[Event Report] Rice Planting Experience in Minamiaso Village, a Water Source, as Part of Groundwater Conservation! 'Minamiaso Village Rice Planting Experience Event 2026' Held on May 16 (Sat)!

Premium Water Inc. (Location: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Akihiko Kanemoto), which provides natural water collected from one of Japan's leading water sources—kept delicious and rich in minerals through non-heating treatment—to homes, hosted the 'Minamiaso Village Rice Planting Experience Event 2026' on May 16, 2026 (Sat) in Minamiaso Village, Aso District, Kumamoto Prefecture, for customers who use Premium Water.

Details of 'Minamiaso Village Rice Planting Experience Event 2026'

On the day of the event, we invited local talents Kohei Takamura and Chinnen as special guests. We conducted various projects where participants could enjoy the food and nature of Kumamoto, such as rice planting, a tour of the Premium Water factory, a creature observation session, a BBQ featuring Kumamoto's famous Aka beef, yamame trout catching, nagashi somen (flowing somen noodles), and a mochi pounding experience.

In the rice planting experience, participants planted seedlings of 'Akigeshiki,' a rice variety grown in the high-altitude areas of the Aso region in Kumamoto Prefecture. Although the children were initially surprised by the feel of the mud, they became skilled at planting the seedlings as time went on.

Comments from Participants Parent: 'It was our first time rice planting as a parent and child, and getting all muddy was so much fun! We definitely want to participate again.' Child: 'I was a little scared to go into the rice paddy, but it was fun to plant them myself!'

Comments from Guests Kohei Takamura and Chinnen Mr. Takamura: 'Thank you all for participating! We enjoyed it along with everyone. Hope we can meet again!' Mr. Chinnen: 'Hope today's rice planting event becomes a great memory for everyone! Thank you very much!'

Details of the Factory Tour at Premium Water's Minamiaso Village Factory (Hicom Water Inc.) Minamiaso Village Factory HP: https://hicomwater.co.jp/about-factory/ The Minamiaso Village factory, located in Minamiaso Village, Aso District, Kumamoto Prefecture, at the foot of Mount Aso, handles water collection and bottling. In addition to thorough cleaning of the production line, we maintain a complete production system to ensure safe, secure, and delicious natural water can be delivered to customers at any time, such as by performing strict quality inspections and management by human hands once an hour.

Furthermore, as proof of our safe and secure water, the factory is a 'factory you can see,' where all processes from filling to packaging are open to the public and complete with a space for visitors, allowing you to see the entire manufacturing process.

About the 'Minamiaso Village Rice Planting and Harvesting Experience Event' Natural water from Minamiaso, which is also the water source for Premium Water, is not only safe but also has abundant groundwater. Starting in 2015, we began initiatives inviting customers who use Premium Water to participate in 'rice planting' and 'harvesting' with the desire to 'preserve the groundwater nurtured by the nature of Minamiaso for the future, and to share the deliciousness of rice grown with Minamiaso's natural water cooked with the same local natural water with everyone.'

In the rice fields supported by Premium Water, we also support the 'Protecting Groundwater Rice Paddy Activities,' where rice is cultivated using a farming method that keeps water in the field all year round to promote water infiltration into the ground, leading to groundwater conservation activities. Eating the rice harvested in these fields also contributes to groundwater conservation activities, and we have been carrying out activity support together with many customers through this event.

Moving forward, as a company that manufactures and sells natural mineral water using important natural resources, we will continue to engage in local environmental conservation activities that nurture safe and delicious water, and continue to hold 'experiential events' that customers can participate in.

About Premium Water Premium Water is a service that rents or sells water servers and delivers water to your home (regular delivery). It saves the trouble of going to buy heavy water or boiling water, allowing you to use delicious 'raw natural water' at any time. Premium Water's 'raw natural water' is 'non-heat treated,' which is a benchmark for water quality and deliciousness.