Managing Director Miura (left) and Director Oda of Rakusho (right)

Adapted from the Japanese by James Huffman

A white truck featuring the humorous name, “Second-rate Gourmet Food” has begun operations in Gamagori, Japan. This mobile burger kitchen is a truck remodeled (with Nippon Foundation aid) by Rakusho, a nonprofit organization that provides welfare services and helps those with disabilities find work. On September 30, a ceremony was held in Gamagori to present the vehicle to Rakusho. Senior citizens from the neighborhood who had come to enjoy the ceremony lined up when sales began of the fish filet burgers and grilled fish-paste hot dogs.

Mobile food stands: new to the lineup of donatable welfare-service vehicles

Led by Director Yasuhisa Oda (30), Rakusho is a nonprofit established in 2007 to develop facilities that enable those with disabilities to continue to live in the town they love. In Gamagori, Rakusho operates the Pankobo Hachibei bakery and Shusaiya Jubei, which produces and sells dried fish and fish paste. Through these businesses, the group provides work for those with disabilities.

Top-of-the-line kitchen equipment

The Nippon Foundation’s program of providing vehicles for welfare services helps groups around the country to assist the elderly and those with disabilities in their locales. The foundtaion contributes a certain percentage of the cost of the vehicles. The program has been underway for 15 years, during which time it has distributed a total of 23,160 vehicles, of seven different types, including vans and cars capable of accommodating passengers in wheelchairs, and busses to transport people to and from facilities such as retirement homes. In a recent trend, it has accepted a number of requests for work vehicles, and so such things as mobile food stands have joined the range of vehicle types applicable for the program.

Rakusho members in front of the dried-fish factory

The bed of Rakusho’s local burger mobile features a customer service counter, an oven, a sink, and a freezer. Rakusho has decided to use the truck to sell fish filet burgers and grilled fish-paste sausages (a delicacy) at venues such as the Gamagori motorboat races.

Local hamburgers sell like hotcakes

In his presentation speech, Nippon Foundation Managing Director Ichiro Miura said, "We hope this demonstrates to the rest of the country a business model for welfare services based on mobile food stands." Director Oda spoke of hopes that the vehicle would become a common sight on the streets and help publicize the welfare service program.

“The young leaders of this organization have revitalized welfare services in Gamagori,” said Hideyoshi Ukai, Director of the Public Welfare Department of the city of Gamagori. “They have done this by creating employment opportunities based on several new ideas, including enlisting support from the Nippon Foundation.” He went on to sample a fish croquette burger. His verdict: “Tasty! And a generous size, too!”