Kobe's Traditional Confectionery for the Next Generation! Student-Designed "Kawara Senbei Pamphlet" Completed ~Kobe Design University x Kobe Senbei Association Industry-Academia Collaboration Project~

Kobe Design University (Location: Nishi-ku, Kobe City / President: Shuichi Matsumura), Visual Design Department, Hama Seminar, in collaboration with the Kobe Senbei Association (Representative: Yoshinobu Kishimoto), has implemented an industry-academia collaboration project aimed at expanding awareness and promoting the appeal of the traditional confectionery "Kawara Senbei" among younger generations.

In this project, an official pamphlet was produced that introduces the history and designs of Kawara Senbei, as well as stores selling Kawara Senbei in Kobe City, incorporating perspectives unique to students studying visual design. The students themselves handled the planning, interviewing, and design.

From left in the photo: Fūrin Uenoyama, Narumi Sugihara, Yamato Shiibayashi

Starting with distribution at the "Kobe Festival" to be held on Sunday, May 17, 2026, free distribution will begin at the storefronts of member stores of the association. A pamphlet for young people, created from a student's perspective and covering the entire Kawara Senbei industry, is unprecedented and represents a highly novel initiative.

Press Release PDF

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Fsu28mAJ4rqZgAHVhVOjHChN4XgWy-yl/view?usp=sharing

■ Highlights of the Pamphlet
This pamphlet was produced by three students from the Visual Design Department of Kobe Design University (Narumi Sugihara, Yamato Shiibayashi, Fūrin Uenoyama). Because these students were deeply involved with Kawara Senbei for the first time, they used pop and friendly illustrations and designs to introduce its appeal to those who were previously unfamiliar with it.

- Discover Kawara Senbei: Interview with Chairman Kishimoto, history of baking molds, four-panel manga
- Store Introduction: Independent interviews and product introductions of 10 member stores (Toraya Yoshisue, Otani, Kameido Honke, Hon Takasagoya, Kameido Sohonten, Baikado, Emirido, Kikusui Senbei, Yagi Shingetsudo, Tarumi Kameido)
- Enjoy Kawara Senbei: Arrangement recipes you can make at home, store map, Kawara-wari (tile breaking) experience report, Baseball Castella Lovers' Association interview, etc.

▼ Design of the pages (partial)

Cover design of the booklet "KAWARA Heritage, KOBE BOOK" Challenge "Kawara-wari" at a tile production area! Feature "World of Baking Molds" Interview with the Representative Director of the Kawara Senbei Association Page introducing Kawara-wari experience stores

■ Project Background

"Kawara Senbei" has walked alongside the history of Kobe, a port city. However, in recent years, due to the rise of Western confectionery, it has become less familiar, especially to younger generations and child-rearing generations. On the other hand, those who have actually tasted it highly praise it as "fresh and delicious," indicating its potential. This project aims to:

- Visualize the history of Kawara Senbei and the charm of each store
- Create "points of contact" for younger generations to learn about Kawara Senbei and visit stores
- Connect the culture of Kobe's famous confectionery to the next generation

With these objectives, the project was implemented. Through interviews with various stakeholders, the team discovered its appeal and, through the power of design, re-presented Kawara Senbei from "old-fashioned sweets" to "Kobe culture that the current generation can also enjoy."

Please visit the stores and rediscover the charm of Kawara Senbei through the booklet.

■ Overview

◯ Publisher: Kobe Senbei Association
6-3-17 Motomachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe City
TEL 078-591-7071
ykmfamily0526@gmail.com

◯ Issued by: Kobe Design University
Visual Design Department, Akihiro Hama Laboratory
8-1-1 Gakuen Nishi-machi, Nishi-ku, Kobe City, 651-2196
TEL: 078-794-2112 (main)
hama-a@kobe-du.ac.jp

◯ Supervision: Akihiro Hama [Associate Professor, Kobe Design University]
◯ Production Staff: Kobe Design University
Visual Design Department, Hama Seminar 1st Generation
Editing: Narumi Sugihara
Illustration: Fūrin Uenoyama
Manga: Fūrin Uenoyama
Cover Design: Narumi Sugihara
Body Design: Fūrin Uenoyama, Yamato Shiibayashi, Narumi Sugihara
◯ Cooperation: Koichi Shikata

■ Comments
- Chairman of Kobe Senbei Association: Yoshinobu Kishimoto
"Kobe is not just about Western confectionery. I want people to enjoy the 'atmosphere' of having Kawara Senbei next to tangerines while sitting at a kotatsu. I hope this booklet, created from a student's perspective, will be an opportunity for new encounters."

- Production Members (Sugihara, Shiibayashi, Uenoyama)
"We aimed for a design that adds a bit of 'modernity' to its historical goodness. We hope that this pamphlet will convey the artisans' passion to students like us."

■ Contact for this matter
Kobe Design University Public Relations and Admissions Office
TEL: 078-794-5039
MAIL: topics@kobe-du.ac.jp
Kobe Senbei Association
URL: https://kobe-senbei-society.jp
Instagram: @kobesenbei_official

■ Kobe Senbei Association
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