Children Create Triangle, Round, and Rice-Bag-Shaped 'My Onigiri' – Rice-Focused Food Education Event in Kai City on July 29 (Wed) [Yamanashi, Nagano]

Consumer Cooperative Pal System Yamanashi Nagano (Headquarters: Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture; Chairperson: Shigeko Furuya) will host an event on Wednesday, July 29, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Kai Center (Kai City, Yamanashi Prefecture). The event will educate participants about the production background of Pal System’s direct-purchase rice and allow children and adults to create their own unique onigiri. Unusual fillings such as meatballs will be provided, enabling participants to customize their ideal flavor.

A Great Idea for Summer Vacation Independent Research

During the event, rice produced through environmentally sustainable agriculture at farms directly partnered with Pal System will be cooked and used to make onigiri. A staff member from the Rice and Grains Division of the Pal System Federation will deliver a live online presentation explaining the year-long journey of direct-purchase rice from farm to family dinner tables.

Participants will learn about the people who grow rice and the charm of rice through fun activities like a 'rice quiz.' The knowledge gained can be compiled into a summer vacation independent research project.

Supported by Volunteer 'Center Supporters'

After the educational session, children will experience creating their own unique onigiri using their imagination. Fillings such as Pal System’s salmon, umeboshi (pickled plums), dried shirasu, and meatballs will be available for selection. Participants can shape their onigiri into triangles, rounds, rice-bag shapes, or any form they prefer, and wrap nori seaweed in their favorite style to complete their personalized 'My Onigiri.'

The onigiri-making activity will be supported by the 'Kai Center Supporters,' a group of volunteer members who plan and operate events at the Kai Center. A special dessert made from rice flour, handmade by the supporters, will also be served, allowing participants to fully enjoy the charm of rice.

Event Overview: 'Let’s Roll Onigiri Together with Kids!'

【Date and Time】July 29, 2026 (Wed), 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

【Venue】Pal System Yamanashi Nagano Kai Center (3590-1 Shimokomai, Kai City, Yamanashi Prefecture)

【Participants】Approximately 10 pairs of elementary school children and their guardians

【Instructor】Staff member from the Rice and Grains Division, First Direct-Purchase Department, Direct-Purchase Business Headquarters, Pal System Federation

【Organizer】Kai Center Supporters

▼ Event Flyer PDF

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Smiling While Eating, Happy While Rolling: 'Onigiri Good'

Since April 2026, the Pal System Group has been promoting the 'Onigiri Good' campaign, encouraging people to eat onigiri to boost rice consumption and improve Japan’s domestic food self-sufficiency rate. Participation in onigiri-related events or social media posts are counted as 'actions,' and upon reaching 10,000 actions, one ton of direct-purchase rice will be donated to children’s cafeterias across the 12 prefectures in the group’s service area.

By hosting this event, Pal System aims to help participants enjoy their 'My Onigiri,' smile, feel the warmth of handmade food, and promote the use of direct-purchase rice while contributing to society.

Special 'Onigiri Good' Website

Pal System Yamanashi Nagano will continue to support domestic agriculture through consumer power and work with its members toward sustainable production and consumption.

Consumer Cooperative Pal System Yamanashi Nagano

Consumer Cooperative Pal System Yamanashi Nagano Address: 225-1 Furukamijō, Kōfu City, Yamanashi Prefecture; Chairperson: Shigeko Furuya Capital: ¥2.68 billion, Membership: 60,000, Total Business Volume: ¥83.9 billion (as of March 2026) Website: https://www.palsystem-yamanashi.coop/

Pal System Consumer Cooperative Federation Address: LaQua Higashishinjuku, 2-2-6 Okubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; Chairperson: Atsuyuki Shibusawa Total Business Volume of 12 Member Cooperatives and Unified Business System Users: ¥2.6896 trillion / Total Membership: 1.77 million (as of March 2026) Member Cooperatives: 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 Kyosai Ren, Ai-Coop Miyagi Website: https://www.pal-system.co.jp/