MOTTAINAI BATON x Tsumoru 19 children from different countries learn and develop together! Pork Pineapple Curry" to raise awareness of the problem of food loss in Okinawa!

MOTTAINAI BATON Corporation (Location: Kokubunji City, Tokyo; Representative: Komei Medoruma; hereinafter "Mottainai Baton"), which aims to reduce food loss through retort pouch curries, has developed "Pork Pineapple Curry" jointly with Tsumoru Co. (Location: Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture; Representative: Natsumi Shiohira; hereinafter "Tsumoru"), which operates Japanese language classes for foreign children, will release "Pork Pineapple Curry" on February 9, 2025 (Sunday) at the official online store of the company.

On the same day, a direct sales event by children will be held at "Uruma Marche" in Uruma City, Okinawa Prefecture, from 2:00 p.m.

Pork Pineapple Curry Omote

Pork Pineapple Curry Rear

Improving communication skills and promoting cross-cultural understanding through the development of curry!

Pork Pineapple Curry" was born as a result of a co-creation project by Tsumoru and Mottainai Baton, "Creation of food-based experiential contents for foreign children", which was adopted as a subsidized project by Okinawa Prefecture in the "OKINAWA Co-Creation Lab. 2024(*Note 1)". OKINAWA Co-Creation Lab. 2024 (*Note 1).

This project is a hands-on content in which Mottainai Baton produces the development of "Pork Pineapple Curry" and Tsumoru conducts workshops for children.

The purpose of this project is to provide foreign children learning Japanese with opportunities to use Japanese independently through the development and sales activities of the retort-pouch curry, and to improve their communication skills and promote cross-cultural understanding.

(*Note 1) "OKINAWA Co-Creation Lab. 2024

A business creation project promoted by Okinawa Prefecture in cooperation with eicon, Inc., operator of the open innovation platform "AUBA

19 people with diverse roots. Pork Pineapple Curry" was born from their learning!

On January 19, 2025, 19 foreign and Japanese children between the ages of 5 and 12 participated in the "Kids Curry Stand" curry development workshop held in Okinawa Prefecture. After learning about food loss, the children were involved in product development by designing packaging, tasting two samples, and voting on which curry to commercialize. They will be able to experience selling products while communicating in Japanese with customers at the sales event held at Uru Marche on February 9.

Workshop 1

Workshop 2

Eating "Pork Pineapple Curry" brings the issue of food loss in Okinawa closer to home!

The "Pork Pineapple Curry" was made from 26 kilograms of out-of-spec pineapples of the rare and valuable "Gold Barrel" variety grown in Higashimura, Okinawa Prefecture.

The pineapple was grown by the parents of Tsumoru representative Ushiohira, who is a pineapple farmer. The search for a way to utilize the out-of-spec pineapple that did not meet the standard size, had misshapen leaves, or was damaged instead of discarding it led to the development of a retort curry in collaboration with the Mottainai Baton. Furthermore, combining this with hands-on content for foreign children led to an opportunity to familiarize them with the problem of food loss occurring in Okinawa.

Gold Barrel is characterized by its high sugar content and low acidity. By using it as an ingredient, the sweetness blended in well, resulting in a curry with a gentle flavor and low spiciness. Cut into larger pieces

Gold Barrel is very satisfying and its fruity aroma spreads in your mouth when you bite into it. Please enjoy the combination of the delicious flavor of pork and the fresh and rich flavor of the gold barrel.

Comments from Ms. Natsumi Shiohira, President of Tsumoru Co.

Representative: Ms. Natsumi Shiobira, Tsumoru Corporation

This pork pineapple curry was created by children learning Japanese through the "Kids Curry Stand" international exchange event, together with local children using pineapples grown in Higashimura, Okinawa Prefecture.

This product is special because of the children's creativity, cooperation, and their love for Okinawa Prefecture and the region. For the children, the experience of coming up with product packaging and actually selling the products not only heightens their interest in the foodstuffs they normally eat without thinking, but also provides a valuable learning opportunity to deepen their understanding of professions and jobs. We are convinced that this kind of experience will have a significant impact on their future career development and help them broaden their horizons.

We hope that all children, regardless of nationality or culture, will be able to make friends with whom they can say, "See you again, we are always thinking of you," and share such happy moments. We are truly proud of this product, which was created by children of many different nationalities working together this time.

Tsumoru Japanese Language School is not only a place to teach Japanese language, but also a place where children with different backgrounds can connect, learn together, and accumulate many memories in their hearts. We will continue to do our best to create a place that will lead to the children's future.

Tsumoru Corporation

Representative Director

Outline of the product

Product name: Pork Pineapple Curry

Suggested retail price: 650 yen (tax included)

Release date: February 9, 2025

Sales location : MOTTAINAI BATON official online store https://bit.ly/4hC51u2

*The sales event will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on February 9 at the event square of Uruma Marche in Uruma City.

Outline of MOTTAINAI BATON Co.

Company name ： MOTTAINAI BATON Corporation https://mottainai-baton.com/

Representative: Komei Medorima, Representative Director

Head office: 3-12-18-201 Honmachi, Kokubunji, Tokyo 185-0012, Japan

Date of establishment: October 1, 2021

Business activities: Product planning and joint development, retail and wholesale of the same products, etc.

MOTTAINAI BATON is committed to sustainable food loss reduction by collaborating with companies that have a sense of purpose in addressing social issues, and is always available for consultation on the development of sustainable products for general sales that contribute to the SDGs, as well as event novelties.