Rice and Agave A total of 342.5 million yen was raised in conjunction with the adoption of the Group Tourism Agency’s “Regional-integrated revitalization and value-added tourism destination/tourism industry project”

A total of 342.5 million yen has been raised in conjunction with the adoption of the Rice and Agave Group Tourism Agency’s “Project to revitalize and add value to tourist destinations and the tourism industry that integrates the region” ​
Rice and Agave Co., Ltd. Press release: October 31, 2024 Rice and Agave A total of 342.5 million yen was raised in conjunction with the adoption of the Group Tourism Agency’s “Regional-integrated revitalization and value-added tourism
destination/tourism industry project” ~Cumulative loan exceeds 600 million yen in 3 years since establishment~ “Ina to Agave Co., Ltd.” (Oga City, Akita Prefecture, Representative: Shuhei Okazumi; hereinafter referred to as “Ina to Agave”), which is engaged in town development centered on a craft salmon brewery in Oga, Akita Prefecture, is a community development company based in Oga, Akita Prefecture. We are pleased to announce that we have raised a total of 342.5 million yen to promote the business of each company in line with the selection of the “Revival and High Value-Added Tourism Destination and Tourism Industry Project”.
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◆About the purpose of procurement and the business involved In December 2023, Oga City was selected for the Japan Tourism Agency’s Reiwa 5 project, “Regional-integrated tourism destinations and tourism industry revitalization and high value-added projects,” and rice and agave, Oga town planning, and Oga salmon were selected. Eleven businesses, including distilleries, participated and were selected. Three companies in the Ina to Agave Group have raised funds to promote the following projects. 1. Ina to Agave Co., Ltd. Renovation of three vacant former Tohoku Electric Power Network company housing buildings → Maintenance and opening of “Rental Inn & Guest House Hirune” (opened in June 2024) 2. Oga Machi Planning Co., Ltd. Used as a long-term accommodation for dock workers ​Renovation of “Funagawa Port Workers Welfare Hall” → Maintenance and opening of “Umimachi Hotel” ​ We will create a facility that will serve as a base for touring the Oga Peninsula around Oga Station, where there is currently a lack of accommodation. There are 14 guest rooms, a restaurant, and a sauna. Construction will begin before summer 2024 and be completed by the end of the year It is planned. Mitsubishi Jisho Sekkei Co., Ltd. is participating as an advisor. 3. Oga Sake Distillery Co., Ltd. Renovated part of the vacant former ironworks into a distillery → Maintenance and opening of “Sanaekan Distillery” We will renovate a former ironworks and produce it as a base that attracts people involved in alcohol and food. In addition to a gin distillery that uses sake lees as a tenant, there will also be a bar, shop, event space, and other content. As the first piece of content, construction of the distillery is scheduled to begin around the summer of 2024 and be completed by the end of the year. What is “a project to revitalize and add value to tourist destinations and the tourism industry that unites the region”? This is a project that supports the efforts carried out by the Japan Tourism Agency based on the tourism base revitalization plan, including the renovation of lodging facilities planned in the region.
https://kankosaisei-chiiki.net/ ◆About this funding Total amount: 342.5 million yen Ina to Agave Co., Ltd.: 20.5 million yen Oga Machi Planning Co., Ltd.: 204.7 million yen Oga Salmon Distillery Co., Ltd.: 117.3 million yen Sourcing source Rice and Agave Co., Ltd.: Akita Bank Oga Machi Planning Co., Ltd.: Akita Bank, Japan Finance Corporation (agriculture, forestry and fisheries business) Oga Salmon Distillery Co., Ltd.: Akita Bank, Japan Finance Corporation (Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Business/National Living Business) ◆About past funding Cumulative amount: 296.25 million yen Suppliers: Akita Bank, Japan Finance Corporation (Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Business/National Living Business), 77 Bank, ​ ​ ​ ​ Shoko Chukin Bank Comment from Shuhei Okazumi, representative of Rice and Agave Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/97044/33/97044-33-0217a600989d1784a3878c0394feb33d-300×298.jpg We have recently received a large amount of financing from the Japan Tourism Agency. This means that we have received over 600 million yen in loans in the three years since our founding. The fact that they bet this amount of money on us, with almost no track record, really shows the strong determination and commitment of the financial institutions in Akita. As funds are raised, more content will be added to Funakawa, including an inn, a spirits distillery, a hotel with a sauna and a Chinese restaurant, and more. These construction works are currently being carried out in various parts of Oga City. In addition to construction work at our bases, there are also some projects that we have taken on as a result of our activities. Lately, I’ve often taken customers to visit each of our locations to check on their progress, and I feel an unprecedented sense of excitement about the future of this town. The challenges faced in this town, where the population is rapidly declining, may offer hope to other parts of Japan. I’ve been talking more and more with people from various regions, and I’ve realized that my efforts are giving courage to many people, so I’ve recently begun to think about this, although it’s a bit embarrassing. We will continue to run so that we can give hope to people all over the world. Ina to Agave is a craft salmon brewery founded in the fall of 2021 in Oga City, Akita Prefecture. “Craft Sake” is a new genre of alcohol that aims to create new flavors by adding auxiliary ingredients to it, based on Japanese sake manufacturing technology. Rice and Agave considers alcohol to be regional media. In the two years since our founding, we have opened a restaurant, a food processing plant, and a ramen shop in order to attract people to the Oga area through alcohol and have them come and enjoy the experience. Over the next year, the company plans to open a hotel, distillery and snack bar. Starting with craft salmon, we aim to preserve the city of Oga for future generations. Company name: Ina to Agave Co., Ltd. Location: 1-21 Funakawa Shinhama-cho, Funakawa Port, Oga City, Akita Prefecture Representative: Representative Director Shuhei Okazumi Establishment date: March 2021 Business content: Craft salmon brewing HP: https://inetoagave.com/