Onigiri: an All-Rounder Food for Awareness

By: Caia Phelan Reyes, Third year Writing Major at the College of Liberal Arts and

Sciences & Japanese Language Major at the School of International Letters and Cultures

As part of Arizona State University’s annual Humanities Week, over one hundred students came through Durham Hall’s SILC Cafe to participate in ASU’s fifth iteration of Onigiri Action, hosted by Professor Kumiko Hirano Gahan from the Japanese department.

The event itself stands at no cost to participants, allowing them the opportunity to engage with Japanese culture, food, and contribute to a cause working to ease world hunger. Students, volunteers, and professors alike lined up to try their hand at making their own onigiri—a triangular ball of rice often wrapped in dried seaweed and seasoned with furikake, sometimes with a filling inside (i.e. tuna mayo or pickled plum). A cheap but healthy option, onigiri is an excellent and delicious way to bring awareness to food sustainability and nutrition.

As principal of Arizona Gakuen, a weekend Japanese supplementary school, Professor Hirano also brought this year's Onigiri Action campaign to its campus on the grounds of Mesa Community College on October 19th.

Started in 2015, this year’s campaign runs from October 3rd to November 16th, aiming to educate on and call action to world hunger while also centering on a few of the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals with partnerships such these events at ASU and Arizona Gakuen. Although the ASU event was not held on October 16th (World Food Day) this year, Onigiri Action continues to campaign to provide children in need with meals in honor of the U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization.

Through Table for Two, a non-profit organization, they are able to donate five meals per each photo posted with the hashtag #OnigiriAction; their goal is to donate one million meals each year. Since launching nearly a decade ago, Onigiri Action has been able to donate 10.17 million school meals, and have been awarded the Deputy-Chief’s Award for their charity by the Minister for Foreign Affairs in 2019. Table for Two continues to provide meals to children in East Africa, Southeast Asia and local communities in the United States.

Ongoing and returning supporter of the event, IRIS USA, provides all rice used and additionally gifts extra servings of free rice, furikake, and other seasonings for all participants to take home. This year’s event is also sponsored by Takaokaya USA, Mishima Foods, and S&B Foods. These organizations make ASU’s events possible, helping further successes by supporting the endeavors of Onigiri Action, Table for Two, and ASU’s involvement in their cause.

Even though the event is free for all participants, Onigiri Action serves as a gateway for those interested in learning about Japanese staples, contributing to a global cause, and, hopefully, attracting more eyes for future events.