On August 20-25, we exhibited a booth at an event held at Hanshin Department Store (Osaka).

From August 20 to 25, COI-NEXT set up a booth at the “4th Fermentation Market: Koji / KOJI by Fermentation Designer Hiraku Ogura,” held at Hanshin Department Store (Osaka). At the event, we conducted a survey on snow-cellar-stored rice and distributed 2-go packs of “Yuki-san”—snow-cellar-stored rice grown by farmers in Nagaoka—to 100 people each day, limited to those who completed the survey.

"Rice" is an essential ingredient in fermentation. To find out what people think about "rice," we conducted a survey regarding "snow-cellar-stored rice," which is the subject of our current research project.
There, we were able to hear firsthand feedback from consumers. What stood out most was,
While the majority of respondents said, “Price is the most important factor when buying rice,” we also heard many expressions of gratitude toward farmers.
Even amid the current reality of rising rice prices, which has been a real struggle for many, we’ve received numerous heartfelt comments such as, “If it’s safe and reliable, I’m willing to pay more,” and “I want to support farmers if it means they’ll make a profit.” It made me very happy to see that consumers are truly mindful of the producers who are behind the prices.

Although many people were unfamiliar with the term “snow cellar” itself, we found that when it came to storing rice in the snow, many people had positive impressions and expectations, such as “the idea of aging and preserving it using the power of nature” and “it seems like it would enhance the sweetness and umami flavor.”
I was reminded once again of the importance of providing scientific evidence to answer the question: “What changes occur in rice when it is stored in a snow cellar?”

The snow cellar storage technology highlighted at this event is just one of the research areas we are working on as part of the COI-NEXT project.
With a view toward a future of agriculture that enables farmers to generate sustainable income, we are advancing comprehensive research centered on rice and paddy fields using an “approach that turns technology into science.” Within this broader vision, snow cellar storage technology also plays a key role in creating value by leveraging the unique characteristics of the Niigata region.

Although research on snow cellar storage technology has only just begun, we will continue our efforts to share the new possibilities offered by Nagaoka’s snow and agriculture with people across the country.