MIGARU: Fully Automatic Compression Bag Launches on Makuake, Targeting the Shifting 11.5 Trillion Yen Gift Market with Practical Travel Solutions

Gadgets

1. 11.5 Trillion Yen Gift Market: Driven by “Casual” and “Practical Items”

According to research by Yano Research Institute, Japan’s domestic gift market is projected to reach 11,565 billion yen in 2025 (103.4% year-on-year growth). While the market continues to expand, its composition is undergoing a significant shift. Formal gifts, such as O-chugen (mid-year gifts) and O-seibo (year-end gifts), are reportedly shrinking, while ‘casual gifts’ – those given for birthdays or anniversaries that are genuinely useful – are gaining prominence. Items like kitchen appliances, beauty products, and fashion accessories, which can be used daily, are increasingly being chosen. The new standard for modern gift-giving is ‘practical items you wouldn’t buy for yourself, but would be delighted to receive.’

A graph showing the trend of Japan's domestic gift market size from 2021 to 2025, with an estimated growth of 103.4% to 11.56 trillion yen in 2025.

Source: Yano Research Institute ‘Gift Market Survey’ (2025)
https://www.yano.co.jp/press-release/show/press_id/4048

2. Gifts for Travel Enthusiasts: The Value of Lasting Impressions

Rankings of gifts for travel enthusiasts on gift information websites highlight several top categories:

A table listing popular gift categories for travel enthusiasts, including luggage organization, bags, comfort items, gadgets, and experiential gifts, with descriptions and representative items.

The top-ranking items are those used repeatedly during travels. While travel catalog gifts offer a one-time ‘experience,’ items like travel pouches and chargers are used every time one travels, meaning they make the recipient ‘remember the giver with each use.’

A bar chart comparing the "sustainability score" of gifts for travel enthusiasts, showing luggage organization (compression bags, etc.) at 85pt, bags at 72pt, comfort items at 65pt, gadgets at 55pt, and catalog gifts at 20pt. MIGARU is positioned within the luggage organization category.

MIGARU falls into this category of ‘gifts remembered with each use.’ Furthermore, it offers a ‘special experience’ of approximately 40 seconds during each trip. With every press of a button, the recipient is likely to recall, ‘Oh, this was given to me by that person.’ This represents a unique form of gifting.
Varies depending on clothing type and quantity.

3. Two-Phase Gift Proposal: “Promise to Deliver” for Early Occasions, “Physical Product” for Later Travel

The Makuake project runs until May 30, 2026, with returns scheduled for August-September 2026. Therefore, this release proposes a two-phase gifting approach: a ‘pre-announcement gift’ for Mother’s Day (May 10) and Father’s Day (June 21) – where a message card promises delivery in summer/autumn – and a ‘practical gift’ for Obon holidays (late August), autumn holidays, and winter travels, when the physical product is expected to arrive.

In recent years, department stores and e-commerce platforms have consistently featured practical Mother’s Day gifts, emphasizing ‘daily usable items over flowers.’ Domestic travel bookings for Golden Week 2026 showed strong performance, up 109.2% year-on-year (according to HIS), and summer/autumn travel demand is expected to continue this trend. The opportunity for ‘practical gifts for travel enthusiasts’ extends well beyond Mother’s Day.

A table outlining MIGARU's gifting strategy for various occasions, including Mother's Day, Father's Day (as "pre-announcement" gifts), Obon, autumn holidays, and winter travel (as practical gifts).

Source: HIS 2026 Golden Week Booking Trends
https://www.his.co.jp/news/20382.html

A ‘repeat gift’ – a gift that makes travel more comfortable – allows recipients to experience its benefits repeatedly with each trip. Unlike one-time bouquets or food items, it brings long-lasting joy to the recipient after it’s given.

Important Note regarding delivery: Since MIGARU is currently in pre-sale on Makuake (until May 30), returns are scheduled for August-September 2026. The physical product cannot be delivered on Golden Week, Mother’s Day (May 10), or Father’s Day (June 21). For these dates, it is recommended to send a message card promising delivery in August-September. The Obon holidays (late August) and subsequent seasons are when delivery is expected.

4. The “Special Touch” of a Makuake Gift

Makuake is a crowdfunding service boasting over 110 billion yen in total support purchases and more than 47,000 projects (as of the end of 2025). It offers a unique sense of exclusivity, providing access to pre-sale items not yet available in general stores or e-commerce sites.

Three appeals of Makuake gifts:

    • ‘Still nobody owns it’ Surprise: As a pre-release product, it offers the surprise of ‘I’ve never seen anything like this before!’

    • ‘Supporting a project’ Story: More than just a purchase, it’s an experience of ‘supporting new craftsmanship.’ Both givers and receivers can feel a sense of pride.

    • Makuake exclusive early bird pricing: Offered at special pre-sale prices before general release, making it easier to choose a ‘great item’ within a gift budget.

Super early bird and early bird rewards are limited in quantity. The project period is until May 30, 2026, with delivery scheduled for August-September 2026 (Makuake ‘All-in’ method). Please check the URL below for details.
https://www.makuake.co.jp/

5. Recommended for These Gift Recipients

    • To a travel-loving friend (before Obon/autumn trips):
      “You always spend so much time packing. This will arrive in August-September, so try it for your Obon trip or autumn travels.”

    • To a partner who travels frequently for business (Father’s Day is a ‘preview,’ the item arrives in summer-autumn):
      “Father’s Day is a card preview; the main item arrives in summer-autumn. Less preparation time means you can enjoy breakfast more slowly.”

    • To a travel-loving mother (Mother’s Day is a ‘preview,’ the item arrives Obon-autumn):
      “Your luggage always seems so heavy, so I’m sending you something that will arrive in summer-autumn. Let’s take this on your next trip.”

    • To yourself for your hard work (self-gift for autumn/winter travel):
      “Enjoy autumn/winter travel ‘lightly.'”

6. “Addition and Subtraction” – The Message in the Gift

MIGARU’s concept is ‘Addition and Subtraction.’ Among the ‘addition problem’ (what to bring) and ‘subtraction problem’ (will it fit in the suitcase) of packing, MIGARU solves the ‘subtraction problem’ with a single button press.

Gifting is an act of ‘addition.’ It’s adding something good to a loved one’s life. The gift of MIGARU is an ‘addition’ that solves the ‘subtraction’ of travel. By giving it, the recipient’s journey becomes a little easier – that’s the message this gift carries.

‘Some people have told me they want to give MIGARU to someone. They want to give a travel-loving friend something that makes travel easier. As a developer, nothing would make me happier than for MIGARU to become a ‘sympathy gift’ – something people give to loved ones because they found it useful themselves,’ says Mami Aoki, Representative of G.K. onigiri.

Voices from Supporters (from Makuake project page):

    • ‘I want to use it for bulky items when camping.’ – haruo99

    • ‘I’m looking forward to it making travel preparations easier.’ – Kannami

    • ‘I travel frequently for business, so being able to pack compactly is a great help.’ – Joji Yamamoto

A person's hand pressing a valve on a black compression bag on a wooden table, suggesting ease of use for packing.

7. Product Overview

The product is a fully automatic compression bag with a built-in pump, designed to reduce packing stress and make travel lighter. It features a full-opening design for easy packing and a large capacity of 38L. With a single push, it compresses items up to 90% in approximately 40 seconds.

8. Makuake Project Overview

Project Name: No more packing worries. Just pack and press. Fully automatic compression bag with built-in pump MIGARU
Project Period: April 14, 2026 ~ May 30, 2026
Implementation Method: Makuake ‘All-in’ method (project proceeds even if target amount is not reached)
URL: https://www.makuake.com/project/migaru/
Target Amount: 10 million yen
Returns: Super early bird/early bird (limited quantity), standard early bird prices available.
Delivery Schedule: August-September 2026 (Shipped sequentially after project end. Please refer to the Makuake page for details).

A table summarizing the Makuake crowdfunding project for MIGARU, including project name, period, method, URL, target amount, returns, and delivery schedule.

9. Data Sources List

10. Company Profile

Company Name: G.K. onigiri
Location: Wind Ebisu Bldg. 8F, 2-4-8 Ebisu Nishi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0021
Representative: Mami Aoki (Representative Partner)
Established: December 2025
Business Activities: Merchandise sales / Onigiri kit development & export / Precision nutrition / Product planning & marketing support
URL: https://onigiri-japan.jp/

A table displaying the company profile of G.K. onigiri, including company name, location, representative, establishment date, business activities, and URL.

11. Contact Information

G.K. onigiri Public Relations: Uozumi, Hasegawa
TEL: 080-3945-6017
E-mail: hello@onigiri-japan.jp
Project URL: https://www.makuake.com/project/migaru/

Product samples and monitor interview opportunities are available. Please contact the above for requests.

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