Choice AI is a multi‑agent, OpenAI‑powered assistant from TRUSTBANK and Recursive that personalises Furusato Nozei gift selection. It turns hundreds of thousands of options on Furusato Choice into tailored, conversational recommendations—speeding discovery and increasing donor satisfaction with gifts that better match individual preferences.

AI Enhances Furusato Nozei Gift Selection with Personalisation

Choosing a Furusato Nozei gift can feel overwhelming—there are hundreds of thousands of options across Japan. Choice AI, developed by TRUSTBANK with Recursive and powered by OpenAI models, removes the friction by guiding you to gifts that genuinely match your tastes.

Why this matters now

Furusato Choice is one of the largest platforms for Japan’s hometown tax programme, listing 760,000+ return gifts and partnering with over 90% of municipalities (as of Oct 2024). With this scale, a conversational recommender is no longer a nice‑to‑have—it’s essential.

A quick refresher: what is Furusato Nozei?

Furusato Nozei (hometown tax) lets residents donate to local governments of their choice, receive tax deductions, and often select a thank‑you gift from that municipality. It supports regional revitalisation while giving donors a tangible connection to local producers.

How Choice AI works

• You describe your preferences. Tell the assistant what you like—food types, experiences, delivery timing, budget, or dietary needs.

• Multi‑agent reasoning narrows the field. Behind the scenes, specialised agents interpret your intent, filter the catalogue, compare trade‑offs (value, seasonality, availability), and rank options.

• You refine by conversation. Ask for alternatives—e.g., “less sugar”, “Kyushu beef”, or “eco‑friendly packaging”—and the system adapts.

• You decide with confidence. Each suggestion comes with rationale, so you understand why it fits.

What’s new vs. traditional search

Traditional filters require you to know the exact category. Choice AI flips that model: start with a feeling (“I’m hosting a spring picnic” or “I want a winter hot‑pot set”) and let the agents translate it into precise candidates from the enormous Furusato Choice inventory.

Practical examples

1) The foodie explorer
You say: “I love regional seafood, but I’m cooking for kids.”
Choice AI may surface milder, easy‑prep items from coastal municipalities, note typical portion sizes, and suggest sides or sauces—then offer a second option with similar flavour but longer shelf life.

2) The experience seeker
You say: “I’d rather fund local stays or outdoor activities.”
The assistant pivots to experiences (vouchers, accommodation, activity tickets) and highlights booking windows and cancellation policies before you commit.

3) The value‑focused donor
You say: “I want high satisfaction per yen, and low delivery hassle.”
Agents weigh donor reviews and logistics metadata (lead times, packing, repeat‑gift popularity) to balance value and convenience.

Benefits at a glance

• Personalisation that feels natural: A conversation instead of form fatigue.

• Time saved: A short chat replaces deep catalogue trawling.

• Better matches: Multi‑agent reasoning aligns offers with nuanced preferences.

• Confidence: Transparent rationale behind recommendations.

What powers the experience

Choice AI uses OpenAI models orchestrated in a multi‑agent design (specialised roles collaborating to resolve ambiguous requests). This architecture improves suggestion quality and allows rapid iteration as the catalogue evolves.

Trust, accuracy, and guardrails

• Clear sourcing: Suggestions are tied to items on Furusato Choice, with up‑to‑date details from municipal partners.

• Human‑in‑the‑loop: Merchandising and policy teams can adjust constraints (e.g., seasonal limits, eligibility rules).

• Privacy by design: Conversational inputs are used to personalise results; sensitive tax information remains governed by platform and legal requirements.

• Transparency: Where trade‑offs exist (price vs. quantity, freshness vs. delivery time), the assistant explains them so you can choose.

Getting started: three easy steps

1. Open Furusato Choice and look for the Choice AI entry point.

2. Tell it what matters (taste, region, budget, dietary needs, experiences).

3. Refine and confirm—ask for alternatives or tweaks until it’s right, then proceed with your donation selection.

Who built it

Choice AI was developed by TRUSTBANK in collaboration with Recursive, leveraging OpenAI models.

Summary & next steps

If you’ve ever felt lost in the Furusato Nozei catalogue, Choice AI changes the experience from searching to being guided. It’s faster, friendlier, and more aligned to what you actually want. For implementation advice or an enterprise‑grade AI roadmap, speak to Generation Digital.

FAQ

What is Furusato Nozei?
Japan’s hometown tax system that allows donations to local governments in exchange for tax deductions and (typically) a thank‑you gift.

What is Choice AI?
A conversational, multi‑agent recommender on Furusato Choice that personalises gift discovery using OpenAI models, built by TRUSTBANK with Recursive.

How many gifts are available?
Furusato Choice lists 760,000+ return gifts and works with 90%+ of municipalities (Oct 2024), so AI is crucial for navigation.

Why use AI instead of filters?
AI lets you start with preferences or scenarios (“family BBQ”, “winter hot‑pot”) and get ranked, explainable options—faster than manual filtering.