Mr. Saito Kenichi, a second-year student in the Department of Industrial Technology and Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT), won both the Ligene Award and the Fukushima Prefecture’s “Kibitan” Award, a symbolic character for reconstruction, at the “Entrepreneur Challenge,” a pitch contest to create the future with ideas and technology, held on February 29, 2024.
Congratulations, Saito san!

He gave a pitch presentation on “Export Promotion of Sake and Development of Rice Applications through Mobile Bottling Service” conducted with his other coresearchers including another WISE student, Mr. Tomita Yusuke, a first year student of doctoral course in the Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, and he was awarded the above prizes.
In this contest, 10 groups selected through on- and off-campus mentoring gave pitch presentations, and each winner was chosen.

Award-winning Business Plan:
“Promotion of Sake Exports and Development of Rice Applications through Mobile Bottling Service”

Summary:
 This business proposal is to visit sake breweries with bottling equipment and other equipment mounted on trucks and partially take over the production of sake.
Sake breweries will not only be able to reduce capital investment, but will also be able to increase the added value of sake by preventing the attenuation of aroma components through modern technology.
In addition, by promoting the export of value-added sake, compensation and praise from the world will be returned to sake breweries, thereby revitalizing the local culture and economy through the sake industry.
And by expanding sake rice production in tandem with sake production, we aim to increase food self-sufficiency.

For more information on the contest winners, please click here.
You can also watch a video of the contest.
https://www.tuat-flourish.jp/topics/event/3218/

Please refer to the following Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT) 2023 Academic Bulletin, too.
https://www.tuat.ac.jp/outline/disclosure/univ-report/2023/20240229_01.html