クラファン未払いトラブル　ローカル鉄道に資金届かず　「支援者の思い踏みにじる」【もっと知りたい！】【グッド！モーニング】(2026年7月18日)

A series of problems have arisen where donations collected through crowdfunding by struggling local railway companies have not been deposited even after the deadline. The websites of the operating companies are currently inaccessible, and some companies are considering how to respond. ■Unpaid amount: 20 million yen across 4 companies Hokuetsu Express President Akira Saruyama "I am extremely indignant and find it unforgivable that the important feelings of our supporters have been rendered meaningless and trampled upon." Hokuetsu Express, a local line running east-west through southern Niigata Prefecture, conducted a crowdfunding campaign from November of last year to February of this year to wrap trains with character designs. Approximately 4.15 million yen had been raised five days before the deadline… President Saruyama "Five days before the crowdfunding deadline, the (operating site) experienced problems, and the operating company was unable to transfer the funds." Hokuetsu Express hastily changed its method to directly soliciting funds themselves. Using the 1.45 million yen raised through crowdfunding, combined with our own company funds, we somehow managed to complete the wrapped train. However, we still haven't received the approximately 4.15 million yen raised through crowdfunding. President Saruyama: "I feel extremely sorry and apologetic to everyone who supported us." This isn't the only problem. Yamagata Railway, which continues to operate at a loss, conducted crowdfunding last year to raise funds for things like driver training, and raised 7.85 million yen, more than three times their target. However, more than 7 million yen remains unpaid. Nagaragawa Railway in Gifu Prefecture and Konan Railway in Aomori Prefecture also failed to meet their respective crowdfunding payment deadlines, and the funds are still not being transferred. The total unpaid amount for these four companies amounts to approximately 20 million yen. President Saruyama: "Around the beginning of June, we received a message saying, 'We will pay by June 30th,' but as a result, the payment has not yet been transferred." ■Railway companies are considering their response The crowdfunding platform operator, "Ubugoe," was established in September 2020. However, the website is currently inaccessible, and their official social media account posted in April that "the server was down." The building where the operating company's office was located is missing its name, which should be on the 5th floor. When the program contacted Ubugoe's representative via email, they surprisingly received a reply immediately. Email from Ubugoe's representative: "I am currently hospitalized due to illness, and I will speak with you once I have recovered a little more." However, there was no response to further questions regarding the reason for the delayed payment. The four railway companies are considering their response to the operating company. (From the broadcast on July 18, 2026) [TV Asahi NEWS] https://news.tv-asahi.co.jp