[Minamichita's Pride to the Nation] Junior High Students and a Meiji-Era Established Company Jointly Develop "Shirasu" Onigiri Mix
Junior high school students in Minamichita Town, Aichi Prefecture, and Marui Shoten, a long-established company founded in the Meiji era, have jointly developed "Shirasu Onigiri no Moto" (whitebait rice ball mix) using local specialty shirasu. This industry-academia collaboration project aims for regional revitalization and youth development, and a crowdfunding campaign is currently underway.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 30, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 30, 2026 at 10:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 30, 2026 at 21:29 (10h 57m after Collected)
Marui Shoten Co., Ltd. (Location: Chita-gun, Aichi Prefecture, Representative: Shiro Sakashita, hereinafter "Marui Shoten"), in collaboration with students from Minamichita Town Minamichita Junior High School (hereinafter "Minamichita Junior High School"), will jointly develop "Shirasu Onigiri no Moto," a product utilizing shirasu from Minamichita.
This project began with "Minamichita Inquiry Learning," where Minamichita Junior High School students explored solutions through fieldwork, using local resources and social issues as themes. Marui Shoten, a long-established company founded in 1908, provided technical support for the students' recipes, realizing product commercialization through this industry-academia collaboration.
Minamichita Junior High School students challenging the development of "Shirasu Dried Onigiri no Moto" and Hiroki Kito, Director of Marui Shoten Co., Ltd.
Catalyst for "Industry-Academia Collaboration" aimed at solving regional issues in Minamichita Town
Minamichita Town, located at the southernmost tip of the Chita Peninsula in Aichi Prefecture, is a nature-rich area surrounded by Mikawa Bay and Ise Bay. However, it faces challenges such as a declining birthrate, an aging population, and population decrease, necessitating new tourism promotion and dissemination of regional charm.
During their "Minamichita Inquiry Learning," Minamichita Junior High School students investigated local resources and focused on "shirasu," a local ingredient boasting one of the highest catches in Japan. Driven by the desire to "let more people know the charm of Minamichita," they explored easy ways for people who don't usually eat much shirasu to enjoy it. As a result, they focused on "onigiri" (rice balls), which are familiar to Japanese people, and arrived at the idea of "developing an 'onigiri mix' that allows anyone to easily and deliciously eat shirasu."
To bring this idea to fruition, Marui Shoten, a seafood processing company operating in Minamichita Town, offered its cooperation to the junior high school students' initiative. The company, committed to producing "dried shirasu" without preservatives or artificial colors, utilized its long-cultivated technology to complete a prototype with the students.
The completed prototype was showcased at a tasting event held on February 8, 2026, at the local event "Ekishta, Ashita" at Utsumi Station. Feedback and surveys from visitors included numerous comments such as "very delicious" and "this is a community-energizing initiative, please continue it."
In response to this feedback, driven by the desire to "not let this challenge end as a one-off" and "connect it to the confidence of the next generation," the students and Marui Shoten decided to formally commercialize the prototype and proceed with manufacturing and sales.
Recipe for Shirasu Dried Onigiri Mix devised by junior high school students. A tasting event held in Minamichita Town involving local residents.
"Wanting to support the challenge of junior high students and a long-established company" - A widening circle of support
This project, "Delivering the charm of Minamichita to the nation through the hands of the next generation," is currently undergoing crowdfunding on CAMPFIRE. From planning to package design, and sales promotion including distributing flyers in the region and SNS outreach, the students and Marui Shoten are working as one team towards the commercialization of Shirasu Dried Onigiri Mix.
Students distributing crowdfunding flyers in Minamichita Town.
Their enthusiasm garnered much empathy, quickly achieving the initial goal of 300,000 yen. They are now challenging a next goal of 500,000 yen to support the future of children in the region.
Challenging the next goal of 500,000 yen through crowdfunding until May 4, 2026. Prototype of Shirasu Dried Onigiri Mix (package design being planned by junior high students).
Messages of support from the community
Kazuhiko Ishiguro, Mayor of Minamichita Town
From Kazuhiko Ishiguro, Mayor of Minamichita Town
I am Kazuhiko Ishiguro, Mayor of Minamichita Town.
This time, a joint project "Junior High Students x Long-established Company's Challenge! We want to deliver Shirasu Dried Onigiri Mix" by students of Minamichita Junior High School and Marui Shoten, a seafood processing company in Minamichita Town, has started.
This is a dream collaboration where the passionate desire of junior high school students to deliver "the blessings of Minamichita that have been loved for a long time" and "new deliciousness that can be easily enjoyed anytime" to many people, using luxurious shirasu dried without preservatives or artificial colors, a proud product of Minamichita Town, is answered by the long-established Marui Shoten.
Towards the realization of Minamichita Town's desired future vision, "A town with bonds and reasons to be chosen," I earnestly ask for your warm support and encouragement for the challenging junior high school students.
Kenki Takashima, Teacher at Minamichita Junior High School
From Kenki Takashima, Teacher at Minamichita Junior High School
I have been closest to you all, watching you face this project, repeatedly discussing, and shaping your ideas while struggling. This challenge is filled with your sincere desire to invigorate Minamichita and make more people love this town. I am very proud of your efforts to convey the charm of your town with your own power. I sincerely hope and support that your challenge will deliver the charm of Minamichita to many people.
This project began with "Minamichita Inquiry Learning," where Minamichita Junior High School students explored solutions through fieldwork, using local resources and social issues as themes. Marui Shoten, a long-established company founded in 1908, provided technical support for the students' recipes, realizing product commercialization through this industry-academia collaboration.
Minamichita Junior High School students challenging the development of "Shirasu Dried Onigiri no Moto" and Hiroki Kito, Director of Marui Shoten Co., Ltd.
Catalyst for "Industry-Academia Collaboration" aimed at solving regional issues in Minamichita Town
Minamichita Town, located at the southernmost tip of the Chita Peninsula in Aichi Prefecture, is a nature-rich area surrounded by Mikawa Bay and Ise Bay. However, it faces challenges such as a declining birthrate, an aging population, and population decrease, necessitating new tourism promotion and dissemination of regional charm.
During their "Minamichita Inquiry Learning," Minamichita Junior High School students investigated local resources and focused on "shirasu," a local ingredient boasting one of the highest catches in Japan. Driven by the desire to "let more people know the charm of Minamichita," they explored easy ways for people who don't usually eat much shirasu to enjoy it. As a result, they focused on "onigiri" (rice balls), which are familiar to Japanese people, and arrived at the idea of "developing an 'onigiri mix' that allows anyone to easily and deliciously eat shirasu."
To bring this idea to fruition, Marui Shoten, a seafood processing company operating in Minamichita Town, offered its cooperation to the junior high school students' initiative. The company, committed to producing "dried shirasu" without preservatives or artificial colors, utilized its long-cultivated technology to complete a prototype with the students.
The completed prototype was showcased at a tasting event held on February 8, 2026, at the local event "Ekishta, Ashita" at Utsumi Station. Feedback and surveys from visitors included numerous comments such as "very delicious" and "this is a community-energizing initiative, please continue it."
In response to this feedback, driven by the desire to "not let this challenge end as a one-off" and "connect it to the confidence of the next generation," the students and Marui Shoten decided to formally commercialize the prototype and proceed with manufacturing and sales.
Recipe for Shirasu Dried Onigiri Mix devised by junior high school students. A tasting event held in Minamichita Town involving local residents.
"Wanting to support the challenge of junior high students and a long-established company" - A widening circle of support
This project, "Delivering the charm of Minamichita to the nation through the hands of the next generation," is currently undergoing crowdfunding on CAMPFIRE. From planning to package design, and sales promotion including distributing flyers in the region and SNS outreach, the students and Marui Shoten are working as one team towards the commercialization of Shirasu Dried Onigiri Mix.
Students distributing crowdfunding flyers in Minamichita Town.
Their enthusiasm garnered much empathy, quickly achieving the initial goal of 300,000 yen. They are now challenging a next goal of 500,000 yen to support the future of children in the region.
Challenging the next goal of 500,000 yen through crowdfunding until May 4, 2026. Prototype of Shirasu Dried Onigiri Mix (package design being planned by junior high students).
Messages of support from the community
Kazuhiko Ishiguro, Mayor of Minamichita Town
From Kazuhiko Ishiguro, Mayor of Minamichita Town
I am Kazuhiko Ishiguro, Mayor of Minamichita Town.
This time, a joint project "Junior High Students x Long-established Company's Challenge! We want to deliver Shirasu Dried Onigiri Mix" by students of Minamichita Junior High School and Marui Shoten, a seafood processing company in Minamichita Town, has started.
This is a dream collaboration where the passionate desire of junior high school students to deliver "the blessings of Minamichita that have been loved for a long time" and "new deliciousness that can be easily enjoyed anytime" to many people, using luxurious shirasu dried without preservatives or artificial colors, a proud product of Minamichita Town, is answered by the long-established Marui Shoten.
Towards the realization of Minamichita Town's desired future vision, "A town with bonds and reasons to be chosen," I earnestly ask for your warm support and encouragement for the challenging junior high school students.
Kenki Takashima, Teacher at Minamichita Junior High School
From Kenki Takashima, Teacher at Minamichita Junior High School
I have been closest to you all, watching you face this project, repeatedly discussing, and shaping your ideas while struggling. This challenge is filled with your sincere desire to invigorate Minamichita and make more people love this town. I am very proud of your efforts to convey the charm of your town with your own power. I sincerely hope and support that your challenge will deliver the charm of Minamichita to many people.