US Culinary School 'Brightwater' to Visit Yamagata's Okitama Region for 3-Day Field Study on Food, Agriculture, and Culture

Students and faculty from Brightwater Culinary School in Arkansas, USA, will visit Japan's Yamagata Okitama region for a three-day field study to learn about local food, agriculture, fermentation, and festival culture through hands-on experiences.
Event AnnouncementNQ 96/100出典：PR Times

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  • 📰 Published: May 20, 2026 at 23:37
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The Yamagata Arcadia Tourism Bureau announced that students and faculty from Brightwater Culinary School in Arkansas, USA, will visit the Okitama region from May 22-24, 2026. During their stay, they will engage in various activities including a farm stay, local cooking exchanges, an 'imoni' (taro stew) party, rice planting for sake brewing, and viewing the Nagai Black Lion Festival. This marks the school's first study tour to Japan, and the Okitama region was specifically chosen to provide an authentic 'Farm to Table' learning experience, connecting students with the origins of their ingredients.

FAQ

Who is visiting the Yamagata Okitama region?

Students and faculty from Brightwater Culinary School, a culinary arts institution located in Arkansas, USA.

What is the purpose of their visit?

The visit is a 3-day field study for the school's first-ever 'Study Abroad in Japan' program, focusing on learning about the region's food, agriculture, fermentation processes, and festival culture.

What activities are planned for the group?

They will participate in a farm stay, local cooking exchanges, an 'imoni' (taro stew) party, planting rice for sake, touring sake and soy sauce breweries, and observing the Nagai Black Lion Festival.

Why was the Yamagata Okitama region chosen for this tour?

The region was selected for its deep connection between food production (rice, vegetables), processing (sake, fermentation), and local life, offering an ideal environment to learn the 'Farm to Table' concept, which the school's principal highly values.

When will this field study take place?

The field study is scheduled to take place from Friday, May 22nd to Sunday, May 24th, 2026 (Reiwa 8).

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