Kurosengoku Soybean and Kurosengoku Business Cooperative (Hokuryu Town, Hokkaido)

Kurosengoku Business Cooperative Association
	31-1 Hekisui, Hokuryu-cho, Uryu-gun, Hokkaido 078-2503 ▶  Tel:0164-34-2377Fax:0164-34-2388  (Opened October 2016! Directly managed Kurosengoku online store)

Thank you!Selected as one of the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency's "300 Emerging Small and Medium Enterprises" for 2021

Thank you!Selected as the 5th Discover Rural Treasure in 2018

Organization overview      What are Kurosengoku soybeans?     Chairman's speech     Producer     History     Related articles     Useful Links

name	Kurosengoku Business Cooperative Association
location	〒078-2503 Hokkaido Uryu District Hokuryu Town Aza Hekisui 31-1 (map）
contact address	Tel:0164-34-2377Fax:0164-34-2388 mail：info★kurosengoku.or.jp(Please replace ★ with a half-width @ when using this address.)
Incorporation	March 5, 2007 (Heisei 19)
board member	・Chairman: Yukio Takada (general manager) ・Executive Director: Masaaki Tsuji (accounting officer) ・Directors: Kazuo Kimura, Hiroki Matsumoto, Osamu Yoshida, Koki Takada ・Auditors: Katsuhiro Nagai, Toru Kawada (2020 and 2021) Staff: 4
Production area	Hokuryu, Shibetsu, Iwamizawa, Shintotsukawa, Takikawa, Oiwake, Biei/Kami-furano, Imakane (FY2021, 9 districts)
business	・Joint processing, joint sales, and joint storage of agricultural products handled by members ・Business-related research and studies - Providing education and information to improve management and technology or to disseminate knowledge about the association's business ・Projects related to the welfare of union members, etc.
facility	・Soybean preparation facility and warehouse: Hekisui, Hokuryu Town ・Rice milling factory/Rice milling machine: Hokuryu-cho Hekisui
public relations· Information dissemination	・Kurosengoku Business Cooperative Association Online Shop

Trends in number of producers, area, and harvest volume

　
From left: Changes in the number of producers, changes in cultivated area

What are Kurosengoku soybeans?     Organization overview     Chairman's speech     Producer     History     Related articles     Useful Links

Kurosengoku is a very small soybean with a shiny black seed coat and green cotyledons (the kernels after the seed coat is removed).
It has more leaves than regular soybeans, requires more sunlight, and is easily affected by the weather, making it difficult to cultivate.
(Kurosengoku beans have a high cumulative temperature, calculated by adding up the daily temperatures from planting the seeds until the fruit ripens. While regular beans have a temperature of 2,300 degrees, Kurosengoku beans have a temperature of 2,700 degrees.)

Kurosengoku, the original Hokkaido variety, ceased to be cultivated after the 1970s (Showa 45), and was called the phantom Kurosengoku.
In 2001, Jun Tanaka, an agricultural researcher from Morimachi, Kayabe District, Hokkaido, discovered the original seeds of Kurosengoku, carefully selected about 50 seeds from them, and successfully germinated 28 of them.
Kurosengoku was then moved to Iwate Prefecture and cultivated under the guidance of world-renowned bean researcher Joji Arihara (Director of the Kanto Tokai Research Department at the National Agriculture and Food Research Center in 2014), but in 2004 (Heisei 16), it returned to its hometown of Hokkaido.
In 2005 (Heisei 17), Kurosengoku cultivation began in 24 households in Hokuryu Town, Takikawa City, and Otobe Town.
In 2007 (Heisei 19), the Kurosengoku Business Cooperative was established in Hokuryu Town.

The nutritional value of Kurosengoku was highly praised, and it was featured in the media and magazines, becoming a hot topic.
The company continues to develop new processed products, including the baked goods "Maboroshi no Kurosengoku Florentine," a collaboration with the Western confectionery shop "Kinotoya," the "Kurosengoku Amananato" from Eitaro Sohonpo in Tokyo, which is sold at the Isetan Shinjuku store, and the sale of Nichirosan Pack's bottled tea "Kurosengoku Tea."
In 2013 (Heisei 25), the company was selected for Sapporo City's sixth industry revitalization promotion subsidy project, and in 2014 (Heisei 26), in partnership with natto specialist company "Mamezou," "Kurosengoku Sprouted Natto" was born.

The legendary Kurosengoku has now been reborn as the "ideal healthy bean" and continues to evolve and advance every day.

Chairman's speech     Organization overview     What are Kurosengoku soybeans?     Producer     History     Related articles     Useful Links

We spoke with Chairman Yukio Takada (71 years old) about Kurosengoku soybeans (April 2014).

Kurosengoku is a native Hokkaido species

Kurosengoku is originally a native species of Hokkaido, and was cultivated in the past as feed for military horses and as a green manure crop.Until recently, the temperature in Hokkaido was so low that some Kurosengoku pods did not bear fruit.
However, since the pods of Kurosenkoku also contain a lot of nutrients, even the non-fruitful pods were given as feed to horses.

The extremely small Kurosengoku soybeans have a high cumulative temperature (the sum of the average daily temperatures from sowing to maturity) and require more sunlight than regular soybeans, making them labor-intensive to cultivate and susceptible to weather. Due to the difficulty of cultivation, cultivation of these soybeans has been discontinued since the 1970s.

The revival of the nostalgic "kinako beans"

◎Autumn 1994 (Heisei 6)
The Kurosengoku Business Cooperative received an inquiry from a major natto manufacturer asking, "Are there any extremely small black soybeans in Hokkaido?"
When former Chairman Murai hears about "tiny black beans," he is reminded of the "kinako beans" he ate as a child.
Those small black beans that my grandmother used to roast in a frying pan and grind into kinako in a mortar!
The fragrant aroma of soybean flour from childhood is brought back to life, and thus begins the journey to revive Kurosengoku.

Agricultural researcher Jun Tanaka successfully germinates 28 seeds of Kurosengoku rice

◎ 2001 (Heisei 13)
Jun Tanaka, an agricultural researcher from Morimachi, who had been conducting extensive research, discovered the tiny black bean, Kurosengoku, among the beans he had collected. He carefully selected 50 seeds of the original Kurosengoku variety and succeeded in germinating 28 of them.
Kurosengoku requires long hours of sunlight to grow, so it was thought to be difficult to cultivate in Hokkaido's climate at the time. Tanaka therefore focused on Iwate Prefecture (Hanamaki City and Kitakami City), which had long hours of sunlight, a warm climate, and was thought to be the southernmost place where cultivation was possible.

Kurosengoku cultivation begins in Iwate Prefecture

◎ 2002 (Heisei 14)
Iwate Prefecture was the one that worked on reviving Kurosengoku.
At the time, Kurosengoku seeds were brought to JA Iwate Hanamaki, an agricultural cooperative in Hanamaki City, as a replacement crop for rice paddies due to the national rice production reduction policy.Without any cultivation know-how, it was a process of trial and error.However, thanks to their efforts, Kurosengoku has expanded its cultivation area as a specialty product of Iwate Prefecture, and its cultivation has spread.

Small ridge sowing cultivation method: Yields stagnated

Kurosengoku cultivation in Iwate Prefecture is done using the small ridge sowing method due to poor drainage in the soil. However, the yield did not increase as much as expected.

Guidance from Mr. Joji Arihara, Director of the Kanto-Tokai Research Department at the National Agricultural Research Center

In Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture, a world-renowned soybean researcher, Joji Arihara (*), leader of the Soybean 300A Research Center of the National Agriculture and Bio-oriented Technology Research Organization, was invited to give a lecture, and he received guidance on Kurosengoku cultivation and worked to increase yields. Chairman Takada visited a farm in Iwate where he received guidance from Professor Arihara. (*2014, Director of the Kanto Tokai Research Department, National Agricultural Research Center)

Kurosengoku's return to Hokkaido

◎ Summer of 2004 (Heisei 16)
Former Chairman Murai learned of Kurosengoku, which is cultivated in Iwate Prefecture, and took action.
"Kurosengoku is a Hokkaido original breed. Born and raised in Hokkaido, it is a true Hokkaido native. It is best to return to our hometown and raise it in our hometown."
"Kurosengoku is a wonderful Hokkaido original variety that has not been selectively bred. I want to revive the soybean flour that was once produced in Hokkaido and contribute to the further development of Hokkaido."
Former Chairman Murai's passion began to move those around him to aim for the cultivation of Kurosengoku soybeans in Hokkaido.

Kurosengoku cultivation begins

Former Chairman Murai's enthusiasm persuaded Iwate Prefecture and mobilized farmers in Hokkaido, where fallow land is on the rise. Mayor Koichiro Terashima of Otobe Town in southern Hokkaido announced the "Town and Agriculture Revitalization Plan (Soybean Project)" and endorsed former Chairman Murai's passionate vision.

◎ 2005 (Heisei 17)
Kurosengoku cultivation has begun in 24 households in Hokuryu Town, Takikawa City, and Otobe Town.
Professor Jun Tanaka was invited to Takikawa City to give a lecture on Kurosengoku. About 40 people who shared the vision of former Chairman Murai gathered and listened attentively to his talk.

Under the guidance of Professor Jun Tanaka, Kurosengoku cultivation began. It was a series of surprises!

Under the guidance of Professor Tanaka, we began cultivating Kurosengoku rice.
The seeds were sown and leaves sprouted. However, while the other soybeans flowered and bore fruit, Kurosengoku did not even flower.
The soybeans finally started to flower after the Obon festival. This was the first time they had seen soybeans so late, so the producers were confused.
At the end of October, the leaves finally fall and the harvest begins.
After harvesting with a combine, the next thing we have to do is struggle to remove the mud.
They rent a warehouse from the agricultural cooperative, pour the beans onto a conveyor belt, and then repeatedly sort the mud and beans by hand.
The manual labor was done by the farming women, and the mind-numbing work continued endlessly.

First harvest and introduction of sorting equipment

◎ 2005 (Heisei 17)
The cultivation area was 27 hectares, with 22 producers. The yield was just under 43 tons.
Just as he breathed a sigh of relief, he rushed off to look for a sorting device (to remove foreign matter) in preparation for next year's production.
After negotiating with countless vendors over the summer, we finally managed to install the equipment.

◎ 2006 (Heisei 18)
With the help of subsidies for crop rotation, the number of producers and yields have increased. In fiscal 2006, there were 141 producers and the yield was 422 tons.

Kurosengoku Business Cooperative Association established

◎ 2007 (Heisei 19)
In March, the Kurosengoku Business Cooperative was established.
We set out with an office in Hekisui, Hokuryu Town.
126 producers in 2007,
Cultivation area: 291 hectares, yield: 415 tons.

The peak of Kurosenkoku

It began to be featured in the media.
The company set up a stall at the "Northern Blessings Food Fair" held in front of the Sapporo Prefectural Government Office, and the former chairman and director himself promoted the products.
The mothers I met there encouraged me, saying, "Kurosengoku is a delicious and wonderful bean!" This was the greatest support I could have received.
The Aishoku Fair stall will continue in 2014, seven years after it was first held.
The first product to be commercialized was "Kurosengoku Natto."
In 2007 and 2008 (Heisei 19 and 2008), the annual yield was around 360 tons, and the business is going well. The future looks bright.

Bankruptcy of middlemen

◎ 2009 (Heisei 21)
During the economic downturn, the middleman who had been the sole purchaser of Kurosengoku soybeans went bankrupt.
The situation has changed completely. The Kurosengoku rice, which has been successfully harvested, is now in stock and stored in a warehouse.
The payment date to producers is approaching with no prospect of receiving the money.

Kurosengoku buried in snow

To make matters worse, Kurosengoku was buried in snow this late autumn.
With the harvest season fast approaching, snow began to fall on Kurosengoku, turning the fields into a nightmare.
With over 100 million yen worth of inventory, they were unable to pay producers, and what's more, the Kurosengoku soybeans that they had carefully cultivated were buried in snow just before the harvest.

I can't even choose death

◎December 2009 (Heisei 21)
Chairman Takada went around bowing to each and every farmer.
No matter how much I was insulted, I felt sorry and had no words to say in response, so I could only bow my head desperately.
Chairman Takada was overwhelmed with despair and prepared to die if he could pay for it with his own insurance money.
However, the insurance amount is not enough to cover the payment amount.
I couldn't even choose death.

The sincerity of the producers who saved us from a difficult situation and continued to watch over us patiently

Producers are unable to make it through the new year as the end of the year approaches without receiving payment for their Kurosengoku soybeans.
People who are in dire straits and forced to leave.
However, even though it was difficult, there were producers who gritted their teeth, endured, and waited.
In order to respond to the wishes of these people, Chairman Takada risked his life, traveling from east to west.
People who have been through hell and endured pain together.
Kurosengoku exists today because of the people who continue to watch over and support us.

The God of Salvation appears

◎ April 2010 (Heisei 210)
There was a person who had been watching this dire situation for four months. The call came from Azuma Foods Co., Ltd. (Tochigi Prefecture).
He said he would buy 200 tons of Kurosenkoku directly.
With a feeling of gratitude, he travels desperately across Japan selling the remaining 300 tons to the producers.
The furthest away is Tokushima in Shikoku...

The sincerity of the people who watched over and supported Kurosengoku

Even at this rock bottom, there were people who worked together with us and supported our sales, in order to spread the word about the greatness of Kurosengoku to as many people as possible. They are people I will never forget. It was thanks to the irreplaceable sincerity of the people who supported and encouraged Kurosengoku's producers that Kurosengoku was able to climb out of the depths.

◎ March 2011 (Heisei 23)
Payments to producers have been completed.
However, in 2010, compared to the previous year, the number of producers had dropped dramatically from 93 to 36, the cultivation area had dropped from 297 hectares to 85 hectares, and the yield had dropped from 359 tons to 139 tons.

◎ 2012 (Heisei 23)
The Farmers' Individual Income Compensation System is launched. Kurosengoku soybeans are removed from the list of major agricultural products.
Hokuryu Town decided to provide a subsidy to encourage the cultivation of Kurosengoku rice, and began providing its own support for the town's specialty product, Kurosengoku.

Kurosengoku attracts attention

◎ 2011 (Heisei 210)
The trend in society was that Kurosengoku's outstanding nutritional value began to attract attention, and it began to be featured in the food industry and the media (STV's "TV Shopping," "Ambitious!", various magazines, etc.).
Her steady participation in the Aishoku Fair in Sapporo has led to her meeting many people, including her supportive teacher, Sachiko Hoshizawa.

◎ 2013 (Heisei 23)
Kurosengoku natto was featured on the nationally broadcast TV program "Tokoro-san's Things They Don't Teach You in School!"

◎ 2017 (Heisei 29)
Yumoya (Taichung City, Taiwan), a large, high-end supermarket that mainly sells additive-free foods, holds an exhibition of Hokuryu Town products, including rice, Kurosengoku soybeans, and sunflower oil, which is met with great acclaim.

◎ 2018 (Heisei 30)
Takashi Sanbuichi (Professor Emeritus at Takushoku University Hokkaido Junior College), an advisor to the Kurosengoku Business Cooperative Association, developed the new variety "Ryukei No. 3."

◎ 2019 (Heisei 31, Reiwa 1)
Attended the 1st Discover Rural Treasures Summit 2019 (Tokyo Midtown)

Kurosengoku to be commercialized

◎ July 2011 (Heisei 23)
・Nichiro Sunpack's new bottled tea "Kurosengokucha" now on sale。

◎ September 2011 (Heisei 23)
-New release of baked goods "Maboroshi no Kurosengoku Florentine", a collaboration with "Western Confectionery Kinotoya".

◎November 2011
・Eitaro Sohonpo's "Kurosengoku Kannato" will be sold at Isetan Shinjuku store in Tokyo.。

◎ 2017 (Heisei 29)
・Kurosengoku Witch's "Miracle of the Earth" is now on sale (Ferme La Terre Biei, Biei Town)。

◎ 2018 (Heisei 30)
・Newly Relaunched Kurosengoku Soybean Sunflower Oil Dressing。

◎ 2019 (Heisei 31, Reiwa 1)
・All-in-one cosmetics "Lumatan" Manai Cosmetics Co., Ltd. (Sapporo) launches new product

◎ 2020 (Reiwa 2)
・A world first! "Kurosengoku Soy Meat" now on sale! New menu items developed by restaurants in Hokuryu Town!

New processed products are being developed one after another.

Awards

◎ 2010 (Heisei 210)
・6th HAL Agriculture Award "Challenge Award"” (November 11, 2010)

◎ 2014 (Heisei 26)
・FY2013 Kitashin "Hometown Promotion Fund Kitashin Industrial Technology Encouragement Award"(March 26, 2014)

◎ 2016 (Heisei 28)
・Chairman Takada Yukio is certified as a Regional Specialty Product Meister by the Japan Specialty Agricultural Products Association, a public interest incorporated foundation.(February 22, 2016)

◎ 2018 (Heisei 30)
・Kurosengoku Business Cooperative Association was selected for the "5th Discover the Treasures of Rural Areas" sponsored by the Cabinet Secretariat and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.(November 22, 2018)

◎ 2019 (Heisei 31, Reiwa 1)
・"Hokkaido Food to Pass On" Video Contest, Awards Ceremony & Networking Event (Hosted by the Hokkaido Agricultural Administration Office, Sapporo City)(March 18, 2019)
・Discover the Treasures of Rural Areas: 1st Summit 2019 (Tokyo Midtown)(June 26, 2019)

◎ 2022 (Reiwa 4)
・Kurosengoku Business Cooperative was selected in the demand acquisition category of the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency's 2021 "300 Emerging Small and Medium-sized Enterprises and Small Businesses" and was awarded a letter of appreciation!(February 1, 2022)

 Introducing "Kurosengoku Sprouted Natto"!

◎ 2014 (Heisei 25)

The Kurosengoku Business Cooperative Association's business is selected for Sapporo City's sixth industry revitalization promotion subsidy program. Development of Kurosengoku germinated natto begins in collaboration with Mamezou Co., Ltd.

◎ March 2014
In collaboration with Mamezou Co., Ltd., "Kurosengoku Sprouted Natto" was born!

Kurosengoku soybeans celebrate their 10th anniversary of cultivation, protecting the health of Japanese people

◎ March 2015 (Heisei 27)
Kurosengoku soybeans began to be cultivated in 2005 (Heisei 17), and will celebrate their 10th anniversary in 2015 (Heisei 27).
The highly functional food "Kurosengoku soybeans" will kick off the next generation as a Hokkaido-grown food that will protect the lives of Japanese people!

"Kurosengoku soybeans" store name

Mr. Tansetsu Ogino

Bokusho artist. Born in Tanba, Hyogo Prefecture in 1939 (Showa 14). While primarily working in graphic design, he began devoting himself to calligraphy around 1970. His works range from purely lettered works based on traditional calligraphy and ink to abstract paintings. Among his many works in product design and mass media, he has created title characters for the Suntory Whisky "Hibiki," the Flower Expo "Sakuyakonohanakan," and the historical drama "Shinsengumi!"

Kurosengoku recipes from Hokuryu town residents

Kurosengoku recipe

Kurosengoku recipe by the Hokuryu Town Portal Administrator (Photo: Vegetable Garden Pressed Sushi with Kurosengoku Soy Meat)

▶ Click here for more information on Kurosengoku soybean recipes >>

Kurosengoku recipe

Kurosengoku recipe by Mihoko Nagai, wife of a Kurosengoku soybean producer (Photo: Mixed rice with Kurosengoku soybeans)

▶ Click here for more information on Kurosengoku soybean recipes >>

Related articles

We spoke with Professor Takashi Sambuichi, Professor Emeritus of Hokkaido Junior College, Takushoku University, about the new Kurosengoku soybean variety "Ryukei No. 3" - Hokuryu Town Portal (Hokkaido) - Japan's No. 1 Sunflower Village

On Tuesday, April 24, 2018, Takashi Sanbuichi, advisor to the Kurosengoku Business Cooperative Association (Chairman Yukio Takada, Hokuryu Town),...

Producers and executives      Organization overview      What are Kurosengoku soybeans?      Chairman's speech      History      Related articles      Useful Links

▶ board member
Yukio Takada, Chairman	Masaaki Tsuji, Executive Director	Kazuo Kimura, Director	Hiroki Matsumoto Director	Osamu Yoshida, Director
Yuki Takada, Director	Auditor Yoshihiro Nagai
▶ Producer(To be posted sequentially)
Masaaki Tsuji (Hokuryu Town)	Kazuo Kimura (Hokuryu Town)	Hiroki Matsumoto (Hokuryu Town)	Hiroaki Ito (Hokuryu Town)	Yuki Takada (Hokuryu Town)
Minoru Nagai (Hokuryu Town)	Kenko Kawakami (Hokuryu Town)	Ken Yoshida (Hokuryu Town)	Hideaki Tsuji (Hokuryu Town)	Osamu Yoshida (Hokuryu Town)
Mitsuhide Sakai (Biei Town)	Hiromitsu Makita (Abira Town)	Hideki Okayama (Iwamizawa City)	Yuki Kamatsuka (Urausu Town)	Tadashi Fujii (Shintotsukawa Town)
Mikio Tamaki (Takikawa City)	Masanori Ezaki (Takikawa City)	Mamoru Takehashi (Hokuryu Town)
▶ staff

History      Organization overview      What are Kurosengoku soybeans?      Chairman's speech      Producer      Related articles      Useful Links

Related articles      Organization overview      What are Kurosengoku soybeans?      Chairman's speech      Producer      History      Useful Links

Awards(Click to enlarge in a separate window)

Selected as one of the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency's "300 Emerging Small and Medium Enterprises" for 2021 (February 1, 2022)	Discover the Treasures of Rural Areas: 1st Summit Networking Event 2019 (Tokyo Midtown) (June 26, 2019)	Discover the Treasures of Rural Areas: 1st Summit 2019 (Tokyo Midtown) (June 26, 2019)	"Hokkaido Food to Pass On" Video Contest, Awards Ceremony & Networking Event (Hosted by the Hokkaido Agricultural Administration Office, Sapporo City) (March 18, 2019)
Selected as the 5th Discover Rural Treasure (November 22, 2018)	Chairman Takada Yukio certified as a local specialty product master (February 22, 2016)	Received the 2013 Hometown Promotion Fund Industrial Technology Encouragement Award (March 31, 2014)	Received the "Challenge Award" at the 6th HAL Agriculture Awards (December 2, 2010)

Cultivation/processing　Sales Shop　Kurosengoku Menu　Opening a store　Announcements etc.　Publicity　merchandise

▶ Cultivation/Processing (7 items)
Satake Corporation introduces "Beltuza Multi-purpose Belt-type Optical Sorting Machine" (November 20, 2020)	The story of the efforts to breed the new Kurosengoku variety "Ryukei No. 3" (May 14, 2018)
Kurosengoku from sowing to harvest 2014 ＜YouTube＞ (December 22, 2014)	Kurosenkoku soybean sowing has begun! (May 16, 2012)	Kurosengoku from sowing to harvest 2010 ＜YouTube＞ (October 21, 2010)	Kurosengoku soybeans are close to harvest at Takada Yukio Farm (October 11, 2010)	Kurosengoku seeds sowed at Takada Farm (May 18, 2010)
▶ Sales shops (3 stores)
Tomies (TOMIZ, Tomizawa Shoten, Sapporo City) Sapporo Stellar Place store (October 27, 2020)	Bravo Kurosengoku! "Bravo Kuromameya (Sapporo City)" - Rice and Bread (January 20, 2012)	Naturally grown rice by Mr. Koki Takada (Hokuryu Town) @ AGT (Sapporo City) (August 14, 2012)
Click here for the "original menu that can only be enjoyed in Hokuryu Town" using Kurosengoku >> Sunflower Hokuryu Roadside Station and Restaurant Fusha (11:00-20:00, open every day)
▶ Kurosengoku Menu Sunflower Park Hokuryu Onsen (17 items):Some menu items are currently discontinued）
"Black Curry Curry Bread" made with "Vegetable-Filled Kurosengoku Curry Roux" now on sale! (April 20, 2020)	Kurosengoku Nabeyaki Udon @ Restaurant Fusha (December 10, 2019)
Sunflower Park Hotel's breakfast and dinner menu (April 15, 2014)	Tenryu Tendon, Bukkake Black Natto Udon, 2014 New Menu (April 5, 2014)	Kurosengoku Udon, a local udon from Hokuryu Town, will be available this fall! (October 22, 2013)	New items at Restaurant Kazeguruma include black curry, sea urchin rice bowl, and fried soba bread. (May 1, 2013)	"Kokuryu Miso Ramen" now available at Restaurant Fusha! (October 10, 2012)
Summer Buffet - Healthy Vegetables @Sunflower Park Hokuryu Onsen 2012 (July 3, 2012)	(Announcement) Summer Buffet - Stay healthy with vegetables (June 24, 2012)	"Kokuryu Wasamusubi" - the fragrant aroma of premium mountain wasabi from Hokuryu Town (March 15, 2012)	Kurochan minced meat cutlet is now available for 500 yen, limited to 15 servings per day only in December! (December 15, 2011)	Kurosengoku natto! Perfect with brown rice, so good! (October 13, 2011)
Hamburg steak with Kurosengoku tofu and plenty of salad, Good ♪ (May 12, 2011)	Golden Week special Kuro-chan series now on sale! (April 29, 2011)	Christmas Buffet @ Sunflower Park Hokuryu Onsen 2010 (December 24, 2010)	Introducing Kurosengoku Spaghetti & Tomato Spaghetti! @Restaurant Fusha (November 12, 2010)	Kurosengoku rice balls & Golden Week limited edition・Shopping Rally 2010(April 30, 2010)
▶ Kurosengoku Menu and Town Resident Recipes (6 items)
Introducing the new "Ramen Salad" using Ajidokoro Hachihachi's original "Kurosengoku and Sunflower Oil Dressing" (July 19, 2018)
Kurosengoku soybean recipes from moms and dads in Hokuryu Town (November 25, 2014)	Hokuryu Town wins Excellence Award at the 2012 "Producers' Food Love Contest"! (January 21, 2013)	Mihoko Nagai's "Kurosengoku Rice Flour Bread Trio" Cooking Class Held at "Kira☆Sora" (February 2, 2012)	Mihoko Nagai wins the Excellence Award at the 2011 "Producer-Made Food Lover Cuisine Contest"! (January 16, 2012)	"Moffle" is born: A collaboration between Kurosengoku soybeans and Hakucho mochi (July 28, 2011)
▶ Store openings (30)
Kamisunagawa Lifestyle Marche @ Town Station Flat (Kamisunagawa Town) (January 26, 2022)	Ebisuya from Medford, Massachusetts, USA (January 19, 2022)	Hokuryu Town Sunflower Tourism and Product Fair 2021 (Chikaho) (November 8, 2021)	Seka Shoku "Food Business Meeting Connecting the World and Japan with Shinkin" (November 5, 2021)	Donation of Kurosengoku soy meat to the Kita-Sorachi Area School Lunch Association (September 10, 2021)
Hokuryu Town's "Sunflower Tourism and Product Fair" to be held in Chikaho, Hokuryu, 2020 (November 5, 2020)	Kurosengoku soybeans sold face-to-face at Sorachi Fair 2020 (Hokkaido Dosanko Plaza Sapporo store) (October 19, 2020)	"Kurosengoku soybeans" are now available at Hokkaido Support Todoku (Coop Sapporo) (September 28, 2020)	"Kurosengokudon" is now available at Hokkaido Support Todoku (Coop Sapporo)! (June 25, 2020)	2019 Good Job Creation Fair @Tokyo International Forum (October 15, 2019)
Hokuryu Town Specialty Products Sales Fair @Mitsui Outlet Park Kitahiroshima (July 1, 2019)	Discover the Treasures of Rural Areas: 1st Summit Marche 2019 (Yurakucho Station Square) (June 26, 2019)	Sapporo Autumn Fest 2018 (Sapporo City) All Hokuryu's Hokuryu Town Booth was a huge success (October 9, 2018)	A Hokuryu Town product exhibition featuring rice, Kurosengoku soybeans, and sunflower oil was held at Yumoya (Taichung City, Taiwan). (December 11, 2017)	Kurosengoku germinated natto "The wonderful Kurosengoku natto" now available at the food fair (March 17, 2014)
Food corner at the 36th Hokuryu Town Cultural Festival 2013 (November 6, 2013)	Sapporo Autumn Fest 2013 - Last day of Hokuryu Town booth (October 3, 2013)	Sapporo Autumn Fest 2013, Hokuryu Town Booth, Day 2 (September 29, 2013)	First day of Autumn Fest 2013: Kurosengoku and Kuroryu Miso Noodles are a big hit! (September 27, 2013)	Kuroryu Miso Noodles and Kurosengoku Plenty Appear at Autumn Fest 2013 (September 18, 2013)
Kurosengoku soybeans stall at the Eki Marche (co-hosted by Tabe Marche 2013, Asahikawa City) (September 17, 2013)	(Notice) Kurosengoku soybeans will be participating in the "Northern Blessings Food Marche 2013"! (September 3, 2013)	Participating in the Kurosengoku Soybean and Northern Blessings Food Fair (Sapporo City) for the 7th consecutive year! (May 27, 2013)	"Kokuryu Miso Ramen" makes its first appearance at "Yanshu Yokocho (Rumoi City)"! (November 14, 2012)	(Announcement) Kuroryu Miso Ramen now available at Yanshu Yokocho (Rumoi City)! (November 6, 2012)
(Notice) Kurosengoku Soybean Harvest Festival 2012 to be held on November 3rd!  (October 31, 2012)	Hokuryu Town to appear at Sorachi Fair 2012 (Sapporo City) to introduce "Kurosengoku soybeans" and other products (October 31, 2012)	Hokuryu Town puts in a great effort at Sapporo Autumn Fest 2012! (October 4, 2012)	Ramen made with 2-year-aged Kurosengoku miso is a big hit at Autumn Fest! (September 29, 2012)	"Kokuryu Miso Ramen" will be making its first appearance at Sapporo Autumn Fest 2012! (September 22, 2012)
(Announcement) "Kurosengoku soybeans" available at Station Marche 2012 @ Asahikawa Station (September 13, 2012)	Kurosengoku soybeans and other products on display and for sale at the Sorachi Fair @ Sapporo Dosanko Plaza (November 2, 2011)	Kurosengoku soybeans will be sold at the Sorachi Fair @JR Sapporo Station (October 26, 2011)	Hokuryu Town specialties on sale at Hikarigaoka Festival 2010 (Tokyo) (July 21, 2010)	Kurosengoku soybeans are on sale at the "Northern Blessings Food Fair 2010" (July 21, 2010)
▶ Presentations etc. (11)
A group of Diet members held a local meeting in Hokuryu Town (Hokkaido) regarding the revision of the Seed and Seedlings Act (September 25, 2020)
Filming location for the movie "Whose Seeds Are They?" at Kurosengoku Business Cooperative Association (June 25, 2020)	A lecture titled "Kurosengoku soybeans, the source of life" was given at the 2019 Kita Sorachi Land Improvement District Management Council Training Seminar (Hokuryu Town) (November 5, 2019)	Kurosengoku Business Cooperative Association 13th Regular General Meeting of 2019 (October 29, 2018)	Kurosengoku soybean harvesting experience and Nokyo Tourism "Nokanjuku bus tour to learn about food and agriculture" held (October 29, 2018)	Teachers and students from Obihiro Agricultural High School in Hokkaido visit Mr. Yukio Takada, Chairman of the Kurosengoku Business Cooperative Association in Hokuryu Town (March 24, 2016)
Kurosengoku Business Cooperative Association 10th Anniversary Celebration - We all shared our joy (March 23, 2015)	The 19th Rural Exchange Network 21 Hokkaido Gathering in Hokuryu Town (August 7, 2013)	(Notice) 19th National Rural Exchange Network 21 Hokkaido Gathering (June 3, 2013)	1,500 bottles of Kurosengoku tea were sent to the disaster area for relief efforts following the Great East Japan Earthquake. (March 24, 2011)	Kurosengoku, a product of the Kurosengoku Business Cooperative Association, was introduced in a dietary course taught by Tetsuhide Tomita. (April 29, 2010)
▶ Publicity (media coverage) (15 cases)
Soy meat made with "Kurosengoku" now on sale [NHK Hokkaido NEWS WEB] (December 28, 2020)	Kurosengoku Bean and Rice Set was featured on HBC TV's "Kyou Doki!" (August 19, 2019)	Kurosengoku soybeans appeared on the nationally broadcast program "The Clinic Where You Can Find Your Own Doctor" (TV Tokyo affiliate) (January 8, 2015)	"Hokuryu Town's Miraculous Revival: The Legendary Kurosengoku" is scheduled to appear on "Ichioshi! + Plus" (HTB)! (November 1, 2013)	Oborozuki Kurosengoku is scheduled to appear on "Tokoro-san's Things They Don't Teach You in School!" (October 5, 2013)
Young female farmer group "Kira☆Sora" interviewed by agricultural magazine "New Country" (January 25, 2013)	Kurosengoku soybeans were featured in the Hokkaido Prefectural Government's newsletter "Hokkaido" (September 14, 2012)	Filming for "Gucci's Today's Surprise! (HBC)" at Kurosengoku Dog! (August 13, 2012)	Kurosengoku appears in "Andonatsu" (Big Comic Original)! (March 26, 2012)	The ultimate miso ramen (Takatoshi Farm) with Kurosengoku soybean miso! (January 17, 2012)
Kurosengoku Business Cooperative Association (Hokuryu Town) was featured in the February 2012 issue of "Ie no Hikari" (January 9, 2012)	Kurosengoku soybean packs available @ Sapporo Television (STV) "Love Hokkaido Passion Market" (January 10, 2012)	Chairman Yukio Takada (Kurosengoku Business Cooperative Association) appears on "D! Ambitious" (December 25, 2011)	D! Yukio Takada (Kurosengoku Business Cooperative Association, Hokuryu Town) appears on Ambitious! (October 30, 2011)	A restaurant with a view of the sky filled with newly harvested Oborozuki rice (produced in Hokuryu, Hokkaido) (October 22, 2011)
▶ Products (16 items)
A world first! "Kurosengoku Soy Meat" now on sale! New menu items developed by restaurants in Hokuryu Town! (December 7, 2020)
"Kurosengoku soybeans & Sansan sunflower oil & dressing" gift set (December 5, 2019)	"Hokkaido Genki (Support) Project" launched (June 10, 2019)	We plan to sell a set of black beans and germinated brown rice! (May 1, 2019)	Newly released Kurosengoku soybean sunflower oil dressing! (July 14, 2018)	Kurosengoku Witch's "Miracle of the Earth" is now on sale! @Ferme La Terre Biei (Biei Town) (May 29, 2017)
Kurosengoku "Black Curry" retort pouch (May 6, 2014)	Kurosengoku germinated natto "What a magnificent Kurosengoku natto" (Mamezo) (March 17, 2014)	Introducing the new version of "Kurosengoku Soft Serve" (2013)! (June 5, 2013)	"Kinako no Hana" is supervised by Hoshizawa Sachiko and is on sale in shops! (April 9, 2013)	"Kokuryu Miso Ramen" is a huge hit and is only available at Autumn Fest! (September 29, 2013)
New release of Kurosengoku Black Soybean Curry, a retort curry containing Kurosengoku soybeans! (August 19, 2011)	New release of "Revived Black Beans: Kurosengoku Tea" made with 100% Kurosengoku beans from Hokuryu Town (August 2, 2011)	"Kurochan Don" made with Kurosengoku soybeans, now available with no additives! (May 19, 2011)	Canned drink "Kurosengokucha" now on sale exclusively in Hokkaido (March 26, 2011)	"Okinawa Medicinal Chura Miso" made with "Kurosengoku soybeans" now on sale (January 25, 2011)
Kurosengoku soybeans (Hokuryu Town, Hokkaido) from sowing to harvest 2010YouTube (3'03")

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Photography and editing by Noboru Terauchi. Interview and text by Ikuko Terauchi. (Interviewed in April 2014. Updated February 7, 2021)