On February 24th, Ui Yamakawa of the idol group Sakurazaka46 attended the "Gohiki! Sanriku Joban Campaign 'Sanriku Joban Eat Fair 2026'" presentation held at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (Chiyoda, Tokyo). She revealed that she had made a hometown tax donation to her hometown of Miyagi Prefecture.
The "Sanriku Joban Eat Fair 2026" is an initiative launched in 2022 to promote the appeal of seafood from the Sanriku Joban area, and this year original products created in collaboration with seven major convenience stores, family restaurants, and supermarkets will be released nationwide. Yamakawa has been appointed as an ambassador for the fair along with freelance announcer Aika Kanda.
Yamakawa, who is originally from Sendai City, recalled that "seafood was often on the dinner table at home" and said with a smile, "Kesennuma wakame has firm flesh and is very delicious. I put it in miso soup and it tastes like home."
She also revealed, "It's been two years since I moved to Tokyo, but last year I made a hometown tax donation to my hometown of Miyagi for the first time and received crab from Kesennuma as a gift in return, which I used to make a delicious crab hotpot." She expressed her enthusiasm as an ambassador, saying, "I still enjoy (local ingredients), so I hope to be able to convey their appeal to many people."
When asked about the fact that March of this year marks 15 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake, Yamakawa said, "Various efforts have been made under the theme of reconstruction, and I have seen how the charm of the affected areas is being rediscovered. I hope that we will continue to cherish the keyword of reconstruction, and that the memory of the earthquake will not fade, and that there will be more opportunities for more people to learn about the charm of their local area."
On this day, the comedy duo "Arco & Peace," who have served as ambassadors for the campaign since its launch in 2022, also appeared on stage.
