■ “Let’s have a fun day together with delicious rice and music!” (Little Glee Monster)
On October 26th, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Minamiuonuma City’s municipal incorporation, the “Onigiri & Music Festival” will be held at the Yairo no Mori Stage in Yairo no Mori Park in Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture. Comments have arrived from Little Glee Monster, Sachiko Kobayashi, and Shoko Nakagawa, who will be performing at the festival. The timetable has also been announced.
At the festival, the famous onigiri specialty shop “Nigirimeshi Teppen” in Minamiuonuma City will set up a stall. Aiming to make the “best” onigiri ever made, they are particular about the rice, water, seaweed, and ingredients, and sell onigiri that are delicious even when cold, made with care and love from Minamiuonuma Koshihikari rice. In addition, various food stalls will gather from inside and outside Minamiuonuma City.
In addition, the “Onigiri Summit(R) Local” will be held for the first time as a local version of the Onigiri Summit(R) by the Onigiri Association. Voluntary municipalities, companies, and individuals will work together to promote the joy of food and the appeal of local areas and companies through onigiri. Food ingredients from multiple municipalities will be sold, including Yonezawa beef from Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture.
On the day, with the cooperation of the Onigiri Association, the event will be attended by Yumiko Ukon, the proprietress of the popular Tokyo restaurant “Onigiri Otsuka Bongo,” which always has a line of customers, and Yosuke Miura, the owner of “Onigiri Asakusa Yadoroku,” which is listed in the Michelin Guide Tokyo and Bib Gourmand. This is a rare opportunity to taste the exquisite onigiri made by two people who love Niigata and Minamiuonuma Koshihikari rice in their hometown.
At this festival, limited quantities of collaborative rice balls will be sold for this day only. Kobayashi Sachiko, who will celebrate her 60th year in showbiz in 2024, is from Niigata and was appointed the first official “Rice Ball Ambassador” by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The “Kobayashi Sachiko Rice Fields” in Niigata Prefecture are currently planting rice for the 15th time. Also, Ukon Yumiko, the proprietress of “Onigiri Otsuka Bongo,” the most popular rice ball specialty store in Japan founded in 1960, is also from Niigata. The two from the same hometown have teamed up to sell the “Last Boss Rice Ball,” which they created for this day.
The comedy live show will feature additional appearances by Hiking Walking. A limited number of onigiri will be sold in collaboration with Yosuke Miura of “Onigiri Asakusa Yadoroku.”
In addition, a collaboration ramen between Minamiuonuma native Suzuki Qtaro, who appears on the official YouTube channel “Minamiuonuma MAX!” for the 20th anniversary of Minamiuonuma City’s municipalization, and “Makino Street Ramen Shop,” which has a store on Makino Street in Shiozawa, will be sold. We are looking forward to seeing what kind of ramen it will be.
“Brought to you by Minamiuonuma, the rice-producing region! Enjoy delicious rice balls and music to make your heart dance.” We will deliver a new festival where you can eat delicious rice balls and get excited by music.
■Little Glee Monster Comment
Congratulations to Minamiuonuma City on its 20th anniversary!
I am very happy to have the opportunity to perform at this wonderful event in Minamiuonuma City, the Onigiri & Music Festival!
All of us in Little Glee Monster love rice, so we’re really looking forward to it.
Let’s have a fun day together with delicious rice and music!■ Comment from Sachiko Kobayashi
Congratulations to Minamiuonuma City on its 20th anniversary as a city.
As someone from Niigata, music and onigiri are important things that helped me grow, so they’re the perfect combination!
I am very excited to be able to take part in this festival. I will do my best to make it a festival that can be enjoyed by people of all ages!
Let’s eat some delicious rice balls, enjoy the music together, and have a great time!■ Comment from Shoko Nakagawa
Congratulations to Minamiuonuma City on its 20th anniversary!
Delicious food and music! A great combination!
A genetic test revealed that I am perfectly suited to eating rice, so I’m going to eat lots of delicious Koshihikari rice and sing to my heart’s content!
Let’s enjoy fresh air, water, rice, and fun songs!
Event Information
Minamiuonuma City 20th Anniversary of Municipal Incorporation “Onigiri & Music Festival”
Saturday, October 26th: Yairo no Mori Park Stage, Yairo no Mori, Niigata
Cast: AMEMIYA, WE3M, Sachiko Kobayashi, DJ Misoshiru and MC Gohan, Shoko Nakagawa, Hiking Walking, Little Glee Monster (in alphabetical order)
Event site
https://www.20th-minamiuonuma.jp//onigirimusic.html
