Case Study
- Oven
- Manju(Bun)
Asagiri Milk Co., Ltd.
Asagiri Milk Co., Ltd. is located on the Asagiri Plateau in Fujinomiya, Shizuoka Prefecture, where it operates a factory with an on-site retail store. Since its founding in 1949, the company has produced dairy products using raw milk sourced from local dairy farmers. In 2023, it became a wholly owned subsidiary of Takoman Co., Ltd.[CO1.1], a confectionery manufacturer and retailer.
Takoman[CO2.1] operates 20 stores, primarily in western Shizuoka Prefecture. The acquisition was prompted by challenges facing the dairy industry, including declining milk consumption and a sharp reduction in home-delivery customers, a trend accelerated by the entry of major delivery services into the market. By developing new ways to use raw milk and other dairy ingredients in confectionery, the company aims to support local dairy farmers while securing a stable supply of high-quality local ingredients, including butter.
Guided by the philosophy of shindo fuji, which emphasizes the close relationship between people and the land where they live and obtain their food, Takoman launched the Takoman Farm Project[CO3.1] in 2022. As part of the initiative, the company is cultivating approximately 1,000 chestnut trees on its own farm. It has also strengthened partnerships with local producers of strawberries, blueberries, lemons, sweet potatoes, tea, eggs, salt, miso, and glutinous rice, increasing its use of ingredients sourced within Shizuoka Prefecture. In addition, Takoman has begun using dairy ingredients, including butter and fresh cream, produced by Asagiri Milk Co., Ltd.
In 2024, the company launched Asagiri Milk[CO4.1], a brand specializing in milk-based sweets. Since 2025, it has operated pop-up stores at locations including major station complexes in Tokyo, Ikebukuro, and Shinjuku, as well as Hanshin Umeda. In the summer of 2026, it launched a new brand, SEKAIFUJI, and renovated its factory retail facility, reopening it as the Takoman Milk Confectionery Workshop[CO5.1]. Visitor numbers during the summer of 2026 reached 170% of the previous year's level.
Since the 2023 acquisition, the volume of raw milk used by the company has increased by nearly 10%. President Makoto Maebori aims to develop Asagiri Milk Co., Ltd. into Shizuoka Prefecture's leading dairy manufacturer in terms of quality and, together with Takoman, contribute to the revitalization of the region as a whole.
Location：Inside Asagiri Food Park, 449-1 Nebara, Fujinomiya-shi, Shizuoka-ken
Publication：MASDAC news November issue in 2026
Tunnel oven ECOBAKE（STO）
In conjunction with the store renovation in July 2026, the company installed a Tunnel oven ECO BAKE featuring a caterpillar-style conveyor system. Production is handled by its parent company, Takoman. The factory manager praised the equipment, saying, “We already use an older model from the same manufacturer, but this new model makes temperature control much easier and operates very smoothly. We’re extremely satisfied with it.” The oven also allows products to be placed directly on the conveyor belt for baking. “We had no experience with this method, so getting everything adjusted initially was a little challenging. However, production has now stabilized, and this has been a tremendous help,” the manager explained, highlighting the benefits of the more efficient baking process. Designed with visitor engagement in mind, the facility features three large viewing windows that allow customers to watch the tunnel oven in operation. “At first, we felt a little self-conscious about having customers watch us work, but seeing how much they enjoy watching us make our confectionery has become a source of pleasure for our staff, too.” Initially, the oven was operated for four to five hours a day, two to three days a week. However, with new products in development, the company expects to increase its operating hours further.
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Asagiri Milk Manju
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Asagiri Milk Manju is baked in a Tunnel oven ECOBAKE.
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An efficient production line that integrates every stage of production, right through to packaging.
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Three large windows along the visitor walkway offer views of the baking process.
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Reference
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