【SDGs】Towel Made from Konjac Helps Protect a Traditional Industry (October 10, 2026)

A Television Asahi news feature from its SDGs series introduces Naoshi Fujiwara, who makes highly water-absorbent towels from konjac. His hometown of Taka, Hyogo Prefecture, has a traditional industry producing "frozen konjac," a preserved food made by freezing konjac in winter cold. As changing eating habits cause this tradition to decline, Fujiwara began this effort to carry it forward in a new form. He hopes the project can serve as a model for finding new possibilities for traditional industries across Japan.

• Naoshi Fujiwara makes water-retaining towels from konjac material
• Frozen konjac, a traditional preserved food from Taka, Hyogo Prefecture
• A traditional industry declining as food culture changes, with a new effort to pass it on in a different form

こんにゃくを原料に保水性に優れたタオルを作っている藤原尚嗣さん。地元である兵庫県・多可町には、「凍りこんにゃく」という冬の寒さを利用してこんにゃくを凍らせて作る保存食の伝統産業があります。しかし近年、食文化の変化により衰退しつつあることから、別の形で未来へ伝えていきたいと考えこの取り組みをスタート。今後は、日本各地の伝統産業に新たな可能性を見いだすモデルケースになればと語る藤原さんの思い描く未来とは？ Mr. Naotsugu Fujiwara manufactures exceptionally water-retentive towels using konjac. His hometown is a traditional industry centered on “frozen konjac”, a preserved food made by freezing konjac in the cold winter air. However, as this tradition has been declining in recent years due to changes in food culture, he launched this initiative with the hope of passing the craft on to future generations in a new form. Mr. Fujiwara speaks of creating a model case for discovering new possibilities in traditional industries across Japan. What kind of future does he envision? [テレ朝NEWS] https://news.tv-asahi.co.jp