"Choiine! Project" for Gut Health Town Development: 10 Restaurants in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture Certified as "Choiine!"

Ten restaurants in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture, have been certified as "Choiine!" as part of the "Choiine! Project," which is supported and sponsored by Metagen Therapeutics, Inc. (Headquarters: Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture; President & CEO: Taku Nakahara). These certified restaurants will be provided with a "Choiine! Certified Store" POP display.

The project, launched in May 2026, is an initiative by a volunteer team of students from Yamagata University, Tohoku University of Community and Public Policy, and Keio University to promote the appeal of Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture, from the perspective of gut health. Aiming for "town development centered on gut health," the project certifies restaurants in Tsuruoka City that offer menus using 10 or more types of plant-based foods. Information about the certified restaurants, their menus, and Tsuruoka City's local ingredients will be disseminated through the project's social media and other channels. Metagen Therapeutics provides scientific knowledge and advice on the gut environment and sponsors this project.

◆Choiine! Certified Stores - Phase 1 (Total 10 Stores - in Japanese syllabary order)

Kitchen futaba

Address: 9-26 Mihara-cho, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kitchen_futaba/

Kokon cocon

Address: 8-18 Sanno-cho, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cocon.tsuruoka/

gira e gira

Address: 28-2 Toyoda Ko, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giraegira_info/

Stand Kappo Minaguchi

Address: 8-10 Sanno-cho, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/takuya_minaguchi/

Spice to Hito

Address: 2F, 1-7-18 Honcho, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spice_tsuruoka/

Nozomi Cafe nanairo

Address: 5-53 Kita-chibara-cho, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nanairo_n_sketch/

blanc blanc gastropub

Address: 6-10 Suehiro-cho, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blancblancgastropub/

Manoma

Address: 18-8 Asahi-cho, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/manoma_tsuruoka/

MOON TERRASSE

Address: 23-1 Shimo-torinosu, Kita-den, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture

(Inside Sui-den Terrace)

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moonterrasse_/

Meshi to Kashi Ribatei

Address: 3-37 Hiyoshi-cho, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/libatei/

(Please check the respective social media accounts for business information for each store.)

Metagen Therapeutics has established the "Tsuruoka Stool Bank Room," Japan's first facility for stool donation, within Tsuruoka Science Park in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture, and is advancing research and development of pharmaceuticals utilizing gut bacteria. As a leading company in gut bacteria-based medicine originating from Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture, we will contribute to the city's "gut health town development."

▼Related Press Release

"Choiine! Project" Launched: Towards a "Gut-Good" Town in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture - Town Development for Gut Health Through "Food Culture" and "Gut Bacteria"

- Students from Yamagata University, Tohoku University of Community and Public Policy, and Keio University Solve Regional Issues -

https://www.metagentx.com/news/20260518_choiine_start

"Choiine! Project" Instagram Account

https://www.instagram.com/tsuruokachouiine/

About the "Tsuruoka Stool Bank Room"

"Stool donation" is a new initiative for social contribution where individuals with healthy gut environments provide their own stool for the development of new pharmaceuticals utilizing gut bacteria contained in feces. Metagen Therapeutics opened the "Tsuruoka Stool Bank Room," Japan's first stool donation facility, in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture, in April 2025, and is recruiting stool donors from residents of the Shonai region.

About Metagen Therapeutics, Inc. Metagen Therapeutics, Inc. is a venture company originating from Juntendo University, Keio University, and Tokyo University of Science, with the purpose of "continuously fulfilling patients' wishes through microbiome science," creating social impact through medical care and drug discovery based on gut bacteria research.

Based on the "Gut Microbiome Bank," the company is promoting a "Medical Service Business" and a "Drug Discovery Business" aimed at the social implementation of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT). Currently, the company is focusing on development in the fields of immune diseases (inflammatory bowel disease), cancer, and central nervous system diseases.

<Company Profile>

Company Name: Metagen Therapeutics, Inc. (Abbreviation: MGTx)

Head Office Location: 246-2 Mizu-no-ue, Kakuganjii, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture

Tokyo Office: Inspired Lab, 6F, Otemachi Building, 1-6-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Representative: Taku Nakahara, President & CEO

Date of Establishment: January 17, 2020

Business Activities: Drug discovery and medical business utilizing microbiome science

URL: https://www.metagentx.com

Inquiries regarding participation in and certification for this project:

Metagen Therapeutics, Inc.

"Choiine! Project" Representative

Email: contact@chomusubi.metagentx.com