Onigiri Action 2019: Upload a picture of onigiri to donate 5 meals!

The rice ball, also known as Onigiri, is a traditional Japanese snack consumed in Japan since the Heian period. It represents Japan’s largest agricultural products, rice, and its culture of making rice balls for loved ones. This meaningful Japanese dish is more than just food. It is also a symbol iconic to Japan.

Onigiri Action 2019

Onigiri Action 2019 is a campaign by a non-profit organization, TABLE FOR TWO (TFT). This campaign is held from 7 October to 20 November 2019. It’s encouraging people to upload photos of rice balls, and for each post, 5 school meals will be donated to Africa and Asia’s children in need. It aims to deliver 1.5 million school meals this year.

The theme for this year is Itadakimasu! Shiyou. Itadakimasu is a common Japanese phrase said before eating a meal. It expresses gratitude to the food one is about to receive. This phrase highlights the importance of food and raises awareness about food problems happening around the world.

There are two ways to go about this campaign. Photos can be uploaded through their official website, or through social media platforms using the hashtag #OnigiriAction. The Onigiri Action campaign welcomes any photos related to rice balls. It could be a photo of one cooking, eating, or even art, drawings or origami pieces of rice balls. The more creative, the better!

On top of that, a photo of rice balls enjoyed outdoors posted with the hashtags #OnigiriAction #家族史上最高のおでかけ (meaning “historically the best family outing”), or a photo of rice balls with Ito En’s Oi Ocha drink posted with the hashtags #OnigiriAction #おーいお茶 will each donate 10 meals by NISSAN SERENA and Ito En Ltd respectively.

Onigiri Action started in 2015. In 2018, the campaign has accumulated half a million photos by 1.48 million people. To date, the NPO has delivered over 3 million school meals to children in need.

TABLE FOR TWO

TABLE FOR TWO, also known as TFT, is a non-profit organization that began in Japan and now operates in 14 different countries. TFT’s mission is to address child poverty, hunger, and obesity. They do so through the concept of meal sharing.

Apart from Onigiri Action, TFT is also heavily focused on providing healthy meals under the TABLE FOR TWO label. They have partnered with over 720 organizations such as corporations, restaurants, schools, and food establishments. For every healthy meal served, 20 yen and a school meal are donated to children in need. To date, TFT has delivered over 70 million school meals.