New Product from Farmer-Founded Character Brand 'Armed Rice'! 'Armed Rice Curry' Launched to Enjoy with Rice

August 2026

Kinameru Farm

Original visual for 'Armed Rice Curry' (Illustration: Shizuma Yoshinori)

Kinameru Farm, a rice producer based in Ora Town, Ora District, Gunma Prefecture, has started accepting pre-orders for 'Armed Rice Curry' from 8:00 PM on Friday, August 14, 2026. This new product is part of 'Armed Rice,' a brand centered around the original character 'Kinameru Ru,' and was conceived with the goal of creating a curry that people would want to eat alongside the farm's own rice.

The product development began after customers shared on social media how they enjoyed eating 'Armed Rice' with curry. Kinameru Farm, anime director Yuu Shinda, and illustrator Yoshinori Shizuma tasted prototypes and provided feedback to French chef Shou Hayami, who led manufacturing, going through multiple rounds of testing and refinement. The curry contains no food additives, uses no curry powder, and is made from a blend of various spices, with some vegetables grown at Kinameru Farm also incorporated.

[Product Page] https://kinameru-farm.com/products/armed-rice-curry/

Product Development Inspired by Customer SNS Posts of 'Armed Rice with Curry'

Kinameru Farm had long discussed how they could offer their rice in more diverse and enjoyable ways.

'Armed Rice Curry' Serving Example

They revisited customer meal photos shared on social media after purchasing 'Armed Rice.' While customers enjoyed the rice with onigiri and Japanese dishes, posts showing it eaten with curry stood out.

Curry is widely regarded as a quintessential 'dish eaten with rice.' The team decided not only to suggest pairing it with store-bought curry but to create their own curry that rice farmers themselves would want to eat with their rice, turning the idea into a concrete project.

This product was born from insights gained through real customer experiences.

As Rice Farmers, They Pursued Deliciousness 'When Eaten with Rice'

Prioritizing Not Just Curry Flavor, But Compatibility with Rice

The key focus in developing Armed Rice Curry was not only the curry's standalone deliciousness but also how much more enjoyable it becomes when eaten with rice.

As rice farmers, Kinameru Farm paid special attention not only to the aroma of spices, umami of ingredients, richness, and spiciness but also to the flavor balance when paired with rice.

During prototyping, they tasted the curry with rice to ensure the flavors complemented each other. The final product aims to deliver a dish where 'the curry is delicious, and it becomes even more delicious with rice.'

Light, Vegetable-Rich Texture for Easy Eating

Packed with vegetables like onion, tomato, bell pepper, carrot, spinach, and komatsuna, the curry has a light, soup-like consistency. Despite its smooth texture, it retains the satisfying crunch of vegetables and the rich presence of chicken thigh meat.

The farm's representative himself eats Armed Rice Curry during breaks in farm work as a quick, satisfying meal. It offers a light yet fulfilling eating experience, ideal when you want a hearty rice dish.

It's delicious on its own, but adding grilled seasonal vegetables is also recommended.

The charred texture and aroma of grilled vegetables enhance the overall vegetable presence, creating a more vibrant dish.

Armed Rice Curry Wasn't Completed in One Try: Refined Through Repeated Tastings

Manufacturing: Shou Hayami, Representative of Hungry Innovation and French Chef

Shou Hayami, representative of Hungry Innovation and a French chef, was responsible for manufacturing the curry.

Hayami has experience working in French restaurants in Kyoto and Tokyo, serving as sous-chef and chef-sommelier, and now focuses on food manufacturing and product development.

The team first had Hayami create a prototype, then Kinameru Farm, anime director Yuu Shinda, and illustrator Yoshinori Shizuma conducted an online tasting session. Initial feedback included requests for 'more richness and umami,' leading to adjustments to enhance depth and flavor.

During the next tasting, the spice presence felt slightly weak compared to the umami, so they requested a stronger overall spice profile, especially for the spicy version.

Through multiple rounds of tasting, feedback, and re-prototyping, they fine-tuned the balance of vegetable and chicken umami, overall richness, spice aroma, and compatibility with rice.

No Food Additives. Made from Multiple Spices Instead of Curry Powder

Armed Rice Curry contains no food additives. Instead of curry powder, it uses a custom blend of individual spices such as cardamom, cumin, coriander, allspice, white pepper, and black pepper. Ingredients include chicken thigh, onion, tomato, bell pepper, carrot, spinach, komatsuna, and red wine. The recipe enhances the natural umami and richness of ingredients while ensuring the spice aroma remains prominent. Each pack contains 200g.

Mild Armed Rice Curry

A curry that balances spice aroma and richness without spiciness.

Rather than making 'mild = sweet,' the goal was to create a flavor enjoyable even for those who don't like spicy food. The final product delivers clear spice aromas and umami from vegetables and chicken.

Spicy Armed Rice Curry

The spicy version includes chili pepper.

It delivers noticeable heat without being extremely spicy, offering a balanced experience of umami and spiciness.

Rather than simply increasing intensity, the focus was on balancing richness and umami when eaten with rice. The aroma of spices becomes noticeable during heating, allowing enjoyment even before eating.

※ Spiciness perception varies by individual.

Farm-Grown Vegetables Partially Used. 'Niji no Kirameki' Rice Included with the Curry

Armed Rice Curry incorporates some agricultural products grown at Kinameru Farm. Since available produce varies by season and harvest, the vegetables used may change over time. As a rice farm selling processed goods, they aim to include not just rice but also farm-grown vegetables in their products whenever possible.

The rice included in the set is 'Niji no Kirameki,' cultivated by Kinameru Farm without pesticides or chemical fertilizers throughout the growing period. Rather than selling just curry, the product is designed to include 'eating it with the rice we grow,' a key point of pride in this launch.

Special Rice Bag for 'Niji no Kirameki' Featuring Original Illustration by Yoshinori Shizuma

Product Planning and Manga Storyline Connected: 'Visitor from a Foreign Land' Chapter Released

'Armed Rice' also features a 4-panel manga starring the original character 'Kinameru Ru.' In conjunction with the curry product, which aims to create a rice-pairing curry, a new episode titled 'Visitor from a Foreign Land' has been released, themed around curry.