Furusato Monogatari Co., Ltd. Appoints Toshihiro Watanabe, Professor Emeritus at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Former President of Hokkaido Bunkyo University, as Special Advisor

Furusato Monogatari Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Sapporo, Hokkaido; Representative Director: Shuji Miyanari) is pleased to announce that Toshihiro Watanabe, Professor Emeritus at Tokyo University of Agriculture and former President of Hokkaido Bunkyo University, has been appointed as Special Advisor to our company.

Our company is engaged in delivering regional food resources, marine products, and processed goods, primarily from Hokkaido, nationwide. We have been working to discover valuable products dormant in the region and connect producers, regions, and consumers.

By welcoming Mr. Watanabe, who possesses extensive knowledge in agricultural chemistry, food science, university management, regional collaboration, and industry-academia collaboration, as our Special Advisor, we will further strengthen our product development, appeal of quality value, branding of regional resources, and collaboration with local governments, educational institutions, and companies.

Background of Special Advisor Appointment

Furusato Monogatari Co., Ltd. aims to "deliver truly valuable food and stories from the region to the nation." We plan and sell products that emphasize regionality, rarity, and quality, including marine products from Hokkaido.

On the other hand, to continuously enhance the value of regional products, it is crucial not only to sell them but also to engage in comprehensive brand design that includes the charm of the production area, food culture, quality, research-backed evidence, and ripple effects on the regional economy.

Mr. Toshihiro Watanabe has been involved in education and research in agricultural chemistry and food science for many years, and has served as Vice President of Tokyo University of Agriculture and President of Hokkaido Bunkyo University. Furthermore, he has engaged in industry-academia-government collaboration to connect universities with regions, local governments, and companies.

By leveraging his expertise, our company will evolve from "a company that sells Hokkaido's food" to "a company that discovers the value of regional resources and delivers them as stories nationwide."

Future Initiatives

With Mr. Watanabe's appointment as Special Advisor, our company will strengthen its business promotion, focusing on the following areas:

1. Enhancing the Product Value of Hokkaido and Regional Products

Utilizing knowledge in food science and agricultural chemistry, we will strengthen value design that is communicated to consumers by organizing product quality, processing, preservation, and points of appeal.

2. Branding of Regional Resources

We will promote regional products such as marine products, agricultural products, and processed goods not merely as merchandise, but along with the region's history, producers' aspirations, and food culture.

3. Promotion of Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration

We aim to build business models that contribute to the regional economy through collaboration with universities, local governments, companies, and producers.

4. Contribution to Food and Regional Education for the Next Generation

We will also contribute to nurturing human resources who will lead the future of the region, with an eye toward collaboration with educational institutions and community groups on the themes of food and region.

Profile of Toshihiro Watanabe

Toshihiro Watanabe was born in Hidaka Town, Hokkaido. After graduating from the Faculty of Agriculture at Tokyo University of Agriculture, he completed his master's program at the university's graduate school. He engaged in education and research at Hokkaido Nutrition Junior College and the Faculty of Bioindustry at Tokyo University of Agriculture, and has held positions such as Professor at Tokyo University of Agriculture, President of Tokyo University of Agriculture Bioindustry, and Vice President of Tokyo University of Agriculture. In 2018, he became President of Hokkaido Bunkyo University.

He has a wide range of achievements in education, research, and management, including food science, agricultural chemistry, regional collaboration, university-launched ventures, and industry-academia-government collaboration.

*Reference: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%B8%A1%E9%83%A8%E4%BF%8A%E5%BC%98

*Comment from Toshihiro Watanabe

I am deeply honored and sincerely grateful for the opportunity to work as a Special Advisor for Furusato Monogatari Co., Ltd.

I first met President Miyanari around 2024 when the company changed its name from Yukiguni Monogatari Co., Ltd. (former name) to Furusato Monogatari Co., Ltd. I was impressed by their "grand dreams, vision, and passion," which led us to conclude a comprehensive collaboration agreement with Hokkaido Bunkyo University. Subsequently, our connection deepened through our joint creation of "Eniwa Monogatari" for the town development of Eniwa City, leading to our current relationship.

I retired from Hokkaido Bunkyo University at the end of March this year, where I had served for eight years. At the age of 74, I intend to utilize my knowledge and experience as a university scholar, connecting "people, things, and matters" that I have cultivated throughout my career, to contribute to society as my final work in life.

My goal is to promote regional revitalization projects, which are a current challenge for Japan, as a Special Advisor for Furusato Monogatari Co., Ltd., and to create a leading model for a symbiotic society together with everyone through the concept of a collaborative consortium.

I humbly request your cooperation.

*Comment from Shuji Miyanari, Representative Director of Furusato Monogatari Co., Ltd.

We feel greatly reassured to welcome Professor Toshihiro Watanabe as our company's Special Advisor.

Our company has been engaged in delivering attractive ingredients and products from Hokkaido and other regions to customers nationwide. However, the true value of regional products cannot be conveyed solely by taste or price. There are "stories" behind them, such as the production environment, the efforts of producers, food culture, and regional history.

By leveraging Professor Watanabe's extensive knowledge and experience, we will grow our business beyond mere sales to accurately convey the value of regional resources and contribute to the regional economy.

About Furusato Monogatari Co., Ltd.

Furusato Monogatari Co., Ltd. is a company headquartered in Sapporo, Hokkaido, that plans and sells regional products, including marine products from Hokkaido. Its official online store, "Yukiguni Monogatari," handles rare seafood that is not commonly available in the market, as well as unique processed goods from the region.

Company Profile

Company Name: Furusato Monogatari Co., Ltd. Representative: Shuji Miyanari, Representative Director Location: 2-chome-9-12, Hachiken Sanjo Nishi, Nishi-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido Business Activities: Planning, sales, and EC operation of Hokkaido products, marine products, and regional products Official Website: https://furusato-story.jp

EC Site: https://yukigunistory.com/ Movies: https://windy-swan-3e2.notion.site/Movies-2981ddcea5bb80588c42e8c1e2a7962b