Business & Economy
01 Aomori rice harvest reaches 10%, ahead of normal pace
Aomori Prefecture said 10% of the prefecture’s rice crop had been harvested by September 20, five percentage points ahead of the normal pace. The prefecture-wide start of harvesting was September 19, one day earlier than usual, with officials urging timely cutting, drainage and careful drying to protect grain quality.
Source: Aomori Prefecture
02 Aomori tourism panel to review stays and visitor spending
A prefectural tourism strategy committee will meet September 29 to examine progress against Aomori’s tourism targets, including overnight stays and tourism consumption. The review offers a useful test of whether higher visitor interest is translating into longer stays and more local spending.
Source: Aomori Prefecture
03 Five Aomori businesses head to Tokyo health-products fair
Aomori Prefecture will operate a booth for five businesses at Health Expo 2026 Autumn at Tokyo Big Sight from September 30 to October 2. The prefecture is using the trade fair to help health-oriented food companies reach retailers, manufacturers, wholesalers and trading companies.
Source: Aomori Prefecture
04 Aomori offers halal-certification support to four food makers
The prefecture is recruiting four food manufacturers for hands-on support toward halal certification, including online guidance and two on-site sessions. The program is aimed at helping local producers improve access to growing halal markets, particularly in Southeast Asia, while certification costs remain the companies’ responsibility.
Source: Aomori Prefecture
05 A-wood subsidy program pushes wider use of Aomori timber
Aomori’s A-wood program subsidizes builders that use prefectural timber, offering ¥50,000 per cubic metre, up to ¥500,000 per building and ¥1.5 million per company. Applications were 54.2% subscribed as of September 24, leaving room for additional projects before the December 28 deadline.
Source: Aomori Prefecture
Science & Technology
06 Aomori industrial research institute opens its labs to the public
The Aomori Prefectural Industrial Technology Research Center’s Industrial Research Institute will hold its “Mirareru Day 2026” open house on October 3. Research exhibits, facility tours and hands-on science activities are intended to show how applied research connects with the prefecture’s industries and jobs.
Source: Aomori Prefecture
07 Aomori expands practical DX training for local companies
The prefecture’s industrial DX program is offering a one-stop consultation service, training and online seminars, including sessions on generative AI and AI agents. An exchange workshop for participants is scheduled for September 26 in Aomori City, reflecting a broader effort to build digital skills inside local firms rather than rely only on outside vendors.
Source: Aomori Prefecture
08 Hirosaki students to visit Rokkasho fusion research center
Forty-nine Hirosaki University students are expected to visit QST’s Rokkasho Fusion Energy Institute on September 28 for facility tours, expert lectures and a future-oriented workshop. The program connects Aomori students directly with one of the region’s most advanced energy-research facilities.
Source: Aomori Prefecture
Environment
09 Aomori seeks specialist contractor for black-bear capture program
The prefecture has opened a proposal process for contractors with certified wildlife-capture expertise to carry out its 2026 black-bear management plan. The procurement underscores the shift from general warnings to organized population-management work requiring local knowledge and safety capacity.
Source: Aomori Prefecture
10 PFAS readings near Misawa trigger continued water monitoring
Aomori Prefecture reported PFOS/PFOA measurements of 51 ng/L in a drainage channel at Tengumori reservoir and 430 ng/L at Gokawame reservoir, while surveyed points at Ane-numa, Lake Ogawara and offshore were at or below the 50 ng/L guideline. The prefecture plans another round of monitoring in October.
Source: Aomori Prefecture
Communities & Mobility
11 Konan Bus fares to change from October 1
Aomori Prefecture says Konan Bus will revise fares on its regular route-bus network from October 1. The change matters for everyday mobility across the Tsugaru area, where scheduled buses remain an important link for residents without easy access to private cars.
Source: Aomori Prefecture
12 Korean Air keeps Aomori–Seoul service at five flights a week this winter
Korean Air’s 2026–27 winter schedule will operate the Aomori–Seoul route five days a week from October 25 through March 27. That matches the weekly frequency of the summer schedule and rises from three flights a week in the previous winter, strengthening direct international access during Aomori’s winter tourism season.
Source: Aomori Prefecture
