Hitachi and Plathome launch Nebuta Festival DAO pilot in Aomori

On 27 July 2026, Hitachi Solutions East Japan and Plathome Co., Ltd. began the second‑phase proof‑of‑concept of the "Nebuta Festival DAO" during the Aomori Nebuta Festival (2‑6 August). The project uses a smartphone Web app to digitally record participants who act as "jumpers" (haneto), issues a digital participation certificate (NFT) and, through a lottery, provides regional specialty products as incentives.

The pilot tests a privacy‑preserving delivery model in which the app operator does not retain personal address data; winners receive goods via a third‑party gift‑service link that directly transmits shipping information. GPS trackers on the festival floats verify attendance areas, and the blockchain‑based ThingsToken™ and ThingsDAO™ platforms manage the NFTs and DAO governance. The initiative aims to stimulate visitor engagement, increase the festival’s related population, and demonstrate a secure, incentive‑driven model for regional revitalisation.