#Japan #Tokyo #Pal System #Rice Balls #Onigiri Good

'Onigiri Good' Special Page Launches

On June 18, the Pal System Consumer Cooperative Union, based in Shinjuku, Tokyo, has unveiled a dedicated webpage for its new initiative, 'Onigiri Good', coinciding with Rice Ball Day. This campaign is designed to promote rice consumption and enhance food self-sufficiency in Japan through the cultural staple of rice balls, also known as onigiri. The special page introduces educational actions related to rice and collects interactions via social media and event participation. Upon reaching a cumulative total of 10,000 actions, Pal System will donate one ton of direct-sourced rice to local children's cafeterias and other support organizations.

Addressing Declining Rice Consumption

In the wake of declining rice consumption in Japan, Pal System is embarking on a sustainable action plan aligned with its 2030 vision, titled 'Surpassing through Rice', which aims to reverse this trend by encouraging renewed interest in rice. The reasons behind the consumption decline include an aging producer population and rising material costs, leading to a noticeable reduction in rice farms. Given recent supply uncertainties, there are concerns that the production of rice in 2025 might result in an oversupply.

In response, Pal System emphasizes the importance of everyday rice consumption by promoting the rich Japanese cultural tradition of onigiri through their 'Onigiri Good' initiative.

Highlights of the 'Onigiri Good' Page

The dedicated page for 'Onigiri Good' will go live on June 18, aligning with the day that commemorates the discovery of Japan's oldest rice ball fossil in Ishikawa Prefecture. Similar to the 'Surpassing' actions, the page will feature illustrations by artist Yoshiyuki Nagaba, enriching the content related to onigiri while also tracking the progress of actions taken by participants.

Key Details

• - Launch Date: June 18, 2026
• - URL: Onigiri Good Campaign
• - Main Content:

- Onigiri recipes
- Stories related to onigiri
- Progress graphs showing action counts

Rice Donation Program

Various actions will be counted as 'actions' towards the goal, with the achievement of 10,000 actions triggering the donation of one ton of Pal System's direct-sourced rice to support organizations such as local children's cafeterias. Some of the activities that will count towards this total include:

• - Posts on the special page or social media platforms
• - Reactions like 'likes' or 'goods' to the posts
• - Participation in 'Onigiri Good' related events

Associated Initiatives

Additionally, there will be a posting campaign on official X (formerly Twitter) running from June 5 to June 28.

About Pal System

The Pal System Consumer Cooperative Union is located at 2-2-6 Okubo, Shinjuku, Tokyo. With Chairman Atsuyuki Shibusawa, the cooperative boasts a total operating revenue of 260.42 billion yen and serves over 1.762 million members as of the end of March 2025. Its member cooperatives include Pal System Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Yamanashi, Nagano, Gunma, Fukushima, Shizuoka, and Niigata.

For more information, visit Pal System's Website.