A Nationally Rare Initiative Beyond Industry-Academia Collaboration: Gifu Daibutsu Coffee Launched – University x Welfare x Temple x Local Creator Collaboration Challenges Cultural Property Preservation, Tourism Promotion, and Job Creation with New Souvenirs for Tourists

Win Career Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture; Representative Director: Kumiko Niwa), which operates the Type B Employment Continuation Support Service "And Works," has launched a new product, "Gifu Daibutsu Coffee," modeled after the "Gifu Daibutsu" of Shoboji Temple, a tourist attraction in Gifu City, in collaboration with Gifu University and illustrator Ishida Ishio, starting March 27.

## Three-Party Collaborative Project: "New Souvenirs" Where Each Strength Resonates

This product was born from an "industry-academia-welfare (industry-academia collaboration x welfare)" framework, aiming to connect local historical heritage to the next generation and expand job opportunities for people with disabilities.

### [Planning] Gifu University, Shinoda Seminar, Department of Social Management Systems
Students took the initiative, proposing planning and packaging directions based on target analysis, with the concept of "Gifu souvenirs that young generations and tourists would want to pick up."

### [Design] Illustrator Ishida Ishio
Responding to the students' ideas, Ishida, an active illustrator based in Gifu, created adorable and approachable character illustrations of the solemn "Gifu Daibutsu." With puns like "Kaigen" (enlightenment/eye-opening) and "Daibu Tsu na Aji" (quite a connoisseur's taste/Great Buddha's taste), a total of five richly expressive and even more approachable package designs were completed.

### [Manufacturing] Type B Employment Continuation Support Service And Works
Users of our facility are consistently responsible for everything from selecting green beans to "in-house roasting" and packaging into drip bags. This has achieved a "specialty quality" taste that transcends the boundaries of welfare.

## Product Features and Commitments

- Donation Model where "Drinking" Leads to "Protection"
A portion of the sales of this product will be used for the preservation activities of Shoboji Temple (Gifu Daibutsu). By purchasing, tourists contribute to connecting valuable cultural assets to the future.
- Freshness and Flavor through In-house Roasting
With a roasting machine in the facility, beans are carefully roasted. The clear taste without impurities is a finish that even coffee connoisseurs will be satisfied with.
- "Enclosed Card" to Make Gifu Sightseeing More Enjoyable
The product includes a special card (one of five types) depicting trivia about Gifu Daibutsu and a map of surrounding tourist areas. This enhances the value as a souvenir and encourages repeat visits.

## Product Overview

- Product Name: Gifu Daibutsu Coffee (Drip Bag Set)
- Price: 1,836 yen (tax included)
- Release Date: March 27, 2026
- Sales Locations: And Cafe (6-6 Kanda-machi, Gifu City), Shoboji Temple, THE GIFTS SHOP (inside Active G adjacent to JR Gifu Station), Gifu Tokyo (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo), Okiagari Monaka Gifu Castle Rakuichi Store, Nagaragawa Flavor, Gifu University Co-op, and other souvenir shops in Gifu City.
- Set Contents: Drip bag coffee (5 designs x 5 types of beans), trivia card (1 of 5 designs)
- https://andworksgifu.thebase.in/items/138172947

## Message from Kumiko Niwa, Representative Director, Win Career Co., Ltd.

"The Gifu Daibutsu, a treasure of Gifu, has been expressed through the sensibility of students and the art of Mr. Ishida, and brought to life at our facility. One of the great things about participating in this project is that it has become a product that our users, who produce it together, can be proud of as a new Gifu souvenir! I hope that through a cup of coffee, welfare, tourism, and local history will gently connect and that this product will be loved by many people."

[Introduction page for Type B Employment Continuation Support Service And Works]
https://wincareer.net/andworks

Scenes from THE GIFTS SHOP store sales

This shows the sales situation at the store on March 27, the release date.

Scenes from the product launch event held at OKB Gifu University Plaza on March 27. The group photo shows (from front left) four 3rd-year students from Gifu University's Department of Social Management Systems, And Works users; (from middle left) Kumiko Niwa, Representative Director of Win Career Co., Ltd., illustrator Ishida Ishio, And Works users, staff; and (from back left) And Works users, and Chief Priest Kobayashi of Kinhozan Shoboji Temple.