119-Year-Old Nagoya Confectionery Shop Sponsors Traditional Sweets for ~170 Participants of Cabinet Office's 'Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program'

Ganso Shachimonaka Honten (Naka-ku, Nagoya; CEO: Hanae Furuta), a confectionery shop with a 119-year history, has provided 'Tezukuri Shachimonaka' (Handmade Shachimonaka) and 'Shachi Sable' as sponsorship items for approximately 170 youth participants of the Cabinet Office's 49th 'Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program' (SSEAYP).

This program, organized by the Cabinet Office since 1974, aims to promote mutual understanding and friendship between Japan and Southeast Asian countries. This year, approximately 170 young people from 11 countries, including Japan, participated in over 30 days of exchange activities through onboard training and visits to participating countries.

The products provided were served during 'JAPAN NIGHT,' a self-planned event by the Japanese delegation, and during free time on board. By not just eating but also enjoying the process of 'making' traditional sweets, participants had a direct opportunity to experience the charm of Japanese culture.

Participants shared comments such as, 'The experience of making the monaka myself was very fun and felt uniquely Japanese,' 'The appearance was unique and cute, making me excited even before eating,' and 'The Shachi Sable had an impressive fragrant and gentle flavor.'

Our company faced a risk of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic but has since continued and recovered through SNS activities (starting with X, formerly Twitter) and strengthening online sales since November 2020. Providing Nagoya's traditional sweets to the youth who represent the future of Japan and Southeast Asia marks a significant milestone for us.

### 1. Overview of Sponsorship
- **Recipients**: Participants of the 49th SSEAYP.
- **Form**: Product sponsorship (Tezukuri Shachimonaka, Shachi Sable).
- **Number of people**: ~170.
- **Occasion**: 'JAPAN NIGHT' and free time on board.
- **Track record**: This is the second time sponsoring this program.
- **Period**: Jan 16 – Feb 17, 2026.
- **Participating countries**: Japan, 9 ASEAN countries, Timor-Leste (Observer).
- **Purpose**: To support the shipboard life of next-generation youth engaged in international exchange through traditional confectionery culture.
*Note: This is a product sponsorship for the participants; it does not imply a direct sponsorship contract with or recommendation by the Cabinet Office.

### 2. Social Background: Why this sponsorship now?
Traditional Japanese industries and long-established companies face multiple challenges, including rising raw material costs, labor shortages, succession issues, and the burden of updating equipment. According to Teikoku Databank, bankruptcies of companies 100+ years old reached a record 145 cases in 2024. Bankruptcies in the confectionery manufacturing and retail industry are also at a record pace. We were also on the brink of closure but carved a path forward through SNS, online sales, and collaboration. Bringing our sweets to these youth allows Nagoya's traditions to cross borders.

### 3. About the 'Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program'
Started in 1974, SSEAYP is an international exchange program organized by the Cabinet Office to foster friendship between Japan and ASEAN. Participants engage in social discussions, cultural introductions, and home stays to deepen mutual understanding over 30 days.

### 4. Path from the Brink of Closure
We opened our X account in Autumn 2020 to start sharing information. In about 5 years, our followers have grown to approximately 61,000.