Yamagata High School Team ONI³ Pays Courtesy Visit to Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
On March 27, 2026, the high school team ONI³ (Kokomi Saito, Yuri Shibuya, Yuna Kano) from Yamagata Prefectural Yonezawa Kojokan High School paid a courtesy visit to Norikazu Suzuki, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, to report on their research activities addressing Japan's declining rice consumption. This visit was organized by Plat Yonezawa Co., Ltd., their SSH coordinator, following ONI³'s gold prize win in the East Japan block of the 8th Change Maker Awards (an English presentation contest) and their advancement to the national competition. ONI³ focuses on onigiri (rice balls), developing original recipes, conducting in-school workshops, and engaging in food education at local children's cafeterias, in response to the halving of per capita rice consumption over the past 60 years. The visit took place at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, where the Minister offered words of encouragement. The activity was sponsored by Hiroshi Minami, Representative Director of Yamagata-za Takinami, and Rintaro Otake, owner of Babanocho Hayashi. Plat Yonezawa Co., Ltd., established on April 20, 2022, is a DMO (Destination Management Organization) also involved in tourism database management.
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- 📰 Published: April 13, 2026 at 18:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 13, 2026 at 16:35
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The team ONI³ from Yamagata Prefectural Yonezawa Kojokan High School, consisting of Kokomi Saito, Yuri Shibuya, and Yuna Kano, met with Norikazu Suzuki, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, on March 27, 2026, at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in Kasumigaseki, Tokyo. This visit was planned and realized by Plat Yonezawa Co., Ltd., which serves as the SSH coordinator for the team. The purpose was to directly inform the Minister about ONI³'s achievement of winning the gold prize in the East Japan block of the 8th Change Maker Awards, an English presentation contest organized by ESiBLA, and their subsequent advancement to the national competition. ONI³'s research activities, under the theme "DON'T GET BEATEN BY BREAD!! ONIGIRI COUNTERATTACK ～Onigiri saves the rice～," address the issue of declining rice consumption in Japan. Faced with a more than 50% reduction in per capita rice consumption over the past 60 years, their initiatives include focusing on onigiri, developing original recipes, conducting in-school workshops (where all participants felt the barrier to making onigiri was lowered), and engaging in food education activities at local children's cafeterias, connecting their research to practical implementation. The Minister evaluated their activities and offered words of encouragement. The activity support funds for this visit were provided by Hiroshi Minami (Representative Director of Yamagata-za Takinami / Co-representative of Okitama Gastronomy Academia) and Rintaro Otake (Owner of Babanocho Hayashi / Co-representative of Okitama Gastronomy Academia). Plat Yonezawa Co., Ltd. (Location: Machi Studio, 2-1-12 Honcho, Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture; Representative: Hiroaki Miyajima; Established: April 20, 2022; Business: DMO, tourism database management) facilitated the visit.
FAQ
Who are the members of the Yamagata High School team ONI³ that visited the Minister?
The members of the Yamagata High School team ONI³ who visited the Minister are Kokomi Saito, Yuri Shibuya, and Yuna Kano.
What was the primary purpose of ONI³'s courtesy visit to the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries?
The primary purpose of ONI³'s visit was to inform the Minister about their gold prize win in the East Japan block of the 8th Change Maker Awards and their advancement to the national competition.
What is the research theme of ONI³ and what issue does it address?
ONI³'s research theme is "DON'T GET BEATEN BY BREAD!! ONIGIRI COUNTERATTACK ～Onigiri saves the rice～," and it addresses the issue of declining rice consumption in Japan.
What specific initiatives has ONI³ implemented as part of their research on declining rice consumption?
ONI³ has focused on onigiri, developed original recipes, conducted in-school workshops to lower the barrier to making onigiri, and engaged in food education at local children's cafeterias.
Which organization facilitated the courtesy visit for the ONI³ team?
Plat Yonezawa Co., Ltd., which serves as the SSH coordinator for the team, facilitated the courtesy visit for the ONI³ team.