[Event Report] Local Children Propose New Naruto Specialty, Local Companies to Commercialize

Children from "Naruto Base" and "Fureai House Ribbon," two Children's Third Places (※) in Naruto City, Tokushima Prefecture, collaborated with local company Narutobase (Buenapinta Inc., Representative Director Koji Ozeki) and local producer Fruit Garden Yamagata Co., Ltd. (Representative Director Bungo Yamagata). They proposed creative bread filled with their ideas, using the local specialty "pear," and participated in a manufacturing experience towards commercialization.

Prior to this, the children considered Naruto City's local specialties, food culture, and food loss. They presented their ideas to producers and local companies, learning many essential skills for society, such as product pricing and sales points. As a result, they successfully prototyped and manufactured two types of pear bread.

【Scenes from the Day】

Date: March 26, 2026 Location: Narutobase 21 children from Children's Third Places in Naruto City participated.

When the children asked curious questions about the bread manufacturing process, the Narutobase staff, who make the bread, answered each question carefully. The children were surprised to hear that about 1000 breads are baked daily with over 100 variations, and questions poured in one after another.

The children learned about the production process of their familiar local specialty, "pear," and understood the producers' feelings. They also learned that B-grade and C-grade pears, unfortunately affected by weather, taste just as good as A-grade ones. They tasted the pear bread, hoping it would become a popular product, and exclaimed, "Delicious!" and "This is my first time!" with smiles all around.

(Left) A Danish pastry filled with Narutobase's proud custard and the gentle sweetness of compote pears.

(Right) A Danish pastry with compote pears topped with chocolate, featuring a rare brulee finish for bread.

These two types of pear bread, filled with the children's aspirations, will be sold by the children themselves from 8:00 AM on May 17, 2026, at the Naruto Sunday Market ~Machimusubi~ (in front of Naruto City Hall). Additionally, the local company Narutobase, which manufactured the bread, will also sell it for a limited time at a dedicated booth.

This initiative is a project supported by Learning for All (Special Non-Profit Organization) based on donations from the Fureai Welfare Association NPO, which operates the Children's Third Places "Naruto Base" and "Fureai House Ribbon."

Date and Time: March 26, 2026 (Thursday) 13:30 - 16:30

Location: Narutobase 125 Matsushima, Kurosaki, Muya-cho, Naruto City, Tokushima Prefecture 772-8508
Participating locations: Children's Third Places "Naruto Base" and "Fureai House Ribbon" (Naruto City, Tokushima Prefecture)

21 elementary and junior high school students participated.

―Contact Information―
NPO Fureai Welfare Association Yamabiko Help
Contact: Sakai (Child-rearing Support Department) Phone: 088-661-7466 (Direct line to Fureai House Ribbon)
Email: misato_sakai@yamabikohelp.com Website: https://www.yamabikohelp.com/

※What is "Children's Third Place"?

"Children's Third Place" is a nationwide initiative launched by The Nippon Foundation in 2016, aiming to foster the resilience all children need for future independence. As family difficulties become more complex and severe, and community ties weaken, these places provide a safe environment where all children can spend time under the watchful eye of local adults. They help children develop self-esteem, the ability to interact with people and society, establish living and learning habits, and gain experiential opportunities during after-school hours and long holidays. Currently, 261 locations are established nationwide (as of the end of September 2025).

【Narutobase】

Founded in Naruto City in 2016 under the philosophy of "From Naruto to the world with 'delicious'." Since its establishment, it has been developing its business around creating new value in "food" products and services that utilize ingredients from Naruto, Tokushima, and Shikoku, providing joy, happiness, satisfaction, and the best moments through "food" to all people. It operates restaurants, bakery shops, food processing plants, and bread factories in Naruto City, and a Western-style bar in Tokushima City. In addition to developing numerous regional collaboration menus in its own food and beverage business, it also trades processed foods and bread products made with Tokushima ingredients to food and beverage businesses in other prefectures, disseminating the charm of local food to a wide area.

【Fruit Garden Yamagata】

Operating in agriculture in Naruto City, Tokushima Prefecture for over 100 years, it currently produces and sells "strawberries" and "pears." In addition, it operates a cafe using fruits harvested in-house, a barbecue area, and tourist farms for strawberry picking. It also conducts various park and seminar activities, such as expanding its know-how in delicious fruit cultivation to new farmers, and utilizing IT in agriculture and promoting sixth industrialization, working to make agriculture a more attractive industry from Naruto.

【"Children's Third Place" Naruto Base, Fureai House Ribbon】

Since 2019, we have operated two Children's Third Places in Naruto City, aiming to be a "child-centered" place where local children can feel safe. By sharing daily time with trusted staff and friends, mainly elementary school students in the region, children's life rhythms are regulated, their motivation to learn increases, and each child's resilience is nurtured. We also actively hold events and workshops to foster various sensibilities.

Operating organization: Specified Non-Profit Organization Fureai Welfare Association Yamabiko Help
Location: 2F Fureai Center Otsu, 84-2 Nakano-koshi, Kizuno, Otsu-cho, Naruto City, Tokushima Prefecture
Established: April 2000 Representative Director: Yayoi Sakai
URL: https://www.yamabikohelp.com/