[Patronage Decided] Japan National Tourism Organization and Mayors' Alliance for Regional Revitalization to Become Supporting Organizations for "Japan's Ingredient Championship (ichi)"

Future Town Planning Organization (Secretariat: COMMON Co., Ltd., Headquarters: Kyoto City Shimogyo-ku, Representative Director: Yuki Masuda) is pleased to announce that the Japan National Tourism Organization and the Mayors' Alliance for Regional Revitalization (abbreviation: Mayors' Alliance), which creates Japan's future society through regional revitalization, will be supporting organizations for the nationwide 10-city touring project, "National Feast of Ingredients - Japan's Ingredient Championship" (abbreviation: ichi).

This project, which questions the true value of ingredients under the rules of "seasonings only salt, cooking limited to steaming, grilling, or frying within 3 steps," will move to the nationwide expansion phase after its event in Osaka's Ougi-machi Park in March 2026. With the addition of patronage from a public interest standpoint to this initiative, which shines a light on regional ingredients and producers, ichi will spread nationwide as a platform for regional revitalization through industry-government collaboration.

Background of Participation: Bringing Regional "Pride" Nationwide

The "ichi" initiative's stance of "directly delivering the inherent power of ingredients to consumers" has been recognized as a means to vitalize regional economies and solve regional challenges, leading to this patronage decision.

Japan National Tourism Organization

As the central organization (national center) for promoting tourism in Japan, it is a public interest incorporated association that develops various businesses for the realization of a tourism-oriented country and the development of regional economies. It is composed of approximately 700 tourism stakeholders nationwide, including local governments, tourism associations, and railway, airline, and tourism-related companies. We support the "sozai" (ingredients) initiative, which views "food ingredients" from various regions of Japan as tourism resources, attracting people and revitalizing regions by shining a light on these ingredients.

Official HP:https://www.nihon-kankou.or.jp/home/

Mayors' Alliance for Regional Revitalization (Official Name: Alliance of Mayors Creating Japan's Future Society through Regional Revitalization)

An alliance of approximately 660 mayors from cities, towns, and villages nationwide. It is an organization that promotes regional revitalization through collaboration and co-creation with the country, corporations, and regions, and bears responsibility for the development of Japan as a whole.

Official HP:https://mayoralalliance.jp/

Comment from Yuki Masuda, Representative Director of COMMON Co., Ltd.

"The decision to provide patronage means we have gained partners who will work with us to protect Japan's primary industries and build a society where authenticity is rewarded. Through the event in Osaka, we gained the conviction that consumers are looking for the power of the ingredients themselves, not embellished flavors. We will deliver 'ichi' nationwide as a venue where producers, municipalities, companies, and consumers can interact as equals."

About "National Feast of Ingredients - Japan's Ingredient Championship" (abbreviation: ichi)

This is a touring project aimed at redefining the value of ingredients nurtured by Japan's four seasons and climate, and transforming the primary industry into regional strength. It poses questions to visitors about the inherent power of ingredients through cooking methods limited to "steaming, grilling, or frying," creating venues nationwide that connect producers, regions, and consumers. It is scheduled to be held in 10 cities nationwide, starting with Shizuoka's Sunpu Castle Park in May 2026. The national final will be held in Osaka in March 2027.

Official Website:https://ichi.or.jp/

Official Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/sozaikoshien_official

In addition, at each event location, a "Commons Connect" exchange and study session for local governments, companies, and regional practitioners will be held the day before the event, promoting the expansion of related populations and regional revitalization through public-private collaboration.

Recruiting Sponsors and Cooperation Partners

"ichi" is widely recruiting companies, municipalities, and organizations that agree with the project's purpose to participate. Various forms of collaboration are possible, including nationwide branding of regional resources, linkage with tourism and hometown tax donations, and concretization of SDGs/ESG management.

[Contact Information for Inquiries]

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[Contact Information for Inquiries]

"Japan's Ingredient Championship" Executive Committee Secretariat (within COMMON Co., Ltd.)

■ Inquiries regarding sponsor participation and cooperation

https://common.or.jp/contact-common-top/

■ Inquiries regarding exhibition and producer collaboration

https://ichi.or.jp/agency/#

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