Rice Ball Player Appears! Enjoy Local Onigiri♪ One-Night Only Onigiri Event Held!
Did you know? Hokkaido is one of Japan’s top rice-producing regions. Last year, both in terms of cultivation area and yield, it ranked second nationwide after Niigata Prefecture! With the cooperation of the Ishikari Promotion Bureau, we invited Satoru Kawahara, the “Rice Ball Player” popular worldwide for his use of Hokkaido rice, to provide freshly made onigiri to customers at an event!
《Event Overview》
UNWIND meets Ishikari 8
Date: March 25, 2024 (Sat) General 18:00~21:00 (Exclusive for hotel guests 17:00~18:30)
Venue: UNWIND HOTEL&BAR SAPPORO 10th floor Bar Ignis
Participation Fee: Bar time food and drink cost + Free onigiri
“What is Ishikari 8?”
The Ishikari Promotion Bureau has developed “onigiri” recipes using agricultural and livestock products representing each city and town in the “Ishikari region” to further enhance their recognition and consumption. To introduce the treasure trove of ingredients in the “Ishikari region” to everyone in Hokkaido and nationwide, the developed “onigiri” recipes are named “Ishikari 8” after the eight cities and towns in the Ishikari region, and various initiatives are being implemented.
【Satoru Kawahara】
Representative Director of Synsen Hokkaido Co., Ltd. Since 2019, he has served as a Sapporo Tourism Ambassador, and since 2020, he has also been a member of the Hokkaido Tourism Support Team. He has been involved in the rice industry for a quarter of a century. His performance of making onigiri quickly has gained acclaim, and he has been active as a Rice Ball Player in domestic and international media and events. He has also conducted lectures as a special adjunct lecturer at various universities, and workshops on onigiri and mochi pounding have been well received even at overseas universities. He also serves as a recipe supervisor using ingredients from various cities and towns, as well as a judge and producer for contests.
On the day of the event, jazz musicians also participated, creating a great atmosphere at the venue. Many guests, including hotel guests and the general public, participated, making the 10th floor Bar Ignis bustling with activity. While listening to jazz performances, some relaxed on sofas, while others enjoyed onigiri by the rooftop terrace’s bonfire with friends. It seemed that everyone was enjoying the event at their own pace. In addition to onigiri, there was also a sake tasting corner, and some guests enjoyed pairing various onigiri with sake at the counter. The event was a great success, and many customers posted about it on Instagram.
We are very pleased to have had many customers participate again this time. In the future, we at UNWIND aim to promote the charm of the local area and plan events that customers can enjoy while feeling more connected to the local community. Please check out our official website and Instagram for event information!
UNWIND HOTEL & BAR Sapporo offers a lodge-like sense of escapism with the comfort of home. It is a sophisticated lifestyle hotel with a rustic and chic atmosphere.
UNWIND HOTEL & BAR Sapporo
Location: 289-111 Minami 8-jo Nishi 5-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Access: 4 minutes walk from Namboku Line “Nakajima Koen” Station