Asakuchi City and Satosho Town, located in the southwestern part of Okayama Prefecture, are known for their thriving traditional local industries such as noodle making and sake brewing. Being close to Kurashiki City, they have recently begun to attract attention due to the many shops that offer delicious sweets.
In response, the Asakuchi Chamber of Commerce, which oversees this area, has decided to hold the first Instagram Photo Contest with the theme of “sweets” to let more people know about the area's charm.
Why not share the charm of “sweets” from Asakuchi City and Satosho Town on Instagram and get some local specialties?
Overview of the Asakuchi Satosho Instagram Photo Contest 2024
This is a detailed introduction to the Instagram Photo Contest planned for the first time by the Asakuchi Chamber of Commerce, including its purpose and details.
Purpose
The Asakuchi Satosho Instagram Photo Contest 2024 aims to promote the charm of the Asakuchi City and Satosho Town by sharing photos of “sweets” sold in the area on Instagram, encouraging more people to visit the region.
Implementation Details
Participants will post photos of “sweets” purchased or consumed at the stores listed in the pamphlet on Instagram with the designated hashtag “#AsakuchiSatoshoSweetsPhotoContest2024.”
Photos taken in-store or at home with arranged products are both acceptable!
Anyone with an Instagram account who follows the official account (@asakuchisyoukoukai_event) can apply.
Pamphlets are distributed at the Chamber of Commerce, tourist facilities, and participating stores in the Asakuchi Satosho Instagram Photo Contest 2024.
The “sweets” eligible for participation are not limited to desserts and confections. Some participating stores also offer “sweet noodles.”
As long as it is considered “sweet” in taste, it is acceptable to post.
Participating Stores in the Asakuchi Satosho Instagram Photo Contest 2024 (27 stores)
From popular Western-style confectionery shops to long-established sake breweries, 27 stores among the members of the Asakuchi Chamber of Commerce are participating.
| Store Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Ogawaya Confectionery | 294-1 Otani, Kankou-cho, Asakuchi City |
| café de 祥 | 349 Uzumizuka, Kankou-cho, Asakuchi City |
| Kinomi | 1736-1 Otani, Kankou-cho, Asakuchi City |
| Tomo Hara Mochiten | 361 Uzumizuka, Kankou-cho, Asakuchi City |
| Bakery Mugibatake | 631-1 Uzumizuka, Kankou-cho, Asakuchi City |
| Western Confectionery Workshop Belje | 335-23 Uzumizuka, Kankou-cho, Asakuchi City |
| Yoshikou | 2125-1 Kosaka-higashi, Kamogata |
| Sato Fruit Farm | 1365 Kamogata, Kamogata |
| Nonohana | 1677-3 Kamogata, Kamogata |
| Patisserie Ciel | 1980-1 Kosaka-higashi, Kamogata |
| hana terrace | 808-1 Kamogata, Kamogata |
| Pan House Potts Pippi | 1161-1 Kamogata, Kamogata |
| Marumoto Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. | 2485 Honjo, Kamogata |
| Ino Marufuku | 3-2 Hato-ga-oka, Kamogata |
| Nenzukuri no Menzo | 1981 Kosaka-higashi, Kamogata |
| Yamamoto Hand-Stretched Somen Co., Ltd. | 342 Honjo, Kamogata |
| Rossi | 1671-1 Kamogata, Kamogata |
| Hidamari Cafe by the Sea | 3981-4 Yorishima Town |
| KAMIKOKOROSHUZO CO., LTD. | 7500-2 Yorishima Town |
| Japanese Cuisine Ginza | 7224-1 Yorishima Town |
| Makara Store Hayazaki | 7540-50 Yorishima Town |
| Isochidori Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. | 306 Shinjo, Satosho Town |
| Okayama Hand-Stretched Somen Direct Sales & Mail Order Harutakean | 1887-1 Shinjo, Satosho Town |
| Cafe San Lavian | 3920 Shinjo, Satosho Town |
| The Great Lakes | 1550 Shinjo, Satosho Town |
| Macaret | 2998 Shinjo, Satosho Town |
| Laughing Buddha Cafe | 2529-1 Satomi, Satosho Town |
Implementation Period and Judging Method
The implementation period is from September 13, 2024 (Friday) to November 30, 2024 (Saturday).
Let’s post delicious photos of “my favorite finds” one after another. The organizers will select 10 works based on photos that convey the charm of the Asakuchi and Satosho regions to many people.
The results of the judging will be notified to the winners via direct message on Instagram.
Prizes
Winners will receive local specialties from Asakuchi and Satosho (worth 2,000 yen).
Please note that the contents of the local specialties may change from what is shown in the photo, so look forward to the arrival of the prizes.
About the Asakuchi Chamber of Commerce, which hosts the contest
The Asakuchi Chamber of Commerce, which hosts the Asakuchi Satosho Instagram Photo Contest 2024, is an organization that conducts comprehensive activities for the promotion of small businesses in Asakuchi City and Satosho Town and the vitalization of the local economy for the development of the region.
It is essentially a support group for local businesses.
In the past, they have supported businesses through events such as industry festivals and specialty fairs, but this is the first time they are holding a photo contest via Instagram.
Energizing local businesses through Instagram!
We spoke with Yuta Yamoto and Yoshika Hirano from the Asakuchi Chamber of Commerce, who planned the Instagram Photo Contest.
What is the starting point of the first Instagram photo contest by Asakuchi Chamber of Commerce?
Tanikyo
We want to widely promote local specialties, and let everyone know that there are good and delicious things close to their lives.
In our previous public relations activities, we have focused on noodles.
When I thought about what else is famous and loved in the region, I realized that there are many shops dealing with sweets, and many businesses are working hard to disseminate information.
So, I thought that by focusing on sweets, it could be an opportunity to know the Asakuchi and Satosho area from a different angle, and that was the starting point.
Why did you choose the theme "sweets"?
Tanikyo
I wanted to pick up as many good things from the Asakuchi area as possible.
While the keyword "sweets" might be easy to catch on Instagram, by using "sweets," it included popular amazake (sweet sake), sake from old breweries with a long history, and even the specialty noodles, which expanded the participation of businesses.
With one keyword, we aimed to capture as many good local products as possible, which is why we chose "sweets."
Please tell us why you decided to hold a photo contest on Instagram.
Hirano
In this era, where we can directly PR to consumers about the products we make, the commitments we have, and the history of our shops, I hope businesses will increase opportunities for their information to be seen using social media.
Some businesses are already using Instagram for PR, but I hope that through this photo contest, they will feel Instagram closer and utilize it as one of the information dissemination tools in their future public relations activities.
How was it to work on the first project?
Hirano
The Asakuchi and Satosho area has many shops dealing with sweets, from historical famous confections to glamorous sweets favored by young women, all in a compact region.
While gathering participating stores, I made various discoveries like "there are such products."
I hope everyone will discover their own recommendations for sweets in Asakuchi and Satosho and continue to disseminate information.
Conclusion
The number of people gathering information from Instagram is increasing rapidly, especially for food-related content, which is updated daily.
Riding the wave of this era, I hope the Asakuchi Satosho Instagram Photo Contest will be an opportunity for locals to rediscover their hometown and for people outside the area to learn about the charm of the Asakuchi and Satosho region.
May there be many submissions.
Data for the Asakuchi Satosho Instagram Photo Contest 2024
![[Held from 9/13 (Fri) to 11/30 (Sat)] Asakuchi Satosho Instagram Photo Contest 2024 -](https://media.kuratoco.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/23001348/190c1fd84360bc72f575c54d6f0ff217.jpg)
<To participate in the photo contest>
・Follow the official account (@asakuchisyoukoukai_event)
・Take photos of "sweets" at designated stores in Asakuchi City and Satosho Town
・Post with the hashtag "#AsakuchiSatoshoSweetsPhotoContest2024"
| Name | Asakuchi Satosho Instagram Photo Contest 2024 |
|---|---|
| Event Dates | Event period: September 13, 2024 (Friday) to November 30, 2024 (Saturday) Participating stores: 27 stores in Asakuchi City, Okayama Prefecture, and Satosho Town |
| Location | 2244-8 Kamogata-cho, Asakuchi City, Okayama Prefecture (Asakuchi Chamber of Commerce) |
| Website | Asakuchi Chamber of Commerce |
