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Ark Co., Ltd. (Oumi, Fujisawa-cho, Ichinoseki City, Iwate Prefecture; Representative Director: Shin'ei Hashimoto; hereinafter referred to as "the Company") is pleased to announce that "Food is Life," a book written by Shizu Hashimoto, the company's Chairperson, will be published by Gentosha.

Modern food faces many challenges, including food additives, genetically modified crops, price competition, and food waste. In a world where efficiency and convenience are prioritized, we tend to focus more on "how to easily consume" food than on "what to eat." However, daily meals are the foundation for building a healthy body and mind. The author runs "Ark Tategamori" in Ichinoseki City, Iwate Prefecture, where he practices integrated, circular agriculture, raising and processing his own pigs, sheep, eggs, vegetables, and wheat, and delivering them to restaurants and farmers' markets.

At its core lies an unwavering belief: "We only produce food that we can confidently feed to our own families." Against the backdrop of half a century of challenges and legacy, this book re-examines why people are so particular about food and why agriculture nurtures life, from the perspectives of "safety," "experience," "circularity," "connection," and "future." It is a book that brings producers and consumers together, and finds hope for the future of food and society in the way people live in harmony with nature.

• About the author

Shizu Hashimoto

He is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ark Co., Ltd. (founded in 1972), which operates "Ark Tategamori" in Ichinoseki City, Iwate Prefecture.

Born in Nagatoro Town, Saitama Prefecture, she graduated from Saitama Prefectural Kumagaya Girls' High School. After marrying Teruo Hashimoto, the founder, she sought larger land to expand the business and moved to Fujisawa Town, Iwate Prefecture in 1975, where she established Hashimoto Farm Iwate Ranch Co., Ltd. In 1986, she established Tategamori Ham Workshop Co., Ltd., and in 1992, Tategamori Ark Ranch (now Ark Tategamori). Based on the philosophy that "food is life," the agricultural and livestock products she has produced are supported by many fans not only locally and in neighboring prefectures, but also throughout Japan.

• Book Information

Book Title: "Food is Life"

Publisher: Gentosha

Release date: March 26, 2026

Number of pages in the book: 200 pages

List price: 1760 yen (tax included)

Book link:https://amzn.asia/d/04YC4rtB

It will be available for purchase on Amazon and at bookstores nationwide.