"Rice" is an indispensable part of our daily diet in Japan. Nowadays, when we have a wide variety of "food" to choose from, there is a shop here in Sapporo that conveys the charm of rice and the feelings of its producers.

One of them is "Agt," a shop located in the Nakajima Park area. With the concept of "putting intestinal health first," the shop promotes the appeal of naturally grown rice, mainly from Hokkaido, and offers original side dishes and sweets that are made with rice and are perfect for taking with you on your travels.

A place to gather in case of emergencies

The Agt store is located about a 10-minute walk from Nakajima Park, a popular urban oasis. After relocating twice within the neighborhood, in 2011 it moved to its current location, which was originally a warehouse for storing documents for the Sapporo City Development Bureau.

Abe Shoma, Public Relations Officer, and Hatayama Rie, Product Development Officer, warmly welcomed us into the warm wooden space, where boards from the original walls have been used for the flooring and shelves.

The first "Agt" store opened in 2001. The opportunity arose when the current owner, Daisuke Okumura, who has long been involved in environmental issues, experienced the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake with his family.

Sapporo does not experience many major natural disasters, but no one can predict when or what will happen. When such a "what if" happens, "we want to create a place where everyone can be protected." This idea led to the creation of a cafe called "Public Secret Society Ajito," the predecessor of "Agt."

As we continued to operate as a cafe and then a restaurant, customers began asking if we didn't sell brown rice, and this was also connected to the idea of stockpiling rice in case of emergencies, so we gradually transformed into a store that focused on delivery and takeout, based around our rice store.

The appeal of naturally grown rice

The first floor of "Agt" is an antenna shop that sells a variety of original and carefully selected items that are helpful in maintaining a healthy body, such as naturally grown rice (rice grown without relying on fertilizers or pesticides), rice accompaniments, and seasonings.

"Rice is the staple food of the Japanese people and a source of life, so we want our customers to choose it with true peace of mind and safety in mind."

"You can enjoy different flavors depending on the variety and place of origin, but I think you can feel this even more with naturally grown rice. What's more, the farmers are all wonderful people who grow rice with a strong desire to care about the environment, the future of agriculture, and the health of children," says Abe.

We spare no effort in delivering our rice in a way that allows our customers to experience not only the deliciousness of the rice, but also the hard work that goes into natural cultivation and the passion of the farmers.

"Fashionable and delicious" rice that is good for your body

Our bodies are built by what we eat, and being healthy is what leads to "human happiness." To realize this idea, our staff are constantly learning more about "food," and share what they have personally experienced with the enthusiasm of producers.

Agt, which sincerely wishes for the health of such people, started selling its original side dish "Komesan®︎" in 2019. "Komesan®" is a rice sandwich made with naturally grown rice, homemade fermented foods, and plenty of ingredients.

Hatayama-san explained the background to the development of the product, saying, "I wanted to create something that would be easy to use, fun to eat, and delicious, with three promises: it would be delicious, look good, and help regulate the intestines."

At the time, there were no samples available in the world, so Komesan® was born after much trial and error to embody the "Agt-ness," including researching ingredients that would taste good even when cold and deciding on the shape and weight of the product.

The ingredients used are as locally produced as possible in Japan and Hokkaido, and are additive-free, the seasonings are unrefined sugar and sea salt containing minerals, and the soy sauce and miso are "naturally fermented." Sometimes they go out in search of naturally grown vegetables, and even go out to pick butterbur sprouts.

They do their best to "do what they believe to be the best." Their uncompromising selection of ingredients shows their passion to "deliver the best."

A set menu that satisfies both body and mind

Among the "Kome San®" dishes that the two are most proud to recommend are the "Eggplant Miso Basil," which combines the sweet-salty taste of the miso sauce made with "San-nen Miso" with the gentle aroma of basil, the creamy texture of fried eggplant, and the delicious flavor of rice, and the slightly Italian-style "Puri Puri Shrimp," which combines the delicious flavors and aromas of shrimp and garlic with fiber-rich ingredients such as hijiki seaweed sandwiched between black rice.

If you choose the "Standard Set," which includes these two classic dishes, a seasonal salad, miso soup (with wakame seaweed) made with two types of specially selected miso, and a drink of your choice, you will be fully satisfied. You will surely be satisfied in both body and soul.

In addition to the "Broccoli Koji Curry," the limited-edition "Seafood Doria" and "Demi Glace Burger," "Komesan®" offers colorful dishes that are visually stunning and have a slightly special feel to them, and Hatayama told us that they are packed with all of her personal favorite things.

Creating products that everyone can enjoy

Agt not only delights the intestines, but has also developed foods that "everyone can eat deliciously," regardless of dietary restrictions or beliefs.

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted them to think again about "what they can do," and they developed the "Marude Butter Sandwich," a sweet treat made with a sable dough made from naturally grown rice and "homemade soy yogurt containing brown rice lactic acid bacteria," which has been well received by many people.

"Hokkaido has a famous product called 'butter sandwiches,' and people who know the taste say that ours are just as delicious. Many people buy them as souvenirs or as a little treat for themselves."

From "Agt" in Sapporo to the whole country and the world

"While other stores were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Agt remained open every day. When I realized that the fact that the store was still open and that the staff were healthy and energetic was encouraging to our customers, I felt really happy to be working at a store with this kind of concept."

"Little by little, our products are being stocked in shops in the city, but we would like to deliver our products to the whole country, and eventually the world, so that people can enjoy them in places other than here," said Hatayama and Abe, speaking sincerely until the very end.

Even if the form and style of delivery changes, the original idea and role of "Agt" - "a place to protect everyone" - remains firmly rooted in the story. We will continue to develop products with respect for human health and the environment.

---

「Agt（あじと）」  
住所： 北海道札幌市中央区南16条西4丁目1−10 
電話番号：011-522-2714 
アクセス：地下鉄南北線「幌平橋駅」より徒歩4分程度  
HP：https://moku.jp/ 
SNS：https://www.instagram.com/agt_sapporo/ 
＊営業時間や定休日についての詳細は、上記のリンク先にてご確認ください。