Kickoff of the "Discover the Charm of Okayama, the Sunny Country" Project! Press Conference Features Okayama-native Ibean Kazunari (JO1) and Funassyi

Okayama Prefecture (Governor: Ibaragi Ryuta) has launched the "Discover the Charm of Okayama, the Sunny Country" project to maximize awareness of Okayama's appeal—known as "the Sunny Country." To mark the project's kickoff, the "Discover the Charm of Okayama, the Sunny Country Project Kickoff! Press Conference" was held on Monday, June 29, 2026.

The event welcomed Ibean Kazunari (JO1), an Okayama native and member of the global boy group, and Funassyi—the pear fairy who openly declares her love for peaches—as guests. They participated in a talk session promoting Okayama's charm, a quiz battle showcasing their love for the prefecture, and a dance-off.

At the start of the event, Governor Ibaragi expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating, "We aim to raise Okayama's profile and generate even greater excitement." He then outlined the project's goals and highlighted the attractions of Okayama Prefecture.

Following this, Ibean and Funassyi took the stage for a talk session about Okayama. Ibean arrived in a stylish outfit made of Okayama denim, saying, "Kojima in Okayama is known as the denim capital. The fabric feels great, and the more you wear it, the more the jeans mold to your body—developing a unique fit that's all your own." Funassyi enthusiastically praised the look, exclaiming, "So cool!"

Ibean then shared personal memories from his student days in Okayama, showing rare photos. "I danced the Soran Bushi at the Momijimatsuri festival in Mimami-Mimasaka City, where I was born and raised. Our team won a consolation prize, but I personally received the top award. I don't remember school events ever being canceled due to rain. We always held our sports days and cultural festivals as planned."

Funassyi, meanwhile, recommended visiting Washuzan Highland and the Bizen Osafune Sword Museum, and expressed deep affection for the region: "I think I've already visited Okayama around 20 times. I really love it!"

Next, the two competed in a special showdown themed after Momotaro: "Mometaro vs. Nectarotaro: The Ultimate Okayama PR Battle!" The battle began with quizzes testing knowledge about Okayama and identifying fruits by taste. In a tasting challenge to identify "Muscat of Alexandria" among three grape varieties, Ibean confidently declared, "I'm absolutely sure! I ate tons of them as a student. I recognized the flavor instantly," correctly identifying the grape. Though Funassyi guessed incorrectly, he admitted with good humor, "No wonder—he's local!"

The competition continued with an improvised "Okayama Dance-Off" to a designated song. Ibean showcased his impressive dance skills, incorporating elements unique to Okayama—Momotaro, the dog, monkey, and pheasant—into his performance to impress the judge, Governor Ibaragi. Funassyi countered with a dynamic and eccentric routine, describing his concept as "like the contents of the peach that floated down the river suddenly bursting out!" Governor Ibaragi, serving as judge, commented, "Ibean was outstanding, as expected. Funassyi was surprisingly entertaining too, but I didn't hesitate for more than 0.1 seconds in making my decision." Based on the quiz and dance results, Okayama native Ibean emerged victorious.

Toward the end of the event, Ibean surprised Funassyi—who was still sulking over his loss—with a special birthday cake made generously with Okayama's famed white peaches, in celebration of Funassyi's upcoming 1,888th birthday on July 4. After tasting the cake, Funassyi cheered, "Pear juice, splat! Peach juice, splat!" clearly delighted. Ibean, who also sampled the cake, exclaimed, "Bean juice, splat! Peach juice, splat! It's absolutely delicious!"—both thoroughly enjoying the treat.

In closing messages full of love for Okayama, Ibean said, "I want to visit Okayama in person and continue spreading the word about its charm!" Funassyi added, "We'll keep the excitement going with 'peaches in summer, pears in autumn' as our keywords!" When asked to deliver messages of support in Okayama dialect for the upcoming South American World Cup soccer match between Japan and Brazil, Funassyi struggled slightly but cheered, "Japan team, give it everything you've got!" while Ibean fluently encouraged them: "Japan team, we're cheering loud and clear for you—go get 'em!"

{Event Overview}

Event Name: "Discover the Charm of Okayama, the Sunny Country" Project Kickoff Declaration! Press Conference

Date and Time: Monday, June 29, 2026, 10:30–11:30

Venue: Ocha Lab, 7th Floor, Lepro Entertainment

(7th Floor, Chemical Society Building, 1-5 Kanda Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo)

Participants: Ryuta Ibaragi (Governor of Okayama Prefecture), Kazunari Ibean (JO1), Funassyi, Yoko Aoki (MC)