NEWS
Memorandum Signed Between Mitaka City and ICU on the Preservation and Utilization of Mitaka Osawa Wasabi -- Special Tasting Event Also Held
Update: March 6, 2026
On Thursday, March 5, Mitaka City and ICU signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at further preserving and utilizing Mitaka Osawa Wasabi cultivated in the wasabi fields located on the university campus. This initiative is part of efforts carried out under their comprehensive partnership agreement.
Mitaka Osawa Wasabi is a valuable native variety that has been cultivated and shipped in the Osawa district of Mitaka City since the Edo period. The memorandum is intended to promote collaborative initiatives between the two parties, covering the preservation and environmental maintenance of the university's wasabi fields as well as the utilization of harvested produce.
At the signing ceremony, volunteers from the Mitaka Marugoto Museum first introduced their ongoing preservation activities through a video presentation. This was followed by a presentation from the university's student team, Wabisabi Wasabi, which shared the results of its year-long efforts to raise awareness of Mitaka Osawa Wasabi.
After the ceremony, a special tasting event featuring Mitaka Osawa Wasabi was held. At the venue, volunteers served carefully prepared wasabi dishes, allowing participants to enjoy the distinctive flavor unique to Mitaka Osawa Wasabi.
Going forward, the two parties plan to strengthen collaboration centered on the following key areas, contributing to the further development of both Mitaka City and ICU:
- Preservation and cultivation of Mitaka Osawa Wasabi
- Surveys and research on Mitaka Osawa Wasabi
- Conservation of the natural environment through wasabi cultivation
- Promotion of community participation and local exchange through collaborative initiatives
- Advancement of education and lifelong learning through project activities
- Utilization of harvested Mitaka Osawa Wasabi
