Hanaoka Town, Fukushima Prefecture Donates 300kg of Rice to Katsushika Ward Elementary School Lunches

Mr. Endo (right), Head of Hanaoka Town's Community Development Division, presents rice to Mr. Ichikawa (left), Superintendent of Katsushika Ward's Board of Education.

On June 29, 2026 (Monday), the Katsushika Ward Board of Education held a "Rice Donation Ceremony" at Katsushika Ward Office to receive a donation of 300kg of white rice produced in Hanaoka Town, Fukushima Prefecture, from the "Hanaoka Town Hometown Industry Promotion Liaison Council." The donated rice will be served as school lunches to children at five elementary schools in the Shin-Koiwa area of Katsushika Ward in early July.

Comments from Stakeholders

- Mr. Yasuhiro Endo, Head of Hanaoka Town's Community Development Division: "We are very happy that the children of Katsushika Ward can taste the rice carefully grown in Hanaoka Town. We hope that children who will lead the next generation will experience its authentic deliciousness and develop an interest in Hanaoka Town."

- Mr. Shigeru Ichikawa, Superintendent of Katsushika Ward Board of Education: "We sincerely thank you for donating the rice carefully grown in Hanaoka Town. For children living in urban areas, there are few opportunities to realize how rice is grown and reaches their dining tables. We hope this donation will be an opportunity for children to become interested in food and agriculture. Katsushika Ward will also further deepen its cooperation with Hanaoka Town."

Donation Details and Future Plans

The donated white rice will be used in school lunches at elementary schools in the ward as follows, and will also be developed into PR initiatives.

Donated Items: 300kg of white rice from Hanaoka Town (2025 harvest), Hanaoka Town original clear files

Recipient Schools: Matsugami Elementary School, Komatsu Minami Elementary School, Nijo Elementary School, Kamikomatsu Elementary School, Kamihirai Elementary School (total of 5 schools in the Shin-Koiwa area)

Future Plans: In school lunches in early July, all children will be able to taste rice from Hanaoka Town. In addition, clear files will be distributed, and flyers about tourism and food safety in Hanaoka Town will be delivered to parents. Furthermore, a web survey accessible via a QR code on the flyer will be conducted, and 10 parents who respond will be randomly selected to win 3kg of Hanaoka Town white rice (drawing scheduled for early August).

Overview of the "Hana no Megumi" Project

This initiative aims to deepen the bond with Katsushika Ward, with whom Hanaoka Town has a mutual disaster assistance agreement, and to dispel reputational damage and raise awareness of Hanaoka Town after the earthquake.

In addition to tasting the rice in school lunches and distributing novelty items, a survey for parents will be conducted, with a chance to win 3kg of Hanaoka Town white rice for 10 people. Through these integrated initiatives, we aim to achieve four objectives: dispelling reputational damage, increasing town awareness, strengthening ties with partner municipalities, and promoting regional agriculture, while creating new exchanges with the next generation through food.

Hanaoka Town is also famous as a producer of dahlias.