[House Foods Group Headquarters Co., Ltd.] Kyushu’s No. 1 selling instant bag noodles (*1) “Umakacchan” celebrates its 45th anniversary in September!
“Umakacchan Special Donburi” will be available for a limited time at “Makuake” from September 5, 2024
*House Foods Group Headquarters Co., Ltd.*
Press release: September 5, 2024
**
Kyushu’s No.1 selling instant bag noodles (*1) “Umakacchan” celebrates its 45th anniversary in September!
“Umakacchan Special Donburi” will be available for a limited time at “Makuake” from September 5, 2024
*A premium product created with “Kyushu student design x Kyushu traditional Arita ware x Kyushu soul food”. Enjoy an “Umakacchan immersive experience” at a table made with “Umakacchan” including tableware! *
To commemorate the 45th anniversary of the birth of “Umakacchan,” House Foods Co., Ltd. will be selling “Umakacchan Special Donburi” on September 5, 2024 at “Makuake,” a support purchasing service for popular items and experiences. It will be on sale for a limited time from now. You can enjoy the “Umakacchan immersive experience” with a premium bowl designed by students of the Kyushu branch of Japan Designer Academy and baked by Kajiken Seiji, an Arita ware pottery in Saga Prefecture with a history of over 250 years. There are two designs available: white and yellow. The price is 6,600 yen each for adults and 4,180 yen each for children (both tax and shipping included).
* ■About the 45th anniversary project “Umakacchan special bowl” * * 1. Kyushu’s No. 1 selling instant bag noodles (*1) brand
“Umakacchan” with cumulative sales exceeding 4 billion servings (*2) * Umakacchan, a tonkotsu-flavored instant bag noodle that has been loved by the local Kyushu community since its release in 1979 and has sold over 4 billion servings (*2), will celebrate its 45th anniversary on September 12, 2024. I’ll welcome you. We believe that this is all due to the warm support of Umakacchan fans.
*1 Source: Created by House Foods Co., Ltd. using data from KSP-SP Co., Ltd. Period: January to December 2023 Target: Supermarkets in Kyushu Subcategory: Instant bag noodles
*2 House Foods research as of July 2024
* 2. Enjoy the “Umakacchan immersive experience” with a special bowl released on the occasion of the 45th anniversary! *
To commemorate the 45th anniversary of “Umakacchan”, we will be releasing “Umakacchan Special Donburi” for all Umakacchan fans to enjoy. Until now, “Umakacchan” has contributed to the field of “food” as an instant bag noodle that allows you to easily enjoy Kyushu’s soul food, tonkotsu ramen. This time, by expanding the scope to include the “tableware (donburi)” that is essential for ramen, * We would like all Umakacchan fans to enjoy the “Umakacchan immersive experience” where everything is made of “Umakacchan” including the tableware. *
* 3. Co-created with Kyushu students and traditional crafts. A special bowl made entirely from Kyushu *
This product is an initiative of the “Project to Revitalize Kyushu”, which brings together companies (organizations) with ties to Kyushu and aims to support the Kyushu region, companies (organizations), and customers. . From the design of the bowl to the baking, it was created entirely in Kyushu.
(Reference) Special site URL for “Project to Revitalize Kyushu”: https://housefoods.jp/products/special/umakachan/pj_kyushu.html
* [Kyushu student support! A design contest was held through collaboration between industry and academia to determine the design]* The design for “Umakacchan Special Donburi” was decided through a design contest with student participation from the Kyushu School of Japan Designer Academy. The school’s first principal was Mr. Isao Nishijima, who created the name “Umakacchan” and was in charge of the package design, and the school has a deep connection with
“Umakacchan.” This industry-academia collaboration was realized with the desire to contribute in some small way to the growth of students as designers by providing a place for students who are about to enter society to practice their skills.
Out of more than 70 works submitted to the contest, a strict review was conducted by Masayuki Nishijima, the eldest son of Isao Nishijima, Kajiken Seijisha, an Arita ware pottery, and House Foods, and the top prize was selected. We have adopted the two award-winning designs into our special bowl. In addition, the photos used on the “Makuake” product page are from Japan Designer Academy Kyushu School.
We worked together with students throughout the project, including using images taken by students in the Video and Photography
Department.
* [Support Kyushu tradition! Baked with Arita ware, the pride of Kyushu]* The mold for this special bowl uses Kyushu traditional Arita ware, which is said to be the first porcelain fired in Japan. The firing was done by Kajiken Seijisha, an Arita ware kiln in Saga Prefecture with a history of over 250 years. At Kajiken Seijisha, where more than 2,000 molds left over from the Edo period have been carefully passed down from generation to generation, we will select and improve a mold suitable for the Umakacchan Special Donburi and create your own original mold. I did. Through this special bowl, we hope to convey the goodness of Arita ware to many customers. Please enjoy the fusion of a promising student design and traditional Arita ware with the “Umakacchan Special Donburi” baked by Kenichiro Kajiwara, the 4th generation craftsman who uses the succession system at one of only three Arita ware kilns.
* 4. Sold at Makuake, a support purchasing service for amazing things and experiences! *
“Umakacchan Special Donburi” will be sold at “Makuake,” which is characterized by “cheering purchases,” where people buy with a feeling of support after knowing the commitment and story of the person behind the campaign. The target amount is 1 million yen, but even after the goal is achieved, we will continue to accept purchases until the end of the sales period. (It may be terminated due to unavoidable circumstances.)
* ■Details of “Umakacchan Special Donburi” *
* 1. Umakacchan special bowl (white) *
* [Design points] *
・* Stylish design based on orange and white, which is also used in the Umakacchan logo*.
・The outside is decorated with the “Umakacchan” logo on the
transparent white magnetic surface that is characteristic of Arita ware*, creating a simple and elegant finish.
・On the inside, we express the cityscape of Fukuoka, which we have been walking with since the release of Umakacchan, expressing our gratitude for the 45th anniversary and our desire to continue walking together in the future.
* [Comment from Mr. Kawamura who designed it] *
When I received the award, I couldn’t believe it, I was honored and happy! This bowl has a lively design of the Umakacchan characters running around tourist spots in Fukuoka. We hope that those who get their hands on it will be able to use it for a long time!
* 2. Umakacchan special bowl (yellow) *
* [Design points] *
・*A brightly colored piece that catches your eye in yellow, the image color of “Umakacchan.”
・A dedicated ritual that is proud of its history and tradition and has been designated as a national important intangible folk cultural property.*
Children’s Yamakasa children are happily playing around, drawing the “Kakinawa” and “Tebo” (bamboo baskets) used in “Hakata Gion Yamakasa,” which are also used as characters in “Umakacchan.” I expressed the situation. While valuing age-old traditions, we also want people to eat Umakacchan with a smile at the table*
It contains.
* [Comment from designer Shirasouzu] *
“Umakacchan” has been familiar to me since I was a child. Expressing that taste through design was a huge challenge for me. I added my own twist to the design without destroying the image of the Umakacchan package design. Specifically, in order to represent Hakata’s traditional festival, Yamakasa, we incorporated Oshiotebo into the background. I would be happy if a variety of people could pick it up. Encouraged by this award, I would like to continue creating designs and paintings that will be loved by many people.
* 3. Children’s bowl (white, yellow) *
We will also be selling rice bowls for children so that both adults and children can sit around the table using the same tableware. We would be happy if you could carve away your precious everyday memories, such as casual interactions during family gatherings, with “Umakacchan Special Donburi”.
*Children’s bowl is in the foreground of the photo.
* 4. The only “Umakacchan special bowl” in the world (paid option: name engraving) *
You can create your one and only “Umakacchan Special Donburi” by writing your favorite message, name, and date on the back of the bowl (*). Each item will be carefully packaged in a special Umakacchan box and shipped, so it is recommended not only for yourself but also as a souvenir, allowance, or gift for someone special.
*This is a paid option that costs 400 yen (tax included) for adults and 300 yen (tax included) for children. For details, see the “Makuake” sales page (
https://www.makuake.com/project/umakachan_45/ ) Please see [Notes on name engraving].
* ■Product overview of “Umakacchan Special Donburi” *
* [Product name/selling price]*
・Umakacchan special bowl (white) – with astragalus – for adults / 6,600 yen (tax and shipping included)
・Umakacchan special bowl (white) – with astragalus – for children / 4,180 yen (tax and shipping included)
・Umakacchan special bowl (yellow) – with astragalus – for adults / 6,600 yen (tax and shipping included)
・Umakacchan special bowl (yellow) – with astragalus – for children / 4,180 yen (tax and shipping included)
-We will also be selling “Set Discount”-
If you purchase a set of the same color for adults (with name engraved) and children’s (with name engraved), you will receive a total discount of 980 yen.
* [“Makuake” sales page] *
https://www.makuake.com/project/umakachan_45/
Sales period: Scheduled for September 5, 2024 (Thursday) 13:00 to December 2, 2024 (Monday) 22:00
*Even after the target amount is reached, we will continue to accept purchases until the end of the sales period.
*Scheduled to ship within one to one and a half months after purchase. However, there is a limit to the number that can be produced at one time, and the shipping time may be delayed.
* ■We are still planning plans to celebrate the 45th anniversary of Umakacchan’s birth! stay tuned! *
We are grateful that “Umakacchan” has continued to be loved for so long, and we are planning several special projects to make the 45th anniversary even more exciting. Please look forward to it.
* -45th Anniversary Project Future Schedule-*
* ・Yakiniku Nurubon collaboration menu development (scheduled from September 10, 2024 to early December 2024) *
A collaboration menu using “Umakacchan” will be developed at Yakiniku Nurbon stores.
Example menu provided:
Stone grilled delicious garlic rice
Carbonara de Umakacchan
Umakacchan bibim noodles
*Available only at some participating stores
* ・“Hakata Menchankotei” collaboration recipe (scheduled to be released in early October 2024) *
In collaboration with Hakata Menchanko-tei, which is well-known for its unique pot-fried noodles called “Menchanko” originating from Hakata, we plan to publish an arranged recipe for “Umakacchan” devised by the owner of Menchanko-tei on the House Foods website. The design of Menchanko-tei’s logo character “Oni” was created by Isao Nishijima, and it was through this connection that this collaboration was realized.
* ・Relaunch of “Umakacchan Mentaiko Flavored Tonkotsu with Fukusaya Special Mentaiko Marinated Liquid” (Autumn 2024) *
A collaboration product with Fukusaya that was released in February 2024. Due to its great popularity, we will be re-releasing it on the occasion of our 45th anniversary.