Supporting Small-Scale Rice Farmers in Oogawara Town, Miyagi Prefecture, by Featuring Delicious "Hitomebore" Rice, Nurtured by the Town's Soil, as a Furusato Nozei Return Gift.

Redhorse Corporation (Headquarters: Sumida-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and COO: Kensuke Yamada; hereinafter "the Company"), whose main business is regional revitalization, has registered "Hitomebore," a brand rice from Oogawara Town, Miyagi Prefecture (Mayor: Kiyoshi Sai; hereinafter "Oogawara Town"), as a new Furusato Nozei return gift. To register this product, in response to Oogawara Town's strong desire to "improve donations from local product businesses," the Company proposed an initiative that utilizes the scheme of its current "Rice Project," which is being implemented nationwide. With the cooperation of the Agricultural Policy Division, an explanatory meeting was held for rice farmers in the town, and when participants were recruited, three rice farmers agreed to participate. The Company purchases unpolished rice, handles milling and package design, and began accepting donations on various Furusato Nozei sites in Oogawara Town from April 6. Through internal collaboration within the town office, the project was explained to rice farmers in Oogawara Town, realizing the transformation of their produce into a return gift without burdening the producers. The Company is currently engaged in the "Rice Project" nationwide. In the "Rice Project," the Company purchases locally produced unpolished rice from small-scale rice farmers who cannot handle milling, packaging, or shipping themselves, and then produces it as a Furusato Nozei return gift until shipment. Oogawara Town faced the challenge that "although we want to improve donations from local product businesses and feature local rice as a return gift, many of the farmers are small-scale and cannot handle Furusato Nozei operations." In response, the Company's representative for Oogawara Town proposed the development of a return gift utilizing the "Rice Project" scheme. The Agricultural Policy Division of Oogawara Town was also asked for cooperation in connecting with rice farmers, and the Company participated in an explanatory meeting held by the Agricultural Policy Division to explain Oogawara Town's Furusato Nozei and this initiative. Subsequently, individual visits were made to rice farmers, and after explaining the details to each one, it was decided to purchase a total of 8 tons of "Hitomebore" from three farmers. As a result, a new return gift was born in Oogawara Town, which, despite being in Miyagi Prefecture, one of the leading rice-producing regions in Japan, had few rice return gifts. "We want people nationwide to taste our delicious local rice!" This project started from that desire. This is a "special bag" that transforms the rice from farmers who had difficulty with shipping and thus could not deliver their rice outside the town, into a "Furusato Nozei return gift" through collective regional effort. Please try the sincerity of the farmers encapsulated in each grain. Rice grown with the clear water and soil that nurtures Hitome Senbonzakura (One Thousand Cherry Trees at a Glance) is characterized by a strong sweetness that spreads with every bite. Even when cooled, it retains its chewy texture and rich flavor, making it perfect for bento boxes and onigiri. We would be delighted if we could deliver such daily happiness, where family conversations sparkle with comments like, "Today's bento rice is delicious!" Please enjoy the proud taste, realized by the cooperative efforts of Oogawara's farmers, to the fullest! "Rice that makes you fall in love at first bite," created by the melted snow of the Zao mountain range and mineral-rich soil. Pre-orders for new rice from the Reiwa 8 fiscal year are now available. This time, the Company purchased "Hitomebore" from Oogawara Town. This rice is nurtured by the melted snow from the Zao mountain range and the fertile land cultivated over a thousand years. It is a brand rice that Miyagi Prefecture boasts, with sweet steam rising the moment it's cooked, each grain shining with gloss, and a natural sweetness that spreads with every chew. Through the development of this return gift, we expect to create new income for rice farmers in the town, which they have never had before, and that their meticulously cultivated and proud rice will bring joy to donors nationwide. ■ Return Gift Name / Minimum Donation Amount Hitomebore New Rice, Reiwa 8 Fiscal Year, Pre-order 5kg x 1 bag 5kg x 2 bags 1 time 9,000 yen 18,000 yen Subscription 2 times 18,000 yen 36,000 yen Subscription 3 times 27,000 yen 54,000 yen Subscription 6 times 54,000 yen 108,000 yen Subscription 12 times 108,000 yen 216,000 yen ■ Main Oogawara Town Furusato Nozei Donation Sites Rakuten Furusato Nozei, Furusato Choice, Furunavi, Furusato Premium, Saison's Furusato Nozei, ANA Furusato Nozei, Furusato Hyakusen, JAL Furusato Nozei, Amazon Furusato Nozei, JRE MALL Furusato Nozei Rakuten Furusato Nozei return gift page: https://item.rakuten.co.jp/f043214-ogawara/52323925/ [Redhorse Corporation] Headquarters: KOKUGIKAN FRONT BUILDING 2F, 1-10-5 Yokozuna, Sumida-ku, Tokyo 130-0015 Established: March 1964 Representative: Kensuke Yamada, Representative Director and COO Business activities: Regional industry support and revitalization business, consumer business URL: https://www.redhorse