Strawberry daifuku and gelato are popular desserts that many people love.
In November 2020, students from the Business Department of Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Washu Senior High School developed a new product through the "Kojima Matching Project," following the "fig gelato" initiative.
Its name is "What is this? Strawberry Daifuku Gelato"!
The collaboration was with products from the following two stores.
- Strawberry daifuku from the long-established Japanese and Western confectionery store "Fubido" in Kojima
- Gelato from "Seaside Farm Namba," a farm with a view of the sea
In this article, we will introduce the "What is this? Strawberry Daifuku Gelato" conceived by us, 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 "Kojima Matching" Project?
The Business Department of Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Washu Senior High School and the Business Research Club are engaged in an initiative called the "Kojima Matching" Project, which aims to match existing products in the Kojima area to create new value.
The first initiative was the pure Kojima product "Fig Gelato," which was sold for about a month starting in September 2020 and had good sales.
Creating New Value with "Kojima x Kojima"!
After the first phase of Kojima Matching, we identified materials available in "Kojima" and wrote them on sticky notes to organize them.
We thought about how we could connect them as "Kojima x Kojima" to create new value.
We then focused on the strawberry daifuku from "Fubido," which is located along the school route.
We felt it would be interesting to combine it with gelato from Seaside Farm Namba, which sparked the development.
"Fubido," a 64-year-old store that carries on its dedicated taste
Located in Kojima Yanagida-cho, Kurashiki City, the Japanese and Western confectionery store "Fubido" has been in business for 64 years.
As of November 2020, the current owner and second-generation proprietor, Shuuki Dazai, took over the shop from his grandfather, the first generation.
What Dazai values is "to carry on the taste from the previous generation."
He is committed to maintaining the inherited recipes without adding or reducing them.
"Seaside Farm Namba" with a view of the sea
The Seaside Farm Namba Ice Cream Shop is an ice cream shop that uses raw milk produced from "a method of raising cows that does not cause them stress."
It opened on January 11, 2019.
The shop is located in a prime location overlooking the Seto Inland Sea.
We discussed product development for the limited-time menu of the second phase of Kojima Matching with the owner, Koudai Namba.
How does the combination of "Strawberry Daifuku" and "Gelato" work?
Subsequently, for the collaborative product discussion meeting, the following three parties gathered.
- Dazai from Fubido
- Namba from Namba Farm
- Students from Washu High School
In response to our proposals, they provided comments on whether they were feasible from both perspectives, and the product was continuously refined.
This was a discussion to match existing products in the Kojima area to create new value.
It was indeed the moment when "Kojima Matching" was established!
"What is this? Strawberry Daifuku Gelato" is completed!
After numerous prototypes and tastings, the new gelato "What is this? Strawberry Daifuku Gelato" was completed.
The passion of the long-established Japanese and Western confectionery store, the gelato shop, and the high school students came together, and the feedback after tasting the new gelato was, of course...
"Delicious!"
How the two products are matched will be a delight to discover after tasting.
The strengths of both products are beautifully highlighted in the final result.
Although it is cold gelato, it is filled with the passionate feelings of those involved.
Conclusion
"What is this? Strawberry Daifuku Gelato" is available at the Seaside Farm Namba Ice Cream Shop.
If you enjoy gelato at "Seaside Farm Namba Ice Cream Shop" and then stop by "Fubido" on your way back, it will surely be a micro-tourism experience in the Kojima area.
And please keep an eye on the next developments of the "Kojima Matching Project"!!
Participants Wanted for the "Kojima Matching" Project
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is challenging to attract tourists from afar.
Therefore, we are considering measures to let local people know the goodness of their hometown, focusing on the theme of "micro-tourism."
The Kojima area has a variety of local specialties, 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, are taking on the role of bridging this gap and wish to learn about real business.
If you are interested, please feel free to contact Washu High School.
