Summer Vacation Workplace Experience x Food Education Event in Kai City, Minami-Tsuru District, and Suwa City on July 24 (Fri), August 4 (Tue), and August 20 (Thu) [Yamanashi, Nagano]

Co-op Pal System Yamanashi Nagano (Headquarters: Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture, Chairperson: Shigeko Furuya) will hold events for junior high and high school students to experience co-op work at its distribution bases: Nishi-Katsura Center (Minami-Tsuru District), Kai Center (Kai City), and Suwa Center (Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture) from July to August. Participants will learn about the behind-the-scenes work at distribution centers until products reach their homes, broadening their career options. They will also experience programs related to food education, such as tasting different broths and cooking.

Conveying the "Meaning of Work" and "Japanese Food Culture" to Junior High and High School Students

The events will be held by opening distribution bases in Yamanashi and Nagano prefectures for one day during the summer vacation. Through various experiences, we will convey the role of distribution center work and the importance of Japanese food culture to local children.

At the distribution centers, participants can tour a giant freezer storing products at -25°C, load products onto trucks, and sort logistics materials, containers, and packaging collected by Pal System for reuse and recycling. They can also try sitting in a truck seat and, by checking blind spots from the driver's perspective, learn about the dangers of being around trucks in the community, contributing to traffic safety. Center staff will directly explain their daily tasks to the children, providing an opportunity for them to think about work more closely.

▲Photo of truck riding experience (FY2025)

After the workplace experience, participants will try cooking using Pal System products. They will taste several types of broths and challenge themselves to make miso soup using dashi they prepare from scratch. In the "Rice Burger Making" activity, they will cook the buns and meat filling while deepening their understanding of the direct-sourced rice delivered by Pal System.

The completed miso soup and rice burgers will be enjoyed by participants as they interact with staff. They will savor the homemade flavors while sharing their thoughts and what they learned during the day's experience.

"Workplace Experience x Food Education: Let's Experience Pal System" Event Outline

[Nishi-Katsura Center]

Date and Time: July 24, 2026 (Fri) 10:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Venue: Pal System Yamanashi Nagano Nishi-Katsura Center (869-1 Koinuma, Nishi-Katsura Town, Minami-Tsuru District, Yamanashi Prefecture)

Details here

[Suwa Center]

Date and Time: August 4, 2026 (Tue) 10:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Venue: Pal System Yamanashi Nagano Suwa Center (4836 Nakasu, Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture)

Details here

[Kai Center]

Date and Time: August 20, 2026 (Thu) 10:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Venue: Pal System Yamanashi Nagano Kai Center (3590-1 Shimo-Imai, Kai City, Yamanashi Prefecture)

Details here

Participants: Junior high school 1st year to high school 3rd year students from user families

Capacity: Approximately 10 people per center

Participation Fee: 100 yen

Program

10:15 AM Reception begins

10:30 AM Start (Recycling sorting experience, dashi preparation + miso soup making, tasting and interaction)

1:00 PM End

Click here for flyer PDF

d6976-1271-1e6c42800f800518c911ed59c6525c13.pdf

Pal System Yamanashi Nagano will continue to support the rich growth of children together with the community.

Co-op Pal System Yamanashi Nagano

Co-op Pal System Yamanashi Nagano Location: 225-1 Kōjō-machi, Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture, Chairperson: Shigeko Furuya Capital Investment: 2.68 billion yen, Number of Members: 60,000, Total Business Volume: 8.39 billion yen (as of the end of March 2026) HP: https://www.palsystem-yamanashi.coop/

Pal System Co-operative Federation Location: Rakuas Higashi-Shinjuku, 2-2-6 Okubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Chairperson: Atsuyuki Shibusawa 12 Member Co-ops / Unified Business System User Members Total Business Volume: 268.96 billion yen / Total Members: 1.77 million (as of the end of March 2026) Member Co-ops: Pal System Tokyo, Pal System Kanagawa, Pal System Chiba, Pal System Saitama, Pal System Ibaraki Tochigi, Pal System Yamanashi Nagano, Pal System Gunma, Pal System Fukushima, Pal System Shizuoka, Pal System Niigata Tokimeki, Pal System Mutual Aid Federation, Ai Coop Miyagi HP: https://www.pal-system.co.jp/