In November 2020, students from the Business Department of Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Washu Senior High School, who are focusing on local ingredients from Kojima, developed a new collaborative product as the fourth installment.
Surprisingly, an article from "Kurashiki Tocotoco" sparked a new matching opportunity!
The collaboration was between the Kojima bakery Boulangerie Bleu ciel and locally produced figs from Kojima.
In this article, we will introduce the "fig bread" made using the previously matched Kojima figs by the students of the Business Department of Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Washu Senior High School.
This article is a contribution by students from the Business Department of Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Washu Senior High School. It has been re-edited and published by the Haretoco General Incorporated Association editorial team.
What is the "Kojimatching" Project?
The Business Department of Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Washu Senior High School and the Business Research Club are engaged in the "Kojimatching" project, which aims to match existing products in the Kojima area to create new value.
The first installment was the locally produced sweet " Fig Gelato", which was sold for about a month starting in September 2020 and had good sales.
The second installment was the "What is this? Strawberry Daifuku Gelato," created in collaboration with the long-established Japanese and Western confectionery store "Fubido" in Kojima.
As of January 2021, this product is currently on sale.
The third installment, "Brazilian Coffee Gelato," created in collaboration with "Meikyoku Kissa Toki no Kairo," is also currently on sale!
- First installment: Fig Gelato
- Second installment: What is this? Strawberry Daifuku Gelato
- Third installment: Brazilian Coffee Gelato
Boulangerie Bleu ciel
Boulangerie Bleu ciel, located in 1-chome, Kojima Station, Kurashiki City, opened in January 2014.
The owner, Yoshiko Ishii, who originally worked at a bakery outside Okayama Prefecture, returned to her hometown to open this shop.
Using domestically produced wheat, the bakery is popular for its simple yet flavorful bread.
As of the time of the interview (November 2020), it was available for online reservation sales, but please check the latest sales status on their Facebook page.
The encounter was through "Kurashiki Tocotoco"!?
The article about "Fig Gelato" introduced in "Kurashiki Tocotoco" was the catalyst for the matching.
Ms. Ishii, who runs Boulangerie Bleu ciel in front of Kojima Station, became interested and challenged herself to create a prototype of "fig bread" using Kojima figs.
The figs used were those that had lost their product value and could no longer be sold.
By using products that have lost their value, we are addressing not only local production for local consumption but also the issue of food waste.
Additionally, by using Kojima figs, where the producers' faces can be seen, it provides peace of mind when consuming them.
The dough is made with hand-kneaded and homemade fermented dough.
The figs are dried for 10 hours in a food dryer set at 60 degrees, transforming them into dried figs.
And here is the freshly baked product.
A delicious, hard bread has been baked!
The shop is enveloped in a delicious aroma...!
Look at this cross-section!
A small amount of wine, dried figs, and walnuts are added as accents.
While the freshly baked bread is delicious, it is recommended to let it sit for a while before eating.
Letting it sit makes it even more delicious, and we were left in a state of anticipation, enveloped in the aroma (laughs).
And finally, the moment has come...
Look at this expression! There is no need to say much (laughs).
The crucial sales period is limited due to the seasonality of figs, starting around September 2021.
Those who are lucky enough to encounter this product will be happy.
Please enjoy the fig bread!
Conclusion
The "Kojimatching" project has reached its fourth installment, and a new product called "fig bread" has been born.
However, there are still many materials in the Kojima area, so we want to continue further matching.
In fact, the fifth installment is already in progress!
Stay tuned for the next installment!
Participants Wanted for the "Kojimatching" Project
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is difficult to attract tourists from afar.
Therefore, we are considering measures to let local people know the goodness of the area, themed around "micro-tourism."
The Kojima area has a variety of specialty products, and by effectively matching them, we believe we can create new value.
We, the students of the Business Department of Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Washu Senior High School, want to take on the role of bridging this gap and learn about real business.
If you are interested, please contact Washu High School.
