Reviving Osaka's Food Culture with Lives Raised by High School Students: 'Nougei Duck Paitan Curry' Launched Through Regional Revitalization and Industry-Academia Collaboration on July 24, 'Summer Osaka Duck Sukiyaki Day'

Press release download link: d187376-1-45a75aa62725a04975e331499050848b.pdf

● Project Overview

IKIpuro Co., Ltd. (Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture; CEO: Junya Matsumoto), in cooperation with Osaka Prefectural Nogeigakko High School and under product development by Zipangu Food Relations Co., Ltd. (Kita-ku, Osaka City; CEO: Hidetoshi Ando), has developed the 'Nougei Duck Paitan Dashi Curry' using 'Nougei Duck (Nougei Gamō)', raised by students. Sales will begin on July 24, 2026, 'Summer Osaka Duck Sukiyaki Day'.

A press tasting event will be held on July 22, 2026, at the Zipangu Curry Cafe in Kita-ku, Osaka City. On July 25, students will gather at the Nogeigakko Agri-Fes held at Minoh Culture Hall to sell the retort curry directly. 'Nougei Duck (Osaka-mo Certified)' refers to ducks raised from hatchlings by students at Osaka Prefectural Nogeigakko High School, who experience the entire process—from free-range farming in rice paddies, fattening, butchering, cooking, to sales. Ultimately, they confront the act of consuming the lives they raised, practically learning the profound value of life behind the act of 'eating'.

● Origins of the Industry-Academia Collaboration 'Nougei Duck Paitan Dashi Curry Project'

This product was created to deliver to society, through a single dish of curry, the students’ deep-seated values of 'receiving life' and 'not wasting life', cultivated through their daily practice of duck farming using the Aigamo method. Beyond just duck meat, the project fully utilizes duck bones—previously underutilized—by combining rich duck paitan (white broth) with traditional Osaka-style dashi (kombu and katsuobushi), resulting in a dish that embodies student learning and connects to local food culture.

The starting point of product development is neither 'raising because they are cute' nor 'raising solely for commercialization'. These ducks are raised with the responsibility of honoring life and ensuring nothing goes to waste. Because of this responsibility and learning, no part is discarded. Even after meat utilization, duck bones retain rich umami. To maximize this value, a paitan soup is simmered from the bones and fused with Osaka-style dashi, creating a new, meaningful dish. The project’s goal extends beyond selling curry. We aim to inspire people to reconsider the true value of 'eating' by experiencing the lives raised by high school students and understanding the educational journey behind them. The core mission is to extend student learning beyond the classroom, transforming it into a tangible product that connects to and revitalizes regional food culture.

● Product Overview: 'Nougei Duck Paitan Dashi Curry'

● Creating a New Duck Culture in Osaka from Lives Raised by Students

Osaka is the birthplace of duck cuisine. During the Meiji era, when meat consumption was permitted, a popular saying emerged: 'You can't survive summer without eating *hiru*.' The tradition of eating 'duck sukiyaki' as a stamina-boosting summer dish during the Tenjin Festival spread among the common people. This tradition will now be passed on to future generations in a new form—the 'Nougei Duck Paitan Dashi Curry'—born from student learning. This project was realized through collaboration among schools, local communities, and enterprises, centered on student education. Through sustainable product development, circular agriculture, and industry-academia collaboration, we continue our challenge to connect student learning to society and pass on Osaka’s summer duck culture to the next generation.

*Historical name for duck meat at the time

[Comment from CEO Junya Matsumoto]

We wanted to extend the value of the Nougei Duck, which students at Osaka Prefectural Nogeigakko High School have nurtured, beyond the educational setting into the local community and society. Driven by this vision, we launched the 'Nougei Duck Paitan Dashi Curry' project. We aim to let more people know about the lives raised by high school students and to pass on Osaka’s historical duck cuisine to the future in a way that fits today’s world. This product is our challenge to achieve both goals.

[Company Overview]

For a future where children can truly 'live'. ~ Connecting sustainable local communities to the next generation ~

We operate businesses that nurture children’s ability to live their future in the 'happiest' way possible, connecting education, agriculture, and local communities under the theme of 'co-education, co-creation, coexistence'.

Company Name: IKIpuro Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: 53-1 Daikyo, Minoh-ku, Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture

Representative: Junya Matsumoto | Capital: 2,000,000 JPY | Founded: March 15, 2024

Website: https://www.ikipuro.jp/

EC Site: https://miraiefarm.base.shop/

[Media and Customer Inquiries]

IKIpuro Co., Ltd.

Phone: 080-5336-4066 (Contact: Matsumoto) | Email: [email protected]

Inquiry Form: https://forms.gle/Gb1QeWTXdWf5n3Mo7