[Media Invitation] Notice of the Explanatory Meeting for the 4th 'Gut Flora Great Survey', a Public-Private Collaborative Gut Health Research for Parents and Children in Kato City, Hyogo

Maruyanagi Oguraya Co., Ltd., a manufacturer of steamed beans, boiled beans, and tsukudani (Headquarters: Higashinada-ku, Kobe; President: Yuji Yanagimoto), the National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition (NIBIOHN) (Ibaraki, Osaka; President: Yusuke Nakamura), and the Kato City Mochi-mugi Utilization Council (Kato, Hyogo; Chairman: Katsunari Kobayashi) will hold an explanatory meeting for the subjects of their joint research, the "Gut Flora Great Survey," on Saturday, April 11, 2026, from 11:00 AM at the Kato City Hall. The "Gut Flora Great Survey" is being conducted with the aim of promoting the intake of dietary fiber, particularly Kato City's specialty "mochi-mugi" (glutinous barley), and improving the gut environment of Kato citizens. We cordially invite the media to cover this event.

Scene from the previous year's subject explanation meeting (April 26, 2025)

Details of the 4th Subject Explanatory Meeting

On the day of the event, Dr. Jun Kunisawa, Deputy Director General of NIBIOHN and Director of the Center for Health and Environmental Medicine, will explain the survey overview of the "Gut Flora Great Survey" and the importance of the gut environment.

Date & Time: Saturday, April 11, 2026, 11:00-12:00 (Reception starts at 10:30) Venue: Kato City Hall, 2nd Floor, Room 201 Address: 50 Yashiro, Kato City, Hyogo Prefecture 673-1493

Survey Overview Subjects: Children (aged 3 to 15) attending school or residing in Kato City and their families. Testing Method: Continuous investigation through stool testing and lifestyle questionnaires to conduct an observational study on changes in gut flora.

Dr. Jun Kunisawa, Deputy Director General of NIBIOHN and Director of the Center for Health and Environmental Medicine

How to Apply for Media Coverage If you wish to cover this event, please contact us by Thursday, April 9. Maruyanagi Oguraya Co., Ltd. PR Contacts: Ogura, Kodama

*Note: This explanatory meeting is open only to participants of the "Gut Flora Great Survey" and media personnel. Please note that it will not be open to the general public.

Background and Purpose of the Survey