Rishiri Island, Hokkaido / Zen Co.

Fisheries Corporation

Achievements
  • Solved the problem of manpower shortage through collaboration with Kyoto University
  • Increased annual income of fisherman by 300 million yen in total
  • Promoted the development of new products by introducing new customers

Kyoto University Students Support Rishiri Kelp Production

Rishiri kelp is a specialty of Rishiri Island, Hokkaido. It is said to be the finest kelp among the many kelps in Hokkaido.
Such famous kelp has been suffering from a shortage of bearers (dried kelp) due to the recent population decline.

Fumitsugu got acquainted with Zenichi Kosaka, a kelp fisherman on the island through human connections and started the “Rishiri Island Kyodai Kelp Drying Bites” in 2019.

The background of this program is that there are too many “leaders” in Tokyo who think of measures with their heads held high without knowing the actual situation on the ground, and that in the local primary industry part-time jobs, we see producers who forget that they are working with people and overwork their workers.

More than 100 students have participated in this part-time program and have left for various industries. In addition, a relationship of trust has been established between the fishermen and students, and a system has been established whereby senior students introduce junior students to the fishermen the following year.
Assumption
Rishiri kelp was facing a crisis of declining production due to a shortage of manpower during the harvest season.
The Role of Bungei
A system was established whereby students from Kyoto University would come to the island every summer to work as kelp-drying part-timers. The following year, seniors who participated in the previous year’s program introduced their juniors to the program, making it possible to accept part-time workers with peace of mind.
Results
Over the past five years, a total of 100 university students, mostly from Kyoto University, have come to the island to support the kelp production. The university students continue to visit the island regularly after graduation, becoming a related population and contributing to the local development of Rishiri Island.

Improve what needs to be improved, regardless of vested interests.

It is the producers who put their lives on the line and put their work on the line the most.
It has often been a problem that the distribution of sales to producers is too small compared to the risk involved when looking at the overall distribution of goods.
While we must of course appreciate the hard work of the “wholesalers” who have to bear the inventory risk and make sales efforts, Fumitsugu believes that the balance is too far out of balance.

In the case of a certain marine product on Rishiri Island, bidders had become fixed over the years, and the bidding competition that should have been there was weakening.
As a result, the market price increased, and together with other factors, sales totaling more than 300 million yen were returned to the island’s fishermen.

In order to increase the number of primary industry players, the industry must be developed into a “profitable industry. Bunge will continue to stand by primary producers and support businesses that support food, which is the basis of human life.
Assumptions
Bidders had become rigid, and as a result of market prices not rising, fishermen’s sales were also sluggish.
Bunge’s Role
Introduced new bidders and stimulated competition, resulting in higher market prices and more money falling to the producers.
Outcome
Competition for bids was created, prices soared, and the total annual income of the fishermen increased by more than 300 million yen.

Creating New Synergies through Unprecedented Collaboration with Other Companies

Generally speaking, rural areas are conservative, and this is especially true for remote islands. For this reason, there have been few cases of off-island vendors collaborating with on-island vendors to develop their business.

Fumitsugu went to Rishiri Island for five years, and was finally able to gain the trust of Zen Co. The result was “Wind-aged Hon Rishiri,” which was developed jointly with Kyoto Katsuobushi Co. This is an ultimate new product that uses a different method of aging the highest quality Rishiri kelp selected by Zen Co.

Because Japan is a country rich in food, Bunge is committed to ensuring that its ingredients are delivered to the dining table in the best possible form.
Assumption
Lack of connections with midstream/downstream companies had stagnated, preventing new cross-industry initiatives.
Fumitsugu’s Role
Introduced a Kyoto-based seller and released a jointly developed product between the production area and the consumption area.
Outcome
A stable supplier of kelp was found, and a new lineup of processed products was added through joint development.

Customer Testimonials

For the first time as a fisherman,

I went to Kyoto, the largest consumer of Rishiri kelp. Producers in the production area are busy with field work and have a hard time implementing new projects even if they want to, but Mr. Buntsugu gave shape to my thoughts.
Business operators who have grand dreams but have difficulty implementing them should feel free to consult with Mr. Buntsugu.
Representative: Zen Kosaka, Rishiri Island, Hokkaido

Customer Information

Company name
Zen Co.
Representative
Yoshikazu Kosaka
Type of Business
Fishery and fishing corporation
Description of Business
Production (fishermen) of marine products including kelp and sea urchin, primary processing and sales of marine products
Number of employees
Less than 5
Media coverage
https://www.hokkaido-np.co.jp/article/884337/
https://www.thats.pr.kyotou.ac.jp/2022/02/24/11932/
https://iam-iam.jp/1588/