Craft Gin Made with Ishikawa Prefecture Broccoli is Complete - 19th Prefectural Gin Project 'Ishikawa Ken-Gin by agataJapan' Pre-release from May 16

Official Page: https://bit.ly/ec_kengin

Starmark Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Masakatsu Hayashi) will release 'Ishikawa Ken-Gin,' using broccoli from Ishikawa Prefecture, as the 19th installment of its 'Ken-Gin Project by agataJapan,' which promotes the charms of various regions in Japan.

Ahead of the general release, a crowdfunding campaign will begin on CAMPFIRE on Saturday, May 16, at 8:00 AM.

CAMPFIRE Crowdfunding Project Ishikawa Ken-Gin, Ken-Gin Project by agataJapan 'Be the first to receive the craft gin 'Ishikawa Ken-Gin' with the aroma of Kaga's snow-covered broccoli!' Project page available here. You can also view it from the QR code on the left.

In the Spotlight After Half a Century! A Healthy Craft Gin Grown in the Fields of Kaga

The 'Ken-Gin Project by agataJapan,' planned and sold by Starmark Inc., communicates the appeal of local specialties from all over Japan through craft gin. As its 19th product, 'Ishikawa Ken-Gin' has been created, using broccoli from Ishikawa Prefecture as the key botanical.

In fact, Kaga City in Ishikawa Prefecture is one of Japan's leading broccoli production areas. In 2026, broccoli was added to the national 'designated vegetables' list for the first time in half a century, receiving an official endorsement as an essential vegetable for national life. We saw this as a perfect opportunity to widely promote the appeal of Kaga broccoli and took on the challenge of gin-making.

About the Botanical, Kaga Broccoli

In Ishikawa Prefecture, there are farmers who grow broccoli with surprising energy, vitality, and enjoyment. Particularly noteworthy are what are called 'Etto broccoli' (overwintering broccoli) or 'Yukishita broccoli' (snow-covered broccoli). By being preserved under the winter cold and snow (approx. 0°C, high humidity) for over two months, starch turns into sugar to prevent freezing, resulting in extremely high sweetness and nutritional value, with sugar content sometimes reaching over 9 degrees. The main production area for this is, precisely, Ishikawa Prefecture in the Hokuriku region.

The main botanical for 'Ishikawa Ken-Gin' is broccoli from Kaga City, Ishikawa Prefecture. For the initial production lot being delivered this time, we used 'Yukishita broccoli,' which is in season from around December to March.

Recommended Ways to Enjoy Ishikawa Ken-Gin

The taste of Ishikawa Ken-Gin is also perfect as a drink to accompany meals. Please add it to your enjoyable moments, such as sprinkling black pepper on your gin and tonic finish, or mixing it with hot water to bring out the sweet aroma of broccoli.

[Ishikawa Ken-Gin by agataJapan]

- Sales Price: 6,600 yen (tax included) - Volume: 500ml - Alcohol Content: 40% Manufacturer: Tateyama Brewing Co., Ltd. Seller: Starmark Inc.

Ishikawa Ken-Gin Support Team

The Ken-Gin Project has a regional producer at the center of activities in each prefecture. For this Ishikawa Ken-Gin, we achieved commercialization with the cooperation of the following individuals. We will promote Ishikawa Ken-Gin not only within the prefecture but also domestically and with an eye on global expansion.

- Ishikawa Ken-Gin Producer Yoji Yamaguchi (Philologist, Japanese Language Historian / Kaga-Yamashiro Onsen Project Member)

- Ishikawa Support Team Atsuko Taniguchi (Taniguchi Gofukuten) Tomoko Shimoara (Shimoara Inc.)

◆ What is the Ken-Gin Project? 'Craft Gin that Connects Japan'

As part of Starmark Inc.'s agataJapan private brand, agataJapan ORIGINAL, which promotes and sells good things from Japan, this initiative plans, develops, and deploys one original craft gin, 'Ken-Gin,' for each of the 47 prefectures nationwide. Using local specialties as botanicals and focusing on deliciousness, of course, our motto is 'to make everyone smile, whether they're from the prefecture or not.' We use 'Ken-Gin' as a tool for enjoyable communication at gatherings, to promote the charm of each prefecture, revitalize regions, and create networks connecting producers and sellers. We are also looking for partners to work with us on 'Ken-Gin' production in various regions. If you are interested, please contact us.

◆ About Product Sales

In addition to online sales on our EC site 'Shinise Tsushin.net' and Rakuten Ichiba, we will also expand sales to restaurants in Tokyo and other areas, as well as to countries around the world, including Vietnam, through our 'agataJapan.cafe YUKIMURA' in Ho Chi Minh City's Takashimaya. We also handle wholesale for restaurants.