Nagano Prefecture's Ikusaka Village and Toyo Rice Corporation Sign Comprehensive Partnership Agreement ~Enhancing the Added Value of Ikusaka Village Rice, Promoting Health and Agricultural Development~

From left, Tetsuo Sakamoto, President and Representative Director of Toyo Rice Corporation, and Yasuhiko Fujisawa, Mayor of Ikusaka Village.

Ikusaka Village (Mayor: Yasuhiko Fujisawa, hereinafter "Ikusaka Village") and Toyo Rice Corporation (President and Representative Director: Tetsuo Sakamoto, Wakayama Headquarters: Wakayama City, hereinafter "Toyo Rice") have signed a comprehensive partnership agreement on July 3, Reiwa 8 (2026), with the aim of improving the added value of rice produced in Ikusaka Village, promoting the health of villagers, and revitalizing the region through the promotion of food education.

Based on this agreement, as a health support initiative initially targeting the children of Ikusaka Village, local rice served in elementary and junior high school lunches will be provided as "Kinme Rice," which has enhanced nutritional value through Toyo Rice's unique technology.

Furthermore, to widely promote the appeal of Ikusaka Village rice outside the village, we will proceed with its use as a return gift for hometown tax donations and plan to sell Kinme Rice at the roadside station "Ikusaka no Sato."

In addition, the byproduct "Kome no Sei" generated during the processing of Kinme Rice will be provided as organic fertilizer to producers within the village, working to improve the brand value of agricultural products in Ikusaka Village and promote resource-recycling and environmentally friendly agriculture.

Through this agreement, we aim to achieve sustainable regional development and enhance regional vitality, with "food" and "agriculture" at its core, while increasing the value of "rice," a regional resource, in response to regional challenges such as population decline and the aging of agricultural workers faced by Ikusaka Village.

*"Kinme Rice" is rice that is delicious and easily digestible, retaining the nutrients of brown rice, such as vitamins and minerals, through Toyo Rice's unique processing technology. By leaving the "aleurone layer," which contains nutrients and umami components, on the surface, which is typically removed along with the bran during general polishing, it has a characteristic faint sweetness. In recent years, the health effects of continuous consumption of Kinme Rice and other products have been scientifically demonstrated and published in papers.

【Cooperation Matters in the Comprehensive Partnership Agreement】

Matters related to agricultural promotion

Matters related to health promotion

Matters related to food education promotion

Matters related to regional revitalization

Matters related to promoting the appeal of Ikusaka Village

Matters that the parties deem necessary to achieve the objectives of this agreement

【Overview of Ikusaka Village, Nagano Prefecture】

Ikusaka Village is a village of approximately 1,600 people located almost in the center of Nagano Prefecture, blessed with abundant nature and the clear Saigawa River, with views of the Northern Alps. Agriculture, such as rice and grapes, which takes advantage of the temperature difference between day and night, is thriving, and agriculture is an important industry that supports the region.

【Overview of Toyo Rice Corporation】

Established = 1961

Capital = 100 million yen

Business Description = Processing, manufacturing, and sales of Kinme Rice, Kinme Low-Cut Brown Rice, BG Wash-Free Rice,

Development, manufacturing, and sales of rice polishing equipment, and other businesses

Wakayama Headquarters Location = 12 Kuroda, Wakayama City

Phone Number = 073-471-3011

URL = https://www.toyo-rice.jp/