Kakogawa City in Japan issued a tender on September 28 for a contractor to procure and deliver JCB gift cards to older residents as part of its response to higher living costs. The specification estimates about 47,000 recipients, each receiving ¥10,000 in paper gift cards. [S01][S02][S03]
The proposed benefit consists of ten ¥1,000 JCB cards per person, sent by Yu-Pack with a usage guide and a city information notice. The city says the programme is intended to reduce the effects of rising energy and food prices on older people and support consumption. [S03]
At the estimated recipient count, the cards would carry approximately ¥470 million in face value. That figure is calculated from the specification and is not the contract’s budget or an amount already distributed. The tender notice says the city’s reserve price will not be disclosed. [S02][S03]
The contract extends beyond card supply. The successful bidder must prepare envelopes and address labels, pack the cards, arrange postal delivery, manage returns and redelivery, and replace defective cards. The specification calls for weight checks and recipient-level card-number records to guard against incorrect contents. The city clarified that roughly 48,000 planned mailings comprise 47,000 initial deliveries and 1,000 expected redeliveries. Initial dispatch is planned for early January 2027. [S03][S04]
Kakogawa planned gift-card mailing workload
City clarification separates initial recipient mailings from expected redeliveries.
mailings
Tap or hover for details. All values are also available in the data table.
Source
Estimated service volumes, not completed deliveries or additional beneficiaries. Redeliveries repeat recipient mailings and do not increase the stated 47,000-person recipient estimate.
Show data tableHide data table
| Category | Planned mailings |
|---|---|
| Initial deliveries | 47,000 mailings |
| Redeliveries | 1,000 mailings |
A toll-free call centre with at least three lines is required from January 4 to February 26, 2027, operating on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cards that remain undistributed because of returns, refusals or differences between procurement and the final recipient count must be reconciled in March. [S03]
Bids must arrive by registered post during October 12–20, with opening scheduled for October 21. Eligible contractors must be on the city’s supplier register and hold PrivacyMark or ISO 27001 certification. The contract runs through March 31, 2027. The advertisement establishes a procurement opportunity; it does not identify a winner or confirm that recipients have received or spent the cards. [S02]
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Oliver Reed
Oliver Reed covers industry acquisitions, investment and market research for Gift Card News.