As the Koikeya GOGO! Factory experience facility at the Chubu Plant in Gifu prepares to begin accepting visitors around summer, SKE48’s Sakamoto Marin (坂本 真凛) toured the plant and made original potato chips.
Koikeya’s Chubu Plant in Gifu, which houses the company’s second Koikeya GOGO! Factory experience facility in Japan, began operations. At the time of reporting, registration was scheduled to open around summer 2026, and Sakamoto Marin (坂本 真凛) visited the facility for a tour and hands-on experience before general registration opened.
During the factory tour, visitors learned about the company’s focus on raw materials, potato varieties and storage methods, and entered the actual production area wearing equipment required for hygiene management. The tour showed the process of reducing the potatoes’ moisture content from approximately 80% to approximately 2%, condition checks using sensors and a final inspection before seasoning.
Back in the experience room, Sakamoto began making personalized potato chips. After learning the basic seaweed-and-salt flavor, she mixed flavors from 8 varieties with a regional flavor inspired by Gifu’s local specialties, pursuing a taste characteristic of the Tokai region. The finished chips were packed in packaging she designed herself, creating a one-of-a-kind product.
As a collaboration project, a special Tokai Walker event offering the experience before the facility’s opening has been confirmed. The event will run for 5 days in total, beginning on 20 April. Applications can be submitted via the QR code in the magazine, and 10 groups of 20 people per day will be invited by lottery. Applications close on 15 March.