Sweet treats like strawberry daifuku and gelato are desserts that many people love.
In November 2020, students in the Business Department at Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Washu Senior High School developed a new product through the “Kojimatching Project,” following their “Fig Gelato.”
It’s called “Strawberry Daifuku Gelato—Sort Of?”
It brings together products from these two shops:
- Strawberry daifuku from Fubido, a long-established Japanese and Western confectionery shop in Kojima
- Gelato from Seaside Farm Nanba Farm, a farm with ocean views
In this article, we introduce “Strawberry Daifuku Gelato—Sort Of?,” created by us, students in the Business Department at Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Washu Senior High School.
This article was contributed by students in the Business Department at Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Washu Senior High School. The editorial team at Haretoco General Incorporated Association edited and published it.
The information in this article was accurate when it was published in November 2020. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is the “Kojimatching” Project?
The Business Department and Business Research Club at Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Washu Senior High School are carrying out an initiative called the “Kojimatching” Project, matching (combining) products already found in the Kojima area to create new value.
The first product was “Fig Gelato,” a dessert made entirely in Kojima. It was sold for a limited period of about one month starting in September 2020, and sales were strong.
Creating New Value with “Kojima × Kojima”!
After the first Kojimatching project ended, we listed the ingredients and products available in Kojima, writing them on sticky notes and laying them out.
We wondered whether we could bring them together as “Kojima × Kojima” and create something new.
That’s when we focused on the strawberry daifuku at Fubido, which is on our way to school.
The idea for the product came when we thought it might be interesting to combine it with gelato from “Seaside Farm Nanba Farm Ice Cream Shop.”
Fubido: 64 Years in Business, Preserving Its Signature Flavors
The Japanese and Western confectionery shop Fubido, located in Yanagida-cho, Kojima, Kurashiki City, has been in business for 64 years.
As of November 2020, the shop’s owner and second-generation proprietor, Shuki Dazai, had taken over the business from his grandfather, the founder.
What matters most to Mr. Dazai is “preserving the flavors passed down from the previous generation.”
He is committed to keeping the recipes he inherited unchanged, neither adding to nor taking away from them.
Seaside Farm Nanba Farm Ice Cream Shop: A Farm with Ocean Views
“Seaside Farm Nanba Farm Ice Cream Shop” makes ice cream using raw milk produced by raising cows in a way that keeps them from feeling stressed.
It opened on January 11, 2019.
The shop enjoys a superb location overlooking the Seto Inland Sea below.
We discussed developing a limited-time menu item for the second Kojimatching project with the shop’s owner, Kodai Nanba.
How Will “Strawberry Daifuku” and “Gelato” Go Together?
Later, when it came time to discuss the collaborative product, these three parties came together:
- Mr. Dazai of Fubido
- Mr. Nanba of Nanba Farm
- Washu High School students
They commented from their respective perspectives on whether our proposals were feasible, and the product was gradually refined.
We were discussing how to match products already found in the Kojima area and create new value.
It was the moment when “Kojimatching” truly came together!
“Strawberry Daifuku Gelato—Sort Of?” Is Complete!
After repeatedly making and tasting numerous prototypes, we completed our new gelato, “Strawberry Daifuku Gelato—Sort Of?”
Our reaction to tasting the new gelato, created through the combined passion of a long-established confectionery shop, a gelato shop, and high school students, was, of course…
“Delicious!”
You’ll have to try it to find out how the two products have been brought together.
The result beautifully brings out the best of both.
It’s cold gelato, but it’s filled with the passion of everyone involved.
From the Writer
“Strawberry Daifuku Gelato—Sort Of?” is available at “Seaside Farm Nanba Farm Ice Cream Shop.”
You could enjoy gelato at “Seaside Farm Nanba Farm Ice Cream Shop” and stop by Fubido on your way back, making for a micro-tourism outing in the Kojima area.
And keep an eye out for what the “Kojimatching Project” does next!
Recruiting Participants for the “Kojimatching” Project
During the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been difficult to attract tourists from far away.
That’s why, with “micro-tourism” as our theme, we are considering ways to help local people discover what makes their own community special.
The Kojima area has a wide variety of local specialties, and we believe that matching them effectively could create new value.
We, the students in the Business Department at Kurashiki Washu Senior High School, want to serve as the bridge that brings them together and learn about real-world business.
If you’re interested, please get in touch with Washu High School.
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