MA3.0 YUA Rice Leather Fukushima Cheer Project MA3.0 YUA ライスレザー福島復興支援応援プロジェクト
Revitalizing local industry through sustainable, locally-sourced vegan leather made from rice. Supporting Fukushima reconstruction through innovative design.
地元産の米を原料としたサステナブルなヴィーガンレザーで地域産業を活性化。革新的なデザインを通じて福島の復興を支援します。
Sowing the seeds of the future through Rice Leather
A social innovation project utilizing 'Rice Leather'—an eco-friendly material made from inedible rice—to support the reconstruction of Fukushima. This initiative combines sustainable material development with high-end product design to create social and economic value.
This project represents a unique collaboration between traditional agriculture and modern design. By repurposing rice that would otherwise go to waste, we create a premium leather alternative that embodies the resilient spirit of Fukushima. Each product tells a story of recovery and sustainable innovation.
Rice Leather™ is a revolutionary material that reduces plastic waste and supports local farmers. It offers the luxurious feel of traditional leather with a significantly lower environmental footprint, making it an ideal choice for brands committed to sustainability and social impact.
MA3.0 Rice Leather
Objective
We are looking for cutting-edge apparel brands that are interested in creating a sample garment to showcase the versatility of vegan "Rice Leather™" made in Fukushima, and to demonstrate the strength of Fukushima's recovery to the world.
Background: Yua's Vision
Yua Sugawara’s award-winning Fukushima Reconstruction Support Cheer Project aims to revitalize Fukushima’s economy and build towards a sustainable future by popularizing Rice Leather™️, a locally-made vegan leather produced from non-edible rice in Fukushima. As a 15-year-old girl living in Fukushima, Yua hopes to deliver a message to the world of Fukushima’s bright future while counteracting reputational damage from the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Now, we’re working with Yua to spread her message and fulfill her dream of walking the runway at places like the Ukedo Elementary School in Namie Town—a symbol of disaster recovery—while wearing clothing made from Rice Leather™️.
It all began with the initiative of a 15-year-old girl named Yua.
If you were to become a digital twin avatar and meet people from around the world, what would you like to do?
Yua Sugawara, a third-year junior high school student living in Fukushima and the winner of the Bishoujo-zukan AWARD 2022*, responded as follows:
"I want to convey the vitality of Fukushima. I want to dispel the stigma associated with Fukushima.”
*The "Bishoujo-zukan AWARD" is selected from among 7,000 applicants nationwide in Japan. It has produced notable performers such as Fumi Nikaido (recipient of the Marcello Mastroianni Award at the Venice International Film Festival, Best Leading Actress at the Japan Academy Prize, and Rising Star Award at the New York Asian Film Festival).
After the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011, the tsunami damage in Namie Town, Fukushima was extensive.
The Ukedo Elementary School, located in Namie Town, Fukushima Prefecture, also suffered significant damage during the disaster. However, it is remarkable as everyone was able to evacuate safely. This includes Yua and others who were part of that miraculous escape.
From the miraculous encounter of Yua and Rice Leather™️, the journey unfolded with rice harvesting, leading to the creation of sample Rice Leather™️ fabric.
During the process of creating digital fashion items for the "YUA" avatar, the idea emerged to enjoy designing leather digitally and opt for vegan leather in reality. In Japan, SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) are a mandatory part of the curriculum for junior high school students, and they study about them in school.
"Kobaori Co., Ltd.," a company developing vegan leather from domestic non-edible rice, has agreed to support and collaborate in the production. Surprisingly, the raw material, Rice Resin, is manufactured in Namie Town, Fukushima Prefecture, contributing to regional revitalization and employment promotion. (Known as "Biomass Resin Fukushima")
Rice Leather™ is a Japanese-origin vegan leather derived from rice (non-edible rice). It is a sustainable and ethical synthetic leather that utilizes a portion of 'Rice Resin®,' which is upcycled through a new technology. This material is made from rice that is unsuitable for consumption, such as aged rice and rice generated by rice cracker manufacturers, which would otherwise be discarded without being used as feed. It is a responsible alternative, contributing to the reduction of waste.
https://www.kobaori.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/a90a9d2e24f33280fb54cc25dd9f127e.pdf
Rice Resin® is a Japanese biomass plastic derived from rice(inedible rice and recyclable rice). It is made from old rice that is not suitable for human consumption, crushed rice generated by rice snack manufacturers, rice that is not used as animal feed and disposed of as waste rice, and rice re- sources produced by utilizing abandoned rice paddies and fields.
https://www.biomass-resin.com/en/
https://www.biomass-resin.com/product/riceresin/
How is the vegan leather Rice Resin® made from discarded rice or non-edible rice?
※ This is a video from a Japanese TV news program where we were interviewed.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/13Cr3y3_HuzHTI1gAb71tyP5jwO1qOxPN/view?usp=drive_link
Rice Leather™ Sample products
Sowing the seeds of the future through Rice Leather
A social innovation project utilizing 'Rice Leather'—an eco-friendly material made from inedible rice—to support the reconstruction of Fukushima. This initiative combines sustainable material development with high-end product design to create social and economic value.
This project represents a unique collaboration between traditional agriculture and modern design. By repurposing rice that would otherwise go to waste, we create a premium leather alternative that embodies the resilient spirit of Fukushima. Each product tells a story of recovery and sustainable innovation.
Rice Leather™ is a revolutionary material that reduces plastic waste and supports local farmers. It offers the luxurious feel of traditional leather with a significantly lower environmental footprint, making it an ideal choice for brands committed to sustainability and social impact.
MA3.0 Rice Leather
Objective
We are looking for cutting-edge apparel brands that are interested in creating a sample garment to showcase the versatility of vegan "Rice Leather™" made in Fukushima, and to demonstrate the strength of Fukushima's recovery to the world.
Background: Yua's Vision
Yua Sugawara’s award-winning Fukushima Reconstruction Support Cheer Project aims to revitalize Fukushima’s economy and build towards a sustainable future by popularizing Rice Leather™️, a locally-made vegan leather produced from non-edible rice in Fukushima. As a 15-year-old girl living in Fukushima, Yua hopes to deliver a message to the world of Fukushima’s bright future while counteracting reputational damage from the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Now, we’re working with Yua to spread her message and fulfill her dream of walking the runway at places like the Ukedo Elementary School in Namie Town—a symbol of disaster recovery—while wearing clothing made from Rice Leather™️.
It all began with the initiative of a 15-year-old girl named Yua.
If you were to become a digital twin avatar and meet people from around the world, what would you like to do?
Yua Sugawara, a third-year junior high school student living in Fukushima and the winner of the Bishoujo-zukan AWARD 2022*, responded as follows:
"I want to convey the vitality of Fukushima. I want to dispel the stigma associated with Fukushima.”
*The "Bishoujo-zukan AWARD" is selected from among 7,000 applicants nationwide in Japan. It has produced notable performers such as Fumi Nikaido (recipient of the Marcello Mastroianni Award at the Venice International Film Festival, Best Leading Actress at the Japan Academy Prize, and Rising Star Award at the New York Asian Film Festival).
After the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011, the tsunami damage in Namie Town, Fukushima was extensive.
The Ukedo Elementary School, located in Namie Town, Fukushima Prefecture, also suffered significant damage during the disaster. However, it is remarkable as everyone was able to evacuate safely. This includes Yua and others who were part of that miraculous escape.
From the miraculous encounter of Yua and Rice Leather™️, the journey unfolded with rice harvesting, leading to the creation of sample Rice Leather™️ fabric.
During the process of creating digital fashion items for the "YUA" avatar, the idea emerged to enjoy designing leather digitally and opt for vegan leather in reality. In Japan, SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) are a mandatory part of the curriculum for junior high school students, and they study about them in school.
"Kobaori Co., Ltd.," a company developing vegan leather from domestic non-edible rice, has agreed to support and collaborate in the production. Surprisingly, the raw material, Rice Resin, is manufactured in Namie Town, Fukushima Prefecture, contributing to regional revitalization and employment promotion. (Known as "Biomass Resin Fukushima")
Rice Leather™ is a Japanese-origin vegan leather derived from rice (non-edible rice). It is a sustainable and ethical synthetic leather that utilizes a portion of 'Rice Resin®,' which is upcycled through a new technology. This material is made from rice that is unsuitable for consumption, such as aged rice and rice generated by rice cracker manufacturers, which would otherwise be discarded without being used as feed. It is a responsible alternative, contributing to the reduction of waste.
https://www.kobaori.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/a90a9d2e24f33280fb54cc25dd9f127e.pdf
Rice Resin® is a Japanese biomass plastic derived from rice(inedible rice and recyclable rice). It is made from old rice that is not suitable for human consumption, crushed rice generated by rice snack manufacturers, rice that is not used as animal feed and disposed of as waste rice, and rice re- sources produced by utilizing abandoned rice paddies and fields.
https://www.biomass-resin.com/en/
https://www.biomass-resin.com/product/riceresin/
How is the vegan leather Rice Resin® made from discarded rice or non-edible rice?
※ This is a video from a Japanese TV news program where we were interviewed.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/13Cr3y3_HuzHTI1gAb71tyP5jwO1qOxPN/view?usp=drive_link
Rice Leather™ Sample products