JA1EM Yoshihiko 'Jiro' Akimoto Nagareyama, CHIBA Japan QCWA # 33103

Located in Nasushiobara City in Tochigi prefecture is where you'll find Pan Akimoto, a local Japanese bakery which has been serving the area for some 60 years. However, the most recent offering from the traditional baker seems to be attracting a lot of attention.

Canned bread. Thats right. The new canned bread is an original product born from the bakery's current successor, Yoshihiko Akimoto. But unlike previous/current 'long lasting' or 'emergency ration' type of bread, Akimoto's version has been praised for its oven baked freshness and softness (said to last up to 3 years!).

Akimoto first came up with the idea for canned bread back in 1995, the same year one the most catastrophic earthquakes hit the Hanshin region in Japan. Moved by the disaster, Akimoto sent 2000 loafs of bread to the victims affected by the tragedy. Unfortunately, by the time these were delivered to the victims, the bread had gone bad, forcing them to be thrown away. That's when Akimoto decided to make a long-lasting bread that still had the fresh-out-of-the-oven taste. The canned bread they have on offer today, is the culmination of the countless trial and error that ensued.

Canned bread isn't where it ends though. You see, Akimoto also developed a business model that would see his new product being used to aid areas suffering from starvation. And it's not just charity either; his business model brings in actual profit whilst still being a humanitarian project! Aptly named 'Project Kyukancho' - which roughly translates to 'a bird that brings aid in a can' - Akimoto is extremely passionate about the project, dedicated everything he has to it.

So, here's how it works:
The canned bread (800 yen each) is first sold in batches to companies and organizations as emergency food rations. Then, after 2 years (even though the bread can last 3), Akimoto recalls the unopened bread and sends it as aid to areas affected by disasters or starvation; of course this is sent on behalf of the company that bought the bread in the first place.

This way, not only do companies and organizations benefit from having emergency food rations for 2 years, they also get great PR from having the unconsumed rations sent as aid to affected regions on their behalf. Akimoto secures his continued revenue by replenishing the repurposed canned bread. It's a win win for all that incredibly sees absolutely no waste!

More recently (August 2015), Pan Akimoto opened an overseas branch in Danang, Vietnam. Although this new shop - named 'Gochi Pan' is primarily a bakers, Akimoto has plans on using it as a gateway for making 'Project Kyukancho' global.

March 05, 2016