Creating New Opportunities for Interaction! ~A New Project for Seniors to Shine Through Nostalgic School Lunch Experiences~

Izumiotsu City, based on the philosophy of 'medicine and food from the same source' and 'local food for local people,' is committed to enriching and improving ingredients and menus in elementary and junior high school lunches for the healthy growth and physical development of children. We promote the use of highly nutritious Kinmemai rice, fermented foods, and organic ingredients, providing safe, secure, and delicious school meals.

Amidst receiving requests from people other than children who wished to "try" these school lunches, which we have put so much effort into, we have decided to hold the "Senior Lively School Lunch Program" as an opportunity for local seniors to experience them.

**Purpose of Implementation**

As the aging population progresses, social issues such as solitary dining due to the increase in single-person elderly households, weakening social connections due to reduced opportunities for going out, and the disparity between healthy life expectancy and average life expectancy have become prominent.

Against this backdrop, we will implement the "Senior Lively School Lunch Program" targeting seniors aged 65 and over in the city, offering "modern" school lunches as a "nostalgic" school lunch experience.

This is a new project with three pillars: "prevention of solitary dining," "promotion of social participation," and "long-term care prevention (extension of healthy life expectancy)." It aims to deepen interaction among participants, allow them to experience the joy of eating with others, thereby promoting social participation, and provide awareness and learning for health maintenance and long-term care prevention through accompanying lectures by professionals.

Please pay attention to this new initiative, where conversations and smiles will spread around warm school lunches on a school stage.

**Implementation Outline**

* **Date and Time:** Tuesday, May 26, Reiwa 8 (2026), 11:35 AM to 1:05 PM * **Location:** Izumiotsu City Toyo Junior High School (Address: 4-4-1 Ikeura-cho, Izumiotsu City) * **Capacity:** 15 participants (advance application required) * **Frequency:** Scheduled 6 times a year (dates and locations for the second and subsequent sessions are undecided)

**Lecture Content:**

* Dementia prevention lecture by a public health nurse * Causes of dementia * Importance of dementia prevention * Lifestyle habits for preventing dementia, etc.

**Menu for the Day:**

* Brown rice (Kinmemai rice) * Mackerel simmered with ginger * Sweet and spicy bell peppers * Miso soup with amazake * Milk

*The photo is for illustrative purposes only.