SBT Issuance: Through our campaigns, we will issue over 100 SBTs (Soul Bound Tokens) to visualize influencer contributions.

1-2.Activity on Cardano Chain:

• On-chain Transaction Volume: We will achieve over 2000 on-chain transactions within 6 months through JAPANGO-related SBT issuance and token exchanges.
• New ADA User Acquisition: Through the activities of influencers participating in this project, we will Invite at least 1000 new users from their audiences to the Cardano ecosystem. This will be achieved through wallet creation support during event participation and providing guides for receiving benefits.

1-3.Demonstrating Impact:

Regional Co-creation Collaborations: We will establish partnerships with at least 3 local governments or tourism organizations. We are already advancing collaborations with Ikusakamura Village in Nagano Prefecture and Awaji Island, making the feasibility extremely high.

Content View Count: We will achieve over 300,000 total views for promotional content created by influencers.

Proof-of-Concept Projects: We will generate over 10 regional co-creation projects (e.g., accommodation experiences, product development) born from offline events.

2. Expected Impact

This project will deliver a meaningful impact to both the Cardano ecosystem and Japanese society.

2-1.Contribution to Cardano Ecosystem:

• Enhanced ADA Utility: We will promote ADA usage in the JAPANGO project through SBT issuance and future token exchanges. This strengthens ADA's role as a payment method with real-world value, rather than merely a speculative asset.
• Increased On-chain Activity: SBT issuance and related transactions will increase activity volume on the Cardano chain, contributing to network growth.
• Acquiring New User Demographics: We will attract new users to the Cardano ecosystem who previously had no interest in Web3, including creators, local businesses, and inbound tourists.

2-2.Contribution to Japanese Society:

• Regional Revitalization: By uncovering hidden charms of local areas and promoting them through influencer reach, we contribute to regional economic revitalization and population outflow prevention.
• Establishing Web3 × Regional Development Model: We present a new solution utilizing Web3 technology for "Regional Revitalization 2.0" promoted by the Japanese government. This may lead to increased recognition of Cardano at administrative and policy levels.

3. Building Collaborative Framework

The JAPANGO project aims for extensive contribution to the Cardano ecosystem through collaboration with the following four key stakeholders:

• Individual Investors: Existing Cardano community members and new users attracted by the project's social significance will support the project through SBT ownership and DAO participation. This enhances overall community engagement.
• Travelers and General Users: By discovering and experiencing regional attractions through the project, they directly revitalize local economies. These user activities become the driving force that converts asset value into economic value.
• Enterprises (Ourselves): We, as the promoters of the JAPANGO project, also aim for sustainable business operations by benefiting from the ecosystem generated through the project. Leveraging our successful experience from Fund12, we will directly contribute to ADA utility improvement by expanding the scope of ADA payment adoption.
• Local Governments: Local governments may become collaboration partners by viewing the JAPANGO project as an innovative solution utilizing Web3 technology for the pressing issue of regional revitalization. Administrative-level partnerships represent a significant step toward enhancing Cardano's credibility and social impact.

[Your Project and Solution] Capabilities & Feasibility

What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?

日本語はこちら

(https://drive.google.com/file/d/1G7sJgKrPKvvqfayZ6G6InD_jBa2PEaz3/view?usp=sharing))

1. Proven Technical Capabilities

• Successful Track Record in Fund12: We have successfully implemented RWA (Real World Assets) and accommodation NFT purchasing services on the Cardano blockchain through our Fund12-approved project "ANGO." ANGO's NFTs currently support payments in both ETH and ADA, demonstrating our capability for technical integration across different chains.
• DAO Legal and Operational Experience: ANGO has been adopted as an officially certified tool by the "Japan DAO Association" and is one of the few DAO projects legally recognized as an LLC (Limited Liability Company) in Japan. Through this experience, we have accumulated comprehensive know-how for launching and operating projects that combine DAO-based governance with RWA utilization.

2. Extensive Experience in Real World Assets × Web3.0 Projects

• Beyond ANGO, we possess expertise in fusing real-world assets with Web3 through projects like "UniCask," which tokenizes whiskey casks as RWAs to provide investment opportunities.
• These experiences demonstrate that this project is not merely an idea, but that we can build sustainable ecosystems that function in the real world.

3. Trustworthy and Transparent Team

• The JAPANGO team consists of members with extensive experience in high-level Web3 projects, both technically and business-wise, and maintains strong commitment to the project.
• Our successful track record in Fund12 has already earned trust within the Cardano community.
• Our collaboration experience with external companies and public institutions demonstrates recognition and trust from a wide range of fields beyond the Web3 industry.

These achievements strongly prove that this project's plan is not theoretical but definitively executable, and will be conducted under highly transparent governance.

[Milestones] Project Milestones

Milestone Title

Launch & Community Foundation Building

Milestone Outputs

• Launch the official JAPANGO website, including campaign details and ambassador recruitment pages.
• Produce initial system design documentation for issuing SBTs on the Cardano chain.
• Host Online Event ① “JAPANGO Kickoff” to announce the project vision and ambassador campaign details.
• Start marketing/advertising on social media and other channels; produce and publish promotional content (e.g., videos).
• Distribute ADA rewards as incentives for early campaign participants.

Acceptance Criteria

• The website is publicly accessible for review.
• The SBT issuance system design document is completed and shared with reviewers.
• The kickoff event is held and its recording is published on YouTube.
• Marketing has commenced and reward-distribution transactions are verifiable.

Evidence of Completion

• Link to the official website.
• Link to the design document.
• Link to the event recording.
• Marketing report and links to transactions showing reward distribution.

Delivery Month

2

Cost

14008

Progress

30 %

Milestone Title

Full Implementation of the Influencer Acquisition Campaign

Milestone Outputs

• Strengthen one-to-one outreach and fully deploy a content-posting campaign with ADA rewards aligned to contribution.
• Host Online Event ② to encourage networking among participating creators.
• Develop and test the SBT issuance system prototype, including Cardano wallet integration.
• Continue marketing and advertising activities to scale the campaign.

Acceptance Criteria

• Influencers have joined the community and begun contribution activities.
• The SBT prototype test report is produced and shared with reviewers.
• The online event is held and its recording is published on YouTube.

Evidence of Completion

• Report showing participant numbers and activity status.
• Link to the SBT prototype test report.
• Link to the event recording.

Delivery Month

4

Cost

9928

Progress

50 %

Milestone Title

Mid-term Evaluation and Sustained Community Engagement

Milestone Outputs

• Host Online Event ③ “JAPANGO Mid-term Report” to present interim results and sustain engagement.
• Continue marketing to encourage ongoing content posting; grant ADA rewards to high-contributing creators.

Acceptance Criteria

Acceptance Criteria is below. There are two main criterias.

• The mid-term report event is held and its recording is published on YouTube.
• Ongoing marketing and reward-distribution transactions are verifiable.

Evidence of Completion

• Link to the event recording.
• Marketing report and links to transactions showing reward distribution.

Delivery Month

6

Cost

5848

Progress

70 %

Milestone Title

Offline Co-creation Event and Demonstration

Milestone Outputs

• In collaboration with regional partners, plan and run an offline co-creation event involving influencers and local businesses.
• Host Online Event ④ “Co-creation Report Session” to widely share outcomes from the offline event.
• Execute marketing across offline and online channels and provide rewards (e.g., travel-cost subsidies) to participating influencers.

Acceptance Criteria

Acceptance Criteria is below. There are two main criterias.

• Both the offline and online events are successfully held with verifiable activities.
• An overview of the co-created projects is documented.

Evidence of Completion

• Links to event reports and photos.
• Link to the online event recording.
• Report showing provision of rewards to participants.

Delivery Month

8

Cost

7480

Progress

90 %

Milestone Title

Final Results Report

Milestone Outputs

• Create, analyze, and publish a final report summarizing all milestone results and KPI achievement status.
• Issue and distribute SBTs on the Cardano chain to ambassadors who contributed to the project (including issuance operations and fees).

Acceptance Criteria

Acceptance Criteria is below. There are two main criterias.

• The final report is completed and published on the official website and related platforms.
• The target number of SBT issuance transactions is verifiable on the Cardano blockchain.

Evidence of Completion

Evidence of Completion is below.

• Link to the published final report.
• Links to transactions showing SBT issuance.

Delivery Month

10

Cost

4746

Progress

100 %

[Final Pitch] Budget & Costs

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

日本語はこちら

(https://drive.google.com/file/d/11IVYXme_zOJO4ghnvG1zCwpfjMezch39/view?usp=sharing))

Milestone 1: Launch & Community Foundation

• Initial development of the website
• Initial design of the SBT issuance system
• Production of promotional content
• Online Event #1
• Marketing and advertising expenses
• Rewards for influencers

18,911ADA

33.33%

Milestone 2: Implementation of the Influencer Acquisition Campaign

• Development of the SBT issuance system prototype
• Online Event #2
• Marketing and advertising expenses
• Rewards for influencers

13,403ADA

56.96%

Milestone 3: SBT Issuance and Visualization of Value

• Online Event #3
• Marketing and advertising expenses
• Rewards for influencers

7,895ADA

70.87%

Milestone 4: Offline Co-creation Event and Demonstration

• Planning and operation of the offline event
• Online Event #4
• Marketing and advertising expenses (offline & online)
• Rewards for influencers (offline & online)

10,098ADA

88.67%

Milestone 5: Final Results and Ecosystem Outlook

• Preparation and analysis of the final report
• SBT issuance operations
• SBT issuance fees (for Online Events #1–#4)

6,426ADA

100.00%

[Final Pitch] Value for Money

How does the cost of the project represent value for the Cardano ecosystem?

日本語はこちら

(https://drive.google.com/file/d/1V9-cfGnuVfWn5gC2SC1okZy3RSaF1paN/view?usp=sharing))

The JAPANGO project delivers high investment value for the growth of the Cardano ecosystem. The costs calculated in this proposal are highly effective and justified for the following clear reasons:

(i) Cost-Effective User Acquisition and On-Chain Activity Generation

Our proposal attempts to acquire new users for the Cardano ecosystem by engaging high-quality influencers.

**Large-Scale Reach and New User Acquisition: **By welcoming 100 influencers to our community, we expect to achieve extremely broad audience reach with over 250,000 content views across the entire project. This represents a highly efficient user acquisition method compared to traditional advertising approaches. From these audiences, we will effectively bring new user demographics that Cardano has not sufficiently reached before, including creators and travelers both domestically and internationally in Japan.

**On-Chain Activity Activation through SBT Issuance: **The SBTs issued through our campaigns will serve not merely as proof of engagement, but as "digital passports" for influencers to operate as members of the JAPANGO DAO. The issuance of these SBTs will increase transaction numbers on the Cardano chain and make ecosystem activity visible.

**Creation of New Value Circulation: **Token rewards to influencers will create value circulation within the ADA ecosystem as they exchange these rewards for regional services. This circulation establishes ADA as a "medium of value exchange" usable in the real world, significantly enhancing its utility.

(ii) Building New "Trust Infrastructure" Utilizing SBTs

This project builds a mechanism that visualizes intangible assets such as influencer "trust" and "contributions" as non-transferable SBTs on the Cardano chain.

**Proof of Technical Superiority: **This model functions as a decentralized "trust infrastructure" that does not depend on centralized SNS platforms. This means content creators are liberated from platform policy changes and closure risks, becoming a powerful use case demonstrating Cardano's technical superiority.

**Establishment of Highly Versatile Model: **The influencer DAO model utilizing SBTs established in JAPANGO can be applied not only to tourism but also to other creator economies such as fashion, art, and education. This greatly expands the application scope of Cardano technology and drives technological innovation across the entire ecosystem.

(iii) Direct Contribution to Japanese Society and Enhanced Cardano Recognition

The JAPANGO project enhances Cardano's social recognition by directly contributing to the social challenges of Japan's inbound market expansion and regional revitalization.

**Building Sustainable Regional Economy: **By using the collective influence of influencers to promote regional attractions, we alleviate tourist concentration in specific popular areas and revitalize regional economies in a sustainable manner.

**Collaboration Opportunities with Public Institutions: **Through partnerships with local governments and tourism organizations, we create opportunities for Cardano to be recognized not merely as a cryptocurrency, but as a trustworthy infrastructure for solving social issues. This will significantly enhance Cardano's presence in Japan.

Based on these points, investment in this project is expected to deliver extremely high returns for the expansion and value enhancement of the Cardano ecosystem.

[Required Acknowledgements] Consent & Confirmation

Terms and Conditions:

Yes