Hops for Beer Cultivated on Rooftop of Downtown Campus: Nomura Seminar Collaborates with 'Shinobazu Hop Project' to Realize Regionally Circular Urban Agriculture

Toyo Gakuen University (School Corporation Toyo Gakuen, Headquarters: Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo; Chairman: Aichi Taro) announced that its Department of Modern Management, 'Modern Consumption Research Seminar' (Associate Professor Takuya Nomura), in collaboration with the 'Shinobazu Hop Project,' a regionally circular project centered around Ueno and Shinobazu Pond, conducted the planting of hops on the rooftop of the university's Building No. 1 on Thursday, May 7th.

Cultivating Hops Following Grapes: Aiming for a Circular Society

The 'Shinobazu Hop Project' is a regionally circular project that utilizes vacant spaces such as rooftops and walls of buildings in the Taito-ku and Bunkyo-ku areas to cultivate hops, which are then brewed and sold as craft beer at local microbreweries. The project is led by the Urban Design Laboratory of the Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo (Assistant Professor Masayoshi Nagano), with participation from diverse stakeholders including local residents, nearby restaurants, and the Social Welfare Council.

Approximately 25 people gathered for the planting, including members from the University of Tokyo's Urban Design Laboratory, residents living near Ueno and Shinobazu Pond, local restaurant owners, and representatives from the Bunkyo City Social Welfare Council. They worked together on everything from soil preparation to planting.

On the day, six containers were filled with soil mixed with compost fertilizer made in Taito-ku, and 'Cascade' variety hops were planted. The containers were placed along one wall surrounding the rooftop, and an automatic irrigation system was also installed.

Collaboration with Nomura Seminar's Rooftop Agriculture Project

The Nomura Seminar operates a rooftop vegetable garden brand 'IL NIDO DELLA FENICE' on the rooftop of the university's Building No. 1 and has been cultivating grapes for wine production since 2026. Since grapes take about three years to harvest, the seminar aims to accelerate the full-scale implementation of regionally circular urban agriculture by simultaneously growing hops, which bear fruit in one year.

Comment from Associate Professor Takuya Nomura

'Utilizing the location of a downtown campus and contributing to the realization of a circular society together with the local community is a valuable learning opportunity for students. We will continue to monitor the growth of the grapes and hops and accelerate our efforts towards productization.'