Savor Kumamoto’s Ultimate Ingredients with All Five Senses — A One-Night-Only Fantastical Food Festival Co-Created by the Sky Lantern Project and 'Japan’s Ingredient Koshien'

The Mirai Machi Keikaku Kikou (secretariat: COMMON Co., Ltd.) will jointly host the primary industry revitalization project 'Japan’s Ingredient Koshien (ichi)' and the 'Sky Lantern Project,' produced by TryHard Japan Inc., at Hanabata Plaza in Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture, on Saturday, June 27, 2026. This initiative combines daytime 'rediscovery of ingredient value through food' with nighttime 'enhancement of stay value through fantastical scenery,' aiming to create multifaceted vibrancy and structural economic impact in the host region.

COMMON Co., Ltd. plans and operates events and co-creation projects that connect municipalities, businesses, local organizations, producers, and residents, starting from regional charm and challenges.

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Inquiry regarding event planning and operations

Background of the Joint Event: Multifaceted Promotion of Primary Industries and Creation of a Nighttime Economy

Kumamoto Prefecture is one of Japan’s leading agricultural regions, with agricultural output reaching 411.6 billion yen in 2024 (a 9.6% increase from the previous year), the highest in 34 years*1,2,3. However, it faces structural challenges in maintaining its production base, including the aging of core agricultural workers (increasing proportion aged 65 and over)*4 and a decline in new farmers in FY2023 (402 people)*5.

'Japan’s Ingredient Koshien' has worked to objectively visualize producers’ value through a system that evaluates ingredient quality using only salt*6,*7. By partnering with TryHard Japan, known for creating nighttime culture, this project adds a strong visual experience—the 'sky lantern'—to the daytime 'food' experience. Extending visitors’ stay times, it aims to promote regional assets more comprehensively and activate the nighttime economy (nighttime economy), launching this project with shared objectives.

About Japan’s Ingredient Koshien

Across Japan, numerous appealing ingredients and regional materials remain under-recognized. Meanwhile, Japan’s primary industries face various challenges, including an aging workforce, lack of successors, absence of pricing power, and difficulty in having ingredient value fairly assessed in the market.

In many regions, there is a reality of 'great ingredients that aren’t reaching people.' Japan’s Ingredient Koshien is a project that visualizes the value of regional materials and primary industries not just through displays or sales, but through experiential elements like 'tasting' and 'voting.'

The personality of the land, climate, producers’ dedication, and accumulated time—visitors themselves taste, choose, and support these condensed ingredients, connecting regional charm to broader expansion.

'Japan’s Ingredient Koshien ichi' is scheduled to be held monthly from May 2026 to February 2027 at 10 locations across Japan. At each venue, attendees will taste dishes made from ingredients selected from 20 regions nationwide and vote to select the most popular ingredient at that event.

At the final venue in Osaka, a championship will be held among the winners from each location to determine the overall champion of 'Japan’s Ingredient Koshien ichi.' The previous Shizuoka event attracted approximately 8,000 visitors over two days, with 'Deshiko,' a branded eel from Lake Hamana, winning with its grilled preparation.

Overview of the Sky Lantern Project

The Sky Lantern Project aims to promote regional charm and create vibrancy by linking with events nationwide and illuminating the night sky with sky lanterns. It contributes to creating new regional value by offering fantastical scenery and special experiences.

Highlights of This Event

A New Model for Regional Revitalization through the Fusion of 'Food' and 'Light': In the agricultural prefecture of Kumamoto, seamlessly connecting the daytime ingredient evaluation event with nighttime sky lanterns, allowing visitors to experience regional charm throughout the day.

A Serious Competition Testing the True Potential of Ingredients: An evaluation arena where producers’ skills and the power of the land are tested, judging ingredient quality with only salt—without relying on sauces or dashi.

1,000 Lanterns Illuminating Kumamoto’s Night Sky: An awe-inspiring spectacle where environmentally considerate LED sky lanterns create a fantastical atmosphere at Hanabata Plaza, a symbolic public space in Kumamoto.

Event Overview

Event Name: Japan’s Ingredient Koshien ichi Kumamoto Tournament

Dates: June 27 (Sat) – 28 (Sun), 2026

Time: 11:00 – 17:00

Venue: Kumamoto Machinaka Plaza

6 Hanabata-cho, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture

Admission: Free, no prior reservation required. Recommended for weekend outings.

This event is free to enter. Food, drinks, and merchandise at booths require separate payment.

Organizer: Mirai Machi Keikaku Kikou

Secretariat: COMMON Co., Ltd.

Planning & Operations: Souensha Inc.

Cooperation: General Incorporated Association Chiiki Katsuryoku Project ENGIN, and others

Support: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; Kumamoto Prefecture; Kumamoto City; Japan Union of National Leaders; Japan Tourism Promotion Association; Gas Energy Newspaper; others

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

Inquiries: Mirai Machi Keikaku Kikou Secretariat

miraimachikeikaku.info@gmail.com

▶ Official Page: 'Sky Lantern Project with Japan’s Ingredient Koshien'

https://skylantern-project.com

▶ Ticket Sales Page (Kumamoto)

https://eplus.jp/skylantern-pj-k/

Sources

*1 Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries: Agricultural Output and Farm Income in Kyushu Prefectures (PDF)

*2 Nikkei: 2024 Kyushu Agricultural Output Exceeds 2 Trillion Yen, Record High

*3 Kumamoto Nichinichi: Kumamoto Prefecture’s Agricultural Output Hits Record High, Highest in 34 Years

*4 Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries: Kyushu Agricultural and Food-Related Statistics (PDF)

*5 Kumamoto New Farmer Support Center: Kumamoto Farmers in Numbers

*6 Japan’s Ingredient Koshien 'Ichi' Official Website: Service Overview

*7 PR TIMES: Press Release – Ingredient Koshien 'Ichi' Shizuoka Tournament

*8 TryHard Japan Event Official Site: Kugakidai Park Sky Lantern

*9 Japan Sky Lantern Association®: Safety and Environmental Considerations

*10 PR TIMES: Launching Sky Lantern Events Across Japan in Collaboration with the Nationwide 'Japan’s Ingredient Koshien' Tour. First Events in Kumamoto and Hokkaido! 'Sky Lantern Project with Japan’s Ingredient Koshien'