Yamagata High School Team ONI³ Pays Courtesy Visit to Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Team ONI³ from Yamagata Prefectural Yonezawa Kojokan High School visited Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Norikazu Suzuki on March 27, 2026. The visit was to report on their research activities addressing Japan's declining rice consumption, following their gold medal win at a high school English presentation contest. Plat Yonezawa Inc. organized the visit, with sponsorship from Hiroshi Minami and Rintaro Otake of Okitama Gastronomy Academia.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 13, 2026 at 18:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 13, 2026 at 16:35
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 16, 2026 at 03:38 (59h 2m after Collected)
Team "ONI³ (Oni Cube)" (Kokomi Saito, Yuri Shibuya, Yuna Kano) from Yamagata Prefectural Yonezawa Kojokan High School met and exchanged opinions with Norikazu Suzuki, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, on Friday, March 27, 2026. This visit was planned and realized by Plat Yonezawa Inc., which serves as the SSH coordinator for the team.
[Group photo at the Minister's desk]
■ Background of the Visit
Plat Yonezawa Inc. (contact person: Oda) planned this visit with the desire to directly convey to the Minister the team's achievement of winning the gold prize in the East Japan block of the "8th Change Maker Awards (organized by ESiBLA)" high school English presentation contest and advancing to the national competition. The visit was realized with the sponsorship of 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).
■ About ONI³'s Research Activities
ONI³ has been addressing the issue of "rice aversion" in Japan with the theme "DON'T GET BEATEN BY BREAD!! ONIGIRI COUNTERATTACK ～Onigiri saves the rice～". As per capita rice consumption has decreased by more than half over the past 60 years, the team has focused on "onigiri," developed original recipes, conducted in-school workshops (where all participants felt the hurdle of making onigiri was lowered), and carried out food education activities at local children's cafeterias, connecting their research to practical implementation.
For details on their activities, please refer to the previous press release.
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000107.000117892.html
■ Summary of the Visit Day
From 13:45 on Friday, March 27, 2026, a meeting and opinion exchange were held with Norikazu Suzuki, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo). The three students directly conveyed the results of their research activities, and the Minister offered words of evaluation and encouragement for their efforts.
[Opinion exchange scene ①] [Opinion exchange scene ②] [At the entrance of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries]
■ To Our Sponsors
The activity support funds for this visit were made possible by the following two individuals who endorsed and sponsored the initiative.
Hiroshi Minami (Representative Director of Yamagata-za Takinami / Co-representative of Okitama Gastronomy Academia) https://yamagata-the-takinami.com/
Rintaro Otake (Owner of Babanocho Hayashi / Co-representative of Okitama Gastronomy Academia) https://www.facebook.com/babanochohayashi/
Thanks to the support of these two individuals, who are deeply committed to Yamagata's food culture and nurturing the next generation, high school students had the opportunity to directly present their research findings in Kasumigaseki. We express our sincere gratitude here.
【About Plat Yonezawa Inc.】
Company Name: Plat Yonezawa Inc.
Location: Machi Studio, 2-1-12 Honcho, Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture
Representative: Hiroaki Miyajima, Representative Director
Established: 2022/4/20
Business Activities: Tourism town development corporation (DMO), tourism database management
URL: https://www.plat-yonezawa.jp/
[Group photo at the Minister's desk]
■ Background of the Visit
Plat Yonezawa Inc. (contact person: Oda) planned this visit with the desire to directly convey to the Minister the team's achievement of winning the gold prize in the East Japan block of the "8th Change Maker Awards (organized by ESiBLA)" high school English presentation contest and advancing to the national competition. The visit was realized with the sponsorship of 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).
■ About ONI³'s Research Activities
ONI³ has been addressing the issue of "rice aversion" in Japan with the theme "DON'T GET BEATEN BY BREAD!! ONIGIRI COUNTERATTACK ～Onigiri saves the rice～". As per capita rice consumption has decreased by more than half over the past 60 years, the team has focused on "onigiri," developed original recipes, conducted in-school workshops (where all participants felt the hurdle of making onigiri was lowered), and carried out food education activities at local children's cafeterias, connecting their research to practical implementation.
For details on their activities, please refer to the previous press release.
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000107.000117892.html
■ Summary of the Visit Day
From 13:45 on Friday, March 27, 2026, a meeting and opinion exchange were held with Norikazu Suzuki, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo). The three students directly conveyed the results of their research activities, and the Minister offered words of evaluation and encouragement for their efforts.
[Opinion exchange scene ①] [Opinion exchange scene ②] [At the entrance of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries]
■ To Our Sponsors
The activity support funds for this visit were made possible by the following two individuals who endorsed and sponsored the initiative.
Hiroshi Minami (Representative Director of Yamagata-za Takinami / Co-representative of Okitama Gastronomy Academia) https://yamagata-the-takinami.com/
Rintaro Otake (Owner of Babanocho Hayashi / Co-representative of Okitama Gastronomy Academia) https://www.facebook.com/babanochohayashi/
Thanks to the support of these two individuals, who are deeply committed to Yamagata's food culture and nurturing the next generation, high school students had the opportunity to directly present their research findings in Kasumigaseki. We express our sincere gratitude here.
【About Plat Yonezawa Inc.】
Company Name: Plat Yonezawa Inc.
Location: Machi Studio, 2-1-12 Honcho, Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture
Representative: Hiroaki Miyajima, Representative Director
Established: 2022/4/20
Business Activities: Tourism town development corporation (DMO), tourism database management
URL: https://www.plat-yonezawa.jp/
FAQ
What activities is the ONI³ team involved in?
The ONI³ team is conducting research activities on the theme "DON'T GET BEATEN BY BREAD!! ONIGIRI COUNTERATTACK ～Onigiri saves the rice～" to address Japan's declining rice consumption. Specifically, they develop original onigiri recipes, conduct in-school workshops, and carry out food education activities at local children's cafeterias.
When and where did the courtesy visit to the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries take place?
A meeting and opinion exchange with Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Norikazu Suzuki took place from 13:45 on Friday, March 27, 2026, at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo).