In Japan, when you talk about octopus, Akashi City in Hyogo Prefecture immediately comes to mind. As the birthplace of octopus pots used for catching octopus, Akashi City's Furusato Nozei return gift isn't an octopus, but rather the ownership of an octopus pot. The number of octopuses caught by the octopus pot you adopt determines how many octopuses you'll get to eat this summer.
▼Since octopuses don't have shells, they hide in rock crevices in the sea to protect themselves. Fishermen throw octopus pots into the sea, and octopuses, thinking they've found a great hiding spot, crawl inside. It's said that even when the octopus pots are retrieved, the octopuses rarely leave, and fishermen have to pour saltwater in to coax them out.
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明石市
In Japan, in addition to income tax, residents must also pay local taxes to the local government of their current residence. However, large cities with larger populations receive significantly more tax revenue than other regions, leading to disparities between urban and rural areas. To address this situation, Japan implemented the "Furusato Nozei" system, where donating to local governments provides various benefits such as return gifts and tax deductions.
Returning to Akashi City, they are now offering a limited number of octopus pots for taxpayers to adopt. If you successfully become an octopus pot owner, your designated octopus pot will be cast into the sea and retrieved four times during octopus season – from mid-July to late August. If there are octopuses in the pot, they're yours! The number of octopuses you get to eat is entirely up to your luck!
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故鄉Choice
▼This return gift has been unexpectedly popular, and spots are almost completely taken.
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故鄉Choice
If you're the type of unlucky person who never wins the lottery, you don't have to worry about coming up empty-handed. Taxpayers who don't get any octopuses after all four retrievals will receive one octopus as a consolation prize. Furthermore, those who aren't adept at handling fresh seafood can rest assured, as local residents will clean, gut, and remove the ink for you, then deliver it frozen to your home.