Supporting environmental conservation in Kitaibaraki City by releasing 30 kg of ayu juvenile fish with local elementary school students

NOK Kitakanto Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Kitaibaraki City, Ibaraki Prefecture; President: Takuya Yoshino), UNIMATEC Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and Chief Executive Officer: Hiroaki Kikuchi), and NOK Klüber Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and Chief Executive Officer: Ichiro Yamane), three group companies of NOK Corporation with business sites in the Northern Ibaraki area, sponsored and participated for the first time in the “Ayu Juvenile Fish Release Activity” organized by the Okitagawa River Fisheries Cooperative Association. The activity was held on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, along the Okitagawa River, a clear stream running through Kitaibaraki City.

On the day of the activity, eight employees from the three group companies released 30 kg (approx 66 lbs) of ayu juvenile fish together with local elementary school students.

NOK Group promotes coexistence with local communities and biodiversity conservation in the regions where it operates, with the aim of helping realize sustainable local communities. The three NOK Group companies sponsored and participated in the activity to support efforts to protect Kitaibaraki City’s rich waterfront environment and help create opportunities for local children to experience nature close to home. Going forward, the companies will continue working to preserve the region’s rich natural environment and support environmental education for children who will lead the next generation.

About Ayu in the Okitagawa River

The Okitagawa River is a Class B river that originates from Mt. Sankomuro in Hitachiota City, Ibaraki Prefecture, at an elevation of 870 meters (approximately 2,854 feet), flows through Kitaibaraki City, and empties into the Pacific Ocean. At approximately 22 km (13.7 miles) in length, it is the longest Class B river in the coastal area of northern Ibaraki Prefecture. The Okitagawa River is a clear stream with a rich ecosystem. Yamame trout and char inhabit its upper reaches, while its lower reaches are known as favorable fishing grounds for ayu.

Ayu fishing on the Okitagawa River opens every year on June 1, attracting many anglers from both inside and outside Ibaraki Prefecture. In addition to wild ayu that swim upstream from the Pacific Ocean, ongoing juvenile fish release activities help preserve an environment where ayu can grow in abundance.

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Overview of the Ayu Juvenile Fish Release Activity

• Date and Time: Wednesday, May 20, 2026, from 1:00 p.m.
• Location: Near Ipponbashi Bridge on the Okitagawa River, Ishioka, Nakago-cho, Kitaibaraki City, Ibaraki Prefecture, near Kitaibaraki Municipal Ishioka Elementary School
• Organizer: Okitgawa River Fisheries Cooperative Association
• Participants: Eight NOK Group employees and all 15 students of Kitaibaraki Municipal Ishioka Elementary School
• Release Details: 30 kg of ayu juvenile fish