Key Facts
• On September 1, a joint school lunch program began in Tabuse and Hirao.
• Tabuse School Lunch Center now prepares meals for 5 Tabuse schools and 2 Hirao schools.
• The initiative is the first of its kind in the prefecture.
• A March 2024 agreement delegated Hirao’s meal preparation to Tabuse due to aging facilities.
• Total project cost: approximately 1.38 billion yen, shared by both towns.
• New equipment includes cooking kettles, refrigerators, and delivery vehicles.
• 1,555 meals were delivered on the first day: 946 to Tabuse, 609 to Hirao.
• Tabuse Mayor Koji Higashi emphasized providing quality meals despite declining student numbers.
• Hirao Mayor Kunihiro Asamoto highlighted the use of local ingredients from both towns.
Summary
A groundbreaking joint school lunch program between Tabuse and Hirao towns launched on September 1, marking the first such initiative in the prefecture. The Tabuse School Lunch Center now prepares and delivers meals for seven schools across the two municipalities. This collaboration was formalized in March 2024 after Hirao’s aging facilities necessitated outsourcing meal preparation. The project, costing approximately 1.38 billion yen, included facility upgrades and new kitchen equipment. On its first day, 1,555 meals were delivered, with 946 going to Tabuse and 609 to Hirao. Both mayors expressed their commitment to providing high-quality meals using local ingredients, ensuring sustainability despite declining student populations.
