Through an industry-government-academia collaboration agreement between the village of Minamiaso in Kumamoto Prefecture, the Kumamoto Prefectural Agricultural Cooperative Associations, and the Keio University Graduate School of Media Design (KMD), Kumamoto has been providing support for the akaushi (“red beef”) livestock industry. The prefecture accounts for approximately 90% of its total production in Japan. Starting in 2024, this project further expanded its operations to support production and has developed a cattle fattening program. It has also strengthened profit returns to producers through overseas exports and the expansion of sales channels in restaurants in urban areas. In addition, the project has been promoting the establishment of a sustainable livestock production model, including addressing environmental issues such as methane reduction.
Applicable regions
Minamiaso Village, Kumamoto Prefecture
Implementation period
July 14, 2022 - present
Community and Regional Affairs category
Regional collaboration as research targets and implementation sites/research that aims to popularize region-specific issues
Social collaboration through advanced research
Education of students/human resource development for the next generation
Two-way recycling-oriented collaboration with local communities and societies
Environmental initiatives
Collaboration and cooperation with alumni and alumni associations
Related websites
Related agreements, etc.
A partnership intended to create industries which cater to “ethical consumption” in considering people, the environment and society, through support for the “Kumamoto Akaushi Beef” industry, which has coexisted in harmony with the grasslands located in Minamiaso Village
Cooperating institutions, etc.
Higo Bank, Tokai University Kyushu Campus
Campus
Hiyoshi
Person in charge
Graduate School of Media Design researchers Takashi Ooe and Sei Kishinami
Inquiries
toe@kmd.keio.ac.jp
sei.kishinami@kmd.keio.ac.jp