Gift Kiso Fukushima Cooperative began selling fixed-value Happy Card gift cards on September 1, 2026. Its September 7 announcement and launch leaflet identify a prepaid product for participating local shops, with a physical card carrying a QR code for payment. [S1][S2]
Three gift budgets can be spent down across participating shops
Buyers choose JPY 2,000, JPY 3,000 or JPY 5,000 of prepaid value. The recipient can spend in one-yen increments up to the remaining balance, which appears on the receipt. The card cannot be topped up and does not earn points; it need not be exhausted in one purchase. [S1][S2]
Happy Card gift-card values available at launch
The three fixed amounts on the official September 1, 2026 launch leaflet. Each balance can be reduced through purchases in one-yen increments.
JPY per card
Tap or hover for details. All values are also available in the data table.
Source
These are product denominations, not sales or redemption totals. The gift card is non-reloadable, earns no points and expires six months after issuance.
Show data tableHide data table
| Category | Initial prepaid spending value |
|---|---|
| JPY 2,000 card | 2,000 JPY per card |
| JPY 3,000 card | 3,000 JPY per card |
| JPY 5,000 card | 5,000 JPY per card |
The cooperative sells the cards from its secretariat in the Kiso Town commerce association building in Fukushima, with weekday purchasing hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Validity runs for six months from issuance, rather than from first use. The printed card terms also rule out cash exchange, resale and exchange of the card. [S2]
The August 2026 acceptance sheet names businesses in Fukushima, Hiyoshi, Shinkai, Kaida Kogen and Mitake, as well as Kiso Village. Its mix includes restaurants, bakeries, pharmacies, clothing retailers and fuel suppliers. The sheet directs users to the operator’s current list, identifying the relevant acceptance mark; it does not establish transaction volume or incremental spending at those businesses. [S3]
The gift product should be distinguished from the regular Happy Card loyalty and electronic-money account. The operator describes earning and charging features for that separate account, while the gift leaflet expressly disallows both reward points and reloading. Kiso Town also uses the regular card or app for its administrative-points scheme, digitised from July 2026; that municipal function is not an additional benefit attached to these gift cards. [S2][S4][S5]
For local retailers, the design allows the recipient to split a fixed gift budget among participating businesses. The sources disclose the available denominations, payment mechanics and launch network, but no issuance target, merchant-fee schedule or early gift-card sales and redemption results. The September 7 webpage date records the announcement, not a second launch. [S1][S2][S3]
In this article
Suzie Elis
Suzie Elis covers gift card products, digital gifting and distribution for Gift Card News.