Fair Trade White Sesame Adopted for All Elementary and Junior High School Lunches in Kamakura City

— A Collaborative Project Between Kamakura Ethical Lab and Kamakura Rotary Club Comes to Fruition —

[KAMAKURA, May 14, 2026] – Kamakura Ethical Lab is pleased to announce that Nicaraguan Fair Trade white sesame, produced by Kuki Sangyo Co., Ltd. (Yokkaichi, Mie), has been officially introduced to school lunches in all municipal elementary and junior high schools in Kamakura. This initiative has been realized in coordination with "Fair Trade Month" this May.

1. Project Background and Objectives

The goal of this project is to provide children—the leaders of the next generation—with the opportunity to experience "ethical consumption" firsthand through their daily meals and to reflect on the realization of a sustainable society. Thanks to a social contribution donation from the Kamakura Rotary Club, the adoption of this Fair Trade-certified ingredient was made possible for all municipal schools (16 elementary and 10 junior high schools).

Service Schedule: Distribution began in phases in May 2026. A simultaneous city-wide rollout across all junior high schools is scheduled for late May.

2. Presentation Ceremony

On May 14, a formal presentation ceremony was held at Kamakura City Hall. In the presence of Kamakura Ethical Lab, the Vice President of the Kamakura Rotary Club presented the donation catalog to Takashi Matsuo, Mayor of Kamakura, and Yohei Takahashi, Superintendent of Education.

This initiative offers a valuable practical learning experience, helping students understand how the food they eat every day helps protect the lives and environments of producers in distant countries.

3. Promoting Multifaceted Ethical Education (Related Topic)

In conjunction with the introduction of the ingredients, a multifaceted educational support program is being implemented in collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of Nicaragua to deepen the students' learning.

Ambassadorial Meeting and Video Message:

Kamakura Ethical Lab visited the Embassy of the Republic of Nicaragua in Japan to meet with Her Excellency Sandy Anabel Dávila Sandoval. A video message recorded during this visit, introducing the importance of Fair Trade and Nicaraguan culture, was provided to the Kamakura City Board of Education. The video will be screened in classrooms during lunch periods.

Educational Materials:

Informational leaflets explaining the "Mechanisms of Fair Trade" and "About the Republic of Nicaragua" have been distributed to all students. By combining visual and printed media, the project provides a comprehensive framework for students to learn about ethical consumption from a global perspective. Kamakura Ethical Lab will continue to collaborate with the local community, government, and international organizations to promote Fair Trade and contribute to sustainable urban development.