| KANAGAWA, May 27 – More than 0.3 million onigiri rice balls were sold, collaborating with Japan’s popular travel guidebook series, Chikyu-no-Arukikata (Globe-Trotter Travel Guidebook). The collaboration onigiri project is produced by Mitsuhashi Corporation, a Japanese rice wholesaler based in Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture. The fun of adapting local delicacies such as “Yokohama-style ramen noodles” from Kanagawa and “Corn Rice” from Hokkaido into onigiri proved popular, and the company achieved its sales goal one month ahead of schedule. The first collaboration onigiri was released in June 2024 at supermarkets in the Kanto eastern region of Japan, followed by other types created based on people’s favorites from all over the country. The first one was an onigiri featuring Corn Rice from Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan, which has become the best seller in the series. Other versions include onigiri featuring Okonomiyaki (a savory pancake with a choice of fillings) from Hiroshima Prefecture, Tai Meshi (rice cooked with a sea bream) from the Shikoku region, Shimotsukare (rice cooked with salmon, soy beans and several vegetables) from Tochigi Prefecture, and Taiwan-Donburi (Taiwanese pork stew bowl) from Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture. According to Mitsuhashi, selling 0.3 million original rice balls has contributed to a growth in rice consumption by approximately 10 tons. The company aims to develop the series into one that raises awareness of local foods and specialties that are not yet widely known, and helps revitalize Japan’s agricultural industry |
Onigiri featuring Corn Rice from Hokkaido is the most popular onigiri in the series. (Photo by Mitsuhashi)