Fair Trade Coffee from Kamakura Wins "Excellence Award in the Social Movement Category" at the 2nd Fairtrade Japan Award!

Kamakura Ethical Lab, the organization promoting the Fair Trade Town initiative in Kamakura City, has been honored with the "Excellence Award in the Social Movement Category" at the "2nd Fairtrade Japan Award 2025," hosted by Fairtrade Label Japan (FLJ), a Non-Profit Organization. This award recognizes the high evaluation of the product "Kamakura Roasted Coffee: Fair Trade Kamakura Blend," which was born from an industry and regional revitalization project conducted in collaboration with Mitsumoto Coffee Co., Ltd. Kamakura General Plant, KOKUBU SHUTOKEN Co., Ltd., and Kamakura City. The award ceremony was held on Thursday, November 13, 2025, at "ADRIFT" in Shimokitazawa, Tokyo.

■About the Award-Winning Project

"Kamakura Roasted Coffee: Fair Trade Kamakura Blend" is a Fair Trade product originating from Kamakura, created through the unified efforts of the community, citizens, businesses, and the local government. It uses Fair Trade certified coffee beans sourced at a fair price from producers in developing countries, and is roasted and packaged at the Mitsumoto Coffee Co., Ltd. Kamakura General Plant. Characterized by a flavor profile that evokes the history and culture of Kamakura, the blend has been available for sale at major retailers nationwide since August 2024.

The product was highly praised for its development through the collaboration of diverse stakeholders, and particularly for the participation of citizens in the package design and flavor selection process.

■Reason for the Award Kamakura City was certified as a "Fair Trade Town" in 2025. Kamakura Ethical Lab, Mitsumoto Coffee, and KOKUBU SHUTOKEN collaborated to commercialize the "Fair Trade Kamakura Blend." Citizens participated in the package design and flavor selection process, realizing a new form of product development where consumers are actively involved. The continuous effort to transcend boundaries between citizens, businesses, and the local government to co-create "new regional value" was highly evaluated as a social movement.

Encouraged by this award, Kamakura Ethical Lab aims to further increase the recognition of "Kamakura Roasted Coffee: Fair Trade Kamakura Blend" and will continue its community-based activities to increase the number of "fair" people, goods, events, and businesses in Kamakura.

■About the Fairtrade Japan Award

The Fairtrade Japan Award is hosted by Fairtrade Label Japan, a Non-Profit Organization, to recognize companies and organizations that have achieved outstanding results in promoting Fair Trade activities in Japan. It aims to support the promotion of Fair Trade by Japanese companies and organizations to solve global social issues, and to realize a greater social impact.

Fairtrade Label Japan (NPO):

https://www.fairtrade.net/jp-jp.html Fairtrade Japan Award: https://www.fairtrade.net/jp-jp/for-business/benefits-of-being-certified/fairtrade-japan-award.html