NISHIKIYA KITCHEN Launches 2026 Edition of 'School Curry Project' to Co-Create Dream Retort Curries with 101 Elementary School Students

NISHIKIYA KITCHEN, a specialty store under Nishiki Foods Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Iwanuma City, Miyagi Prefecture; President & CEO: Yoichi Kikuchi), which sells around 120 types of retort foods centered on retort curries under the concept of 'Making World Cuisine Easy,' will launch the 'School Curry Project' in collaboration with Iwanuma Municipal Iwanuma Elementary School (hereinafter 'Iwanuma Elementary') in Iwanuma City, Miyagi Prefecture. The project, launched in 2023 with the aim of 'shaping children's dreams into reality to nurture creativity and promote food education,' has now been conducted three times.

Driven by its commitment to local community engagement and education, the company has partnered with Iwanuma City and the Iwanuma City Board of Education to collaborate with elementary school students in the region. Following the 2025 project at Tamaura Elementary School, the 2026 initiative will partner with Iwanuma Elementary, a school emphasizing DX (Digital Transformation) education. The project aims to expand to Iwanuma Minami Elementary and Iwanuma Nishi Elementary by 2028, covering all four elementary schools in the city.

The project began in April, with 101 sixth-grade students from Iwanuma Elementary brainstorming ideas for their 'dream retort curry.' Through a voting process, two concepts were selected: 'Honey Cheese Potato Butter Curry' and 'Drinkable Yogurt Curry.'*

Moving forward, students will learn the entire product development process—from flavor development and packaging design to sales—and work toward creating these two 'dream retort curries.' The products are targeted for completion by mid-February 2027 and will be sold at NISHIKIYA KITCHEN's physical stores, online shop, and MUJI stores in Miyagi Prefecture.

*Product names and contents are subject to change.

Details on this year's project:

'School Curry Project': Co-Creating from Concept to Sales with Elementary Students

The 'School Curry Project' is an educational collaboration initiative where students' original 'dream retort curry' ideas are developed into real products. Launched in 2023, this marks its fourth year.

Details on last year's project:

https://nishikiya-shop.com/column/346

This year, eight special classes are planned. In addition to NISHIKIYA KITCHEN, known as 'experts in making things,' store staff from MUJI (Ryohin Keikaku Co., Ltd., Headquarters: Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo; President & CEO: Satoshi Shimizu), known as 'experts in store operations,' will participate as guest instructors. They will directly engage with students to share the joy and passion behind product and retail development.

Over the course of one year, students will learn the full process: ① product planning, ② flavor development, ③ packaging design, and ④ sales—aiming to bring their ideas to market. The project aims to nurture creativity, deepen understanding of food, and convey the joy and value of making things.

Expansion to All Four Elementary Schools in Iwanuma City by 2028

With a commitment to local education, the company has collaborated with elementary schools in Iwanuma City since last year, supported by the city and its Board of Education. Starting with Tamaura Elementary in 2025, the 2026 project will partner with Iwanuma Elementary, a traditional school with over 150 years of history that actively promotes DX education. The initiative will expand to Iwanuma Minami and Iwanuma Nishi Elementary by 2028, aiming to involve all elementary schools in the city.

[Planned Schedule]

- 2025: Tamaura Elementary School

- 2026: Iwanuma Elementary School

- 2027–2028: Iwanuma Minami and Iwanuma Nishi Elementary Schools

Tamaura Elementary will focus on 'disaster preparedness' in product development, while Iwanuma Elementary will incorporate digital learning into its curriculum, tailoring the project to each school's unique strengths.

This year's project began in April, collecting 'dream retort curry' ideas from each student. From the 101 submissions, NISHIKIYA KITCHEN pre-selected 2–3 ideas per team, and on May 20 (Wednesday), each team voted to finalize one original curry concept.

*Product names and contents are subject to change.

● Team A: 'Honey Cheese Potato Butter Curry'

A dream curry packed with favorite ingredients

● Team B: 'Drinkable Yogurt Curry'

A dream curry inspired by the idea that 'curry can be a drink'

Iwanuma Elementary: A 150-Year-Old School Embracing DX Education

Founded in 1873 (Meiji 6), Iwanuma Elementary is a historic school located in central Iwanuma City, Miyagi Prefecture, deeply rooted in the local community. Surrounded by cultural sites like Takekoma Inari Shrine, the school fosters ambitious, resilient students. While honoring tradition, it was designated as a 'Leading DX School' by Japan's Ministry of Education in 2023 and 2024, implementing advanced digital learning with one device per student.

About Nishiki Foods Co., Ltd. and NISHIKIYA KITCHEN

What is NISHIKIYA KITCHEN?

A specialty brand offering around 120 types of retort foods, including curries, soups, pasta sauces, and baby food, under the concept 'Making World Cuisine Easy.'

Key Features

Focuses on natural flavors without relying on artificial additives.

◉ No artificial seasonings (including amino acids), colorings, or flavorings.

*Uses natural umami ingredients like yeast extract, classified as food

Brand Mission

To transform retort food from 'taking shortcuts' to 'making things easy'—reducing cooking burdens and increasing quality time. Aiming to be the brand people think of when they say 'retort curry.'

Signature Products

Butter Chicken Curry: The culmination of over 10 years of research in India, the birthplace of curry.

・Corn Potage: A long-selling favorite with the same recipe for over 10 years.

Where to Buy

- 7 company-operated stores in Tokyo and Miyagi Prefecture, and official online shop

- Previously operated pop-up stores at Shibuya Scramble Square and Hankyu Umeda Main Store in Osaka

Media Features

Featured on TV Tokyo's 'Cambrian Palace,' MBS/TBS's 'Sho-san, O-todoke Monodesu!,' TBS's 'Sakurai & Arikawa THE Night,' MBS/TBS's 'Saturday Plus,' and many others.

At its opening, NISHIKIYA KITCHEN's store at Aeon Mall Natori drew lines of over 100 people.

Company Overview

Company Name: Nishiki Foods Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: 265-1 Shimonogo, Iwanuma City, Miyagi Prefecture

Leadership: Chairman/Representative Director: Yo Kikuchi; President/Representative Director: Yoichi Kikuchi

Founded: March 1952

Capital: 30 million JPY

Website: