【Japan's First※1】Domestically Grown Vanilla Nurtured by Flavorists, Officially Launched
Ogawa & Co., Ltd. has officially launched Japan's first domestic vanilla business in Shintomi-cho, Miyazaki Prefecture, where flavorists oversee everything from cultivation to curing. Following successful test cultivation, a commemorative ceremony for the flowering was held on May 1, 2026, aiming for a stable supply of high-quality vanilla and regional revitalization.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 1, 2026 at 18:30
- 🔍 Collected: May 1, 2026 at 10:01
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 1, 2026 at 23:57 (13h 55m after Collected)
Ogawa & Co., Ltd. (Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Yutaka Ogawa) is engaged in a vanilla business in Shintomi-cho, Miyazaki Prefecture, which is Japan's first※1 where flavorists (perfumers) consistently handle everything from cultivation to curing.
We are pleased to announce that as a result of test cultivation, the entire field has reached flowering, and a "Vanilla Flowering Commemoration Ceremony" was held on May 1, 2026, to mark this occasion.
※1 As of April 2026. Based on our research of publicly available information (academic papers, local government documents, press releases, etc.), this is Japan's first domestic vanilla business where flavorists are actively involved in both cultivation and curing processes.
■ Background and Objectives of the Initiative
Since 2017, our company has advocated the slogan "Sense Japan," embodying the desire to "transform Japan's charm into fragrance and deliver it to the world." Under this slogan, with the aim of enhancing the recognition and brand power of Miyazaki Prefecture's agricultural, forestry, and fishery products through their aromas and revitalizing the region, we concluded a "Cooperation Agreement on Fragrance" with Miyazaki Prefecture and a "Business Cooperation Agreement" with Shintomi-cho in October 2021. We have been disseminating the appealing aromas of Miyazaki Prefecture's representative agricultural, forestry, and fishery products, such as mango, hyuganatsu, and hebesu, not only within Japan but also overseas. Subsequently, we established a subsidiary, Miyazaki Shintomi Farm Co., Ltd. (Representative Director: Kazunori Suzuki), in Shintomi-cho and began test cultivation of vanilla in 2022. We are steadily progressing to contribute to the establishment of new specialty product brands and the development of sixth-sector industrialization, going beyond existing specialty products.
The objectives of this initiative are twofold:
1. To establish a system for the sustainable supply of high-quality vanilla by having flavorists consistently handle everything from cultivation to curing, with a focus on aroma.
2. To establish vanilla as a new crop in Miyazaki Prefecture and Shintomi-cho, expanding its industrial potential.
Through this initiative, we aim to cultivate a world-class vanilla brand from Miyazaki, proud of its quality, supply, and regionality, establishing a role model for regional revitalization through public-private collaboration.
For Ogawa & Co., entering agriculture holds significant value not only in being able to self-supply raw materials for fragrances but also in the aspect of exploring the natural aromas of plants themselves while engaging with them. In our prior agricultural venture, cultivating "Marine Lemon" in Saiki City, Oita Prefecture, we elucidated changes in aroma component balance during fruit growth and created flavors that express the appeal of each ripeness stage. By conducting our own cultivation, we have been able to propose new appeals of lemon to the market.
In this initiative as well, by exploring the aroma of vanilla through cultivation, we aim to create "new aromas" that go beyond the conventional boundaries of vanilla.
■ Reasons for Undertaking Vanilla Cultivation Demonstration in Miyazaki Prefecture
Vanilla is one of the most widely used flavor ingredients globally, used in various foods such as ice cream, chocolate, and baked goods, as well as in fragrances (cosmetics) as a key oriental note. Madagascar is an indispensable and important origin for vanilla supply, being the largest producer, accounting for approximately 80% of global vanilla production※2. However, it is often susceptible to the effects of weather and procurement environments, leading to supply instability, and there has long been a demand for stable supply. This initiative aims to create a future where the rich aroma and deliciousness of vanilla can be enjoyed sustainably by establishing Miyazaki Prefecture as a new vanilla production area.
Furthermore, Miyazaki Prefecture has extensive experience and knowledge in cultivating subtropical crops, including mangoes. The Subtropical Crops Branch of the Miyazaki Prefectural Agricultural Experiment Station has also long researched cultivation techniques to enable commercial vanilla cultivation. As a fragrance company, we have humbly cooperated with this research, and through this connection, coupled with the strong empathy from Miyazaki Prefecture and Shintomi-cho for our vision, we have come to challenge domestic vanilla cultivation.
※2 Source: Export Ready Africa "Importing Vanilla from Madagascar — Sourcing and Compliance" (Updated March 2026)
■ Vanilla Production Focused on Aroma
Obtaining fragrant vanilla requires a great deal of time and effort. The peak flowering season for vanilla is April to May, during which each flower is pollinated manually. If pollination is successful, green pod-shaped fruits (green beans) are formed, and harvesting takes place the following year in January to February. During this period, enduring the summer heat and winter cold, the green beans accumulate "aroma precursor components"※3 over approximately nine months. Freshly harvested green beans have almost no alluring vanilla aroma. The complex process of extracting the aroma from the green beans is called "curing."
We are pleased to announce that as a result of test cultivation, the entire field has reached flowering, and a "Vanilla Flowering Commemoration Ceremony" was held on May 1, 2026, to mark this occasion.
※1 As of April 2026. Based on our research of publicly available information (academic papers, local government documents, press releases, etc.), this is Japan's first domestic vanilla business where flavorists are actively involved in both cultivation and curing processes.
■ Background and Objectives of the Initiative
Since 2017, our company has advocated the slogan "Sense Japan," embodying the desire to "transform Japan's charm into fragrance and deliver it to the world." Under this slogan, with the aim of enhancing the recognition and brand power of Miyazaki Prefecture's agricultural, forestry, and fishery products through their aromas and revitalizing the region, we concluded a "Cooperation Agreement on Fragrance" with Miyazaki Prefecture and a "Business Cooperation Agreement" with Shintomi-cho in October 2021. We have been disseminating the appealing aromas of Miyazaki Prefecture's representative agricultural, forestry, and fishery products, such as mango, hyuganatsu, and hebesu, not only within Japan but also overseas. Subsequently, we established a subsidiary, Miyazaki Shintomi Farm Co., Ltd. (Representative Director: Kazunori Suzuki), in Shintomi-cho and began test cultivation of vanilla in 2022. We are steadily progressing to contribute to the establishment of new specialty product brands and the development of sixth-sector industrialization, going beyond existing specialty products.
The objectives of this initiative are twofold:
1. To establish a system for the sustainable supply of high-quality vanilla by having flavorists consistently handle everything from cultivation to curing, with a focus on aroma.
2. To establish vanilla as a new crop in Miyazaki Prefecture and Shintomi-cho, expanding its industrial potential.
Through this initiative, we aim to cultivate a world-class vanilla brand from Miyazaki, proud of its quality, supply, and regionality, establishing a role model for regional revitalization through public-private collaboration.
For Ogawa & Co., entering agriculture holds significant value not only in being able to self-supply raw materials for fragrances but also in the aspect of exploring the natural aromas of plants themselves while engaging with them. In our prior agricultural venture, cultivating "Marine Lemon" in Saiki City, Oita Prefecture, we elucidated changes in aroma component balance during fruit growth and created flavors that express the appeal of each ripeness stage. By conducting our own cultivation, we have been able to propose new appeals of lemon to the market.
In this initiative as well, by exploring the aroma of vanilla through cultivation, we aim to create "new aromas" that go beyond the conventional boundaries of vanilla.
■ Reasons for Undertaking Vanilla Cultivation Demonstration in Miyazaki Prefecture
Vanilla is one of the most widely used flavor ingredients globally, used in various foods such as ice cream, chocolate, and baked goods, as well as in fragrances (cosmetics) as a key oriental note. Madagascar is an indispensable and important origin for vanilla supply, being the largest producer, accounting for approximately 80% of global vanilla production※2. However, it is often susceptible to the effects of weather and procurement environments, leading to supply instability, and there has long been a demand for stable supply. This initiative aims to create a future where the rich aroma and deliciousness of vanilla can be enjoyed sustainably by establishing Miyazaki Prefecture as a new vanilla production area.
Furthermore, Miyazaki Prefecture has extensive experience and knowledge in cultivating subtropical crops, including mangoes. The Subtropical Crops Branch of the Miyazaki Prefectural Agricultural Experiment Station has also long researched cultivation techniques to enable commercial vanilla cultivation. As a fragrance company, we have humbly cooperated with this research, and through this connection, coupled with the strong empathy from Miyazaki Prefecture and Shintomi-cho for our vision, we have come to challenge domestic vanilla cultivation.
※2 Source: Export Ready Africa "Importing Vanilla from Madagascar — Sourcing and Compliance" (Updated March 2026)
■ Vanilla Production Focused on Aroma
Obtaining fragrant vanilla requires a great deal of time and effort. The peak flowering season for vanilla is April to May, during which each flower is pollinated manually. If pollination is successful, green pod-shaped fruits (green beans) are formed, and harvesting takes place the following year in January to February. During this period, enduring the summer heat and winter cold, the green beans accumulate "aroma precursor components"※3 over approximately nine months. Freshly harvested green beans have almost no alluring vanilla aroma. The complex process of extracting the aroma from the green beans is called "curing."