Starting July 17 (Fri): Kagamiishi Town, Fukushima's 'Farmers-as-Heroes Café: VEGETABLE LIFE CAFE' to Run Long-Term from Summer to Winter, Celebrating 5 Months of Seasonal Local Flavors

Yabaeien Communication Content Production Co., Ltd., a group company of the comprehensive production enterprise Yabaeien Corporation (President & CEO: Yoshinori Inoue, Minato-ku, Tokyo), will host the pop-up café 'Farmers-as-Heroes Café: VEGETABLE LIFE CAFE ~Made in Kagami-ishi~' in collaboration with local farmers and businesses under the comprehensive partnership agreement with Kagamiishi Town, Fukushima Prefecture. The event will be held from Friday, July 17, 2026, to Sunday, December 20, 2026—approximately five months—at the Kagamiishi Town Health and Welfare Center 'Hogarakan.' Following last year’s event, this year’s edition will run long-term, with menus changing seasonally to reflect the freshest local ingredients. By transforming locally grown produce into special dishes crafted by Yabaeien chefs, the café aims to convey the charm of agriculture through food, ultimately contributing to increasing new farmers, promoting the town’s core agricultural industry, and expanding visitor and community engagement.

※Photo is for illustrative purposes only.

Yabaeien signed a comprehensive partnership agreement with Kagamiishi Town, Fukushima Prefecture, in March 2021, and has since worked on brand promotion and regional revitalization. Among various initiatives—such as pop-up events, food truck operations, and employee farming experiences—last year’s 'Farmers-as-Heroes Café: VEGETABLE LIFE CAFE' stood out as a key project showcasing the charm of this agriculture-rich town.

Last year’s event was realized through proposals from local farmers who wished to share the appeal of their homegrown crops with more people. Despite being limited to about one month, it attracted many visitors, including local residents.

This year, the event period expands to approximately five months—from July 17, 2026 (Fri) to December 20, 2026 (Sun). By changing menus according to the season, the café aims to evolve from a one-time summer event into a pop-up destination that invites repeat visits to experience the seasonal flavors from summer through winter.

The café will serve seasonal dishes created by Yabaeien chefs using fresh ingredients provided by local farmers and businesses. Continuing from last year, in-store displays will highlight the charm of farming and the 'coolness' of farmers. This year, students from Fukushima Prefectural Iwase Agricultural High School in Kagamiishi Town will also contribute to the in-store exhibitions.

The event aims to increase visitors from within and outside the town, expand exchange and relational populations, promote new farming entrants, and contribute to addressing agricultural challenges and nurturing the next generation.

Additionally, some menu items using Kagamiishi-produced agricultural products will be manufactured by local businesses. After the café closes, these businesses may continue selling the items based on their preferences. Discussions are also underway to commercialize select products, aiming to create a sustainable local economic cycle starting from this café.

Event Overview

・Period: July 17 (Fri), 2026 – December 20 (Sun), 2026

※Opening at 12:00 PM on July 17 (Fri)

※Menu changes starting Tuesday, September 15, and Monday, October 26, 2026

・Hours: 〈Lunch〉 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM (Last Order 1:30 PM) 〈Café〉 2:00 PM – 5:30 PM (Last Order 5:00 PM)

・Closed: Every Wednesday (subject to temporary closures due to facility conditions)

〈Temporary closures for facility cleaning and town events. Please note:〉

July 24 (Fri), 25 (Sat), August 20 (Thu), 22 (Sat), September 17 (Thu), 26 (Sat)

October 9 (Fri), 13 (Tue), 15 (Thu), 24 (Sat), 26 (Mon), 27 (Tue)

November 9 (Mon), 13 (Fri), 14 (Sat), 19 (Thu), 27 (Fri), 28 (Sat)

December 4 (Fri), 17 (Thu), 18 (Fri)

・Location: 2nd Floor, Kagamiishi Town Health and Welfare Center 'Hogarakan' (286 Higashimachi, Koriyama District, Fukushima Prefecture)

・Host: Kagamiishi Town, Fukushima Prefecture

・Planning & Operation: Yabaeien Communication Content Production Co., Ltd.

Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration: A Pop-Up Café Utilizing a Community Welfare Facility

The café is located on the 2nd floor of 'Hogarakan,' a public facility long cherished as a community hub. This project is a collaborative industry-academia-government initiative, jointly planned and operated by local farmers, businesses, and various community organizations.

Students from Iwase Agricultural High School will assist operations, conduct surveys, interact with customers, and use their cultivated succulents for in-store decorations. Additionally, students from Nihon Culinary Institute in Koriyama City will work part-time, allowing the café to actively contribute to nurturing the next generation.

【Collaborators】

Japan Kagamiishi Revitalization Corporation / Fukushima Prefectural Iwase Agricultural High School / Nihon Culinary Institute, School Corporation Eiwa Gakuen / Kagamiishi Women Farmers

【Food, Processing, and Interior Support】 (in alphabetical order, partial list)

E-Concept Co., Ltd. (Rafra Sukagawa Store) / Miyuki Imaizumi / Iwase Farm / Masako Unuma / Kagamiishi Noyuen / Sakuma Sangyo Co., Ltd. / Suzuki Pear Orchard / Takako Hasegawa / Mai Hayashi / Pan Kobo Hidamari / Masako Fujishima / Bonaal Confectionery Shop / Yaginuma Grapes / Chizuko Yanuma /

Yumenomina Agricultural Cooperative Kagamiishi Rice-Making Division / Meguro Farm (Dairy Cooperative) / Watanabe Fruit Farm / Wada Farm and others

Food: Seasonal Kagamiishi Ingredients Reimagined by Yabaeien Chefs and Local Businesses

This year’s biggest highlight is the seasonal menu rotation over the five-month period. The dishes available will vary depending on when visitors come.

The menu, co-developed by Yabaeien chefs and local businesses using ingredients nurtured by Kagamiishi’s rich nature and fertile soil, features juicy peaches, sweet corn, and tomatoes in summer. From autumn to winter, enjoy GAP-certified kikurage mushrooms, autumn vegetables, and pumpkins. Throughout the event, savor the town’s brand rice 'Makiba no Shizuku,' onions, and strawberries. Every dish uses traceable ingredients from known producers, offering unique, unrepeatable culinary experiences that let visitors taste the terroir and charm of agriculture in Kagamiishi.

【Sample Menu】 Summer: July 17 (Fri) – September 14 (Mon) ※Menu subject to change without notice.

〈FOOD〉※Served during lunch

※Photo is for illustrative purposes only

・Left: Melting Cheese Butter Chicken Curry with Pickled Iwase Cucumber – ¥1,050 (incl. tax)

The pickle is made from Iwase cucumbers from Fukushima Prefecture, known for their low bitterness.

・Center: Sweet Corn Tartare from Kagamiishi and Herb-Crusted White Fish – ¥1,200 (incl. tax)

Enjoy the crispy fried white fish with tartare made from fresh sweet corn harvested in Kagamiishi Town.

・Right: Handmade Hamburger Steak by Yabaeien with Tomato and Apple Demi-Glace Sauce