Hello, everyone.
We have recently established this student organization with the goal of solving the "Bakery's 2024 Problem" and sharing Japan's bread culture with the world.
Why a Bread Research Society?
Japanese bakeries today face numerous challenges. Yet the essence of these problems remains largely unknown.
We carry out our activities with Gauguin's famous question close to our hearts:
"Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going?"
By applying this question to bread culture, we aim to develop initiatives that look to the past, present, and future.
Our Philosophy
"Redefining Japan's food culture with the bakery at its center."
This is the philosophy we uphold. Specifically, we operate based on four principles:
- Fieldwork First - To avoid armchair theorizing, we visit actual bakeries
- Dialogue with Wheat - Reassessing the potential of domestic Japanese wheat
- Rebuilding Relationships - Connecting producers and consumers
- Culture for 100 Years - Nurturing culture with a long-term perspective
Our Activities So Far
Though only two months have passed since our founding, we have already undertaken the following:
- Visited over 10 bakeries and institutions in December and January alone
- Conducted an interview with ZOPF, known as Japan's finest bakery
- Established a partnership with NPO Shinmugi Collection
- Begun writing a book on bakery startup know-how
Future Plans
We are advancing three projects simultaneously:
1. The Bakery's 2024 Problem Definition Committee (Past–Present)
We will publish a book defining the industry's challenges and host study sessions for bakery owners.
2. The Society for Imagining Bread in the 22nd Century (Future)
We will share Japan's bread culture with the world and elevate it into a culture that endures for the next 100 years. We also plan to organize training programs in France.
3. Mugi Fes Management Project
We will participate in managing Mugi Fes (Wheat Festival), scheduled for March 2026.
We are still a newly born organization, but we hope to build this group's culture together with all of you going forward.
If you're interested, please don't hesitate to reach out.
Let's create the future of Japan's bread culture together!