The Kitano Hotel Tokyo is the only hotel in Tokyo that is a member of Relais & Chateaux, which offers high quality relaxation in the city. The second theme of the “Kitano Finds Japan” series, which began this spring and will run through June to August, is Saga prefecture. Each restaurant and bar in the hotel will offer menus that bring out the best of the ingredients produced by the nature and people of this region, and Akaito Saffron®︎ has been selected as one of the focus ingredients.

Akaito will appeare at the main dining, L’Orangerie Koh-an, in Fagottini with Ariake Seaweed and Akaito Saffron®. The Executive Chef Ken Kamo who received the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Merits de l’Agriculture de France, has combined saffron ecume with fagottini (pasta with pyramid-shaped stuffing) made with an abundance of extraordinarily high quality seaweed. The combination of lingering aroma and elegant color of Akaito Saffron®︎ with the quality seaweed in this dish are a perfect match. The dish conveys the spirit of the sea and mountains of Saga.

Kitano Finds Japan　Theme 2 ＜Saga＞

Date：   Sunday, 1st of June ～ Sunday, 31st of August, 2025 [Closing days are based on each restaurants]

Venue : The Kitano Hotel Tokyo – each restaurants [2-16-15, Hirakawa-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo]

Main Dining : L’Orangerie Koh-an
All-day Dining : Tea Lounge KAFU
Roof-Top Bar : Kitano Arms Lounge

Theme “Saga”：Limited menu offerings with ingredients from Saga Prefecture

Press Release by The Kitano Hotel Tokyo (in Japanese): https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000006.000108541.html

The Kitano Hotel Tokyo: https://www.kitanohotel.co.jp/tokyo/

Relais & Chateaux: https://www.relaischateaux.com/us/

Collaboration with Zafran Oman, the only saffron producer in Oman in the Middle East, has begun. Food security is a priority in  His Majesty The Sultan of Oman’s Vision 2040, the national strategy for Oman. Akaito’s Chairman Ford’s collaborations with Oman has led us to contribute to Oman Vision 2040 and Omani citizens by sharing Akaito’s proprietary methods and technologies in saffron cultivation, production, and product design and development with Zafran Oman.

At the end of April, three executives from Zafran Oman stayed at the Akaito Estate in Kashima, Saga Prefecture, to observe and experience Akaito’s operations. They also opened discussions with the Mayor of Kashima City and other officials as part of the collaboration with Akaito. 

Akaito will continue to promote long-term exchange and support.

Zafran Oman – Instagram (@zafran.oman) https://www.instagram.com/zafran.oman/

Saffron flowers and red stigmas

Saffron corms

Akaito Estate – Kashima city, Saga prefecture, Japan

Separating saffron into stigmas, petals, stamens, Akaito’s paulownia wood box (“Kiribako”)

Akaito Saffron®︎ in the Kiribako

Akaito Saffron®︎ Pure Freshwater Extract

French cuisine

Italian cuisine

Basque cuisine

Japanese cuisine

Craft gin

Perfume

Akaito original art collection with saffron theme

Saffron flavour pairings

Akaito was introduced in “Culinary Masters Guidebook 2025”.

Culinary Masters was established in 2010 by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan as a system to honor chefs who are the bearers of Japanese food culture. The purpose of the program is to encourage people to realize the excellence and depth of local food and food culture on a daily basis through cooking, and to take pride in the appeal of such food.

One of the Akaito Artist, Mr. Kunio Tokuoka, Executive Chef of Kyoto Kitcho, won the Gold Award in the 15th Culinary Masters and introduced his collaboration with Akaito in the guidebook.

Congratulations to Mr. Tokuoka for winning the Gold Award!

Reference: (Japanese only)

• Culinary Masters website by MAFF : LINK
• “Culinary Masters Guide Book 2025” : LINK

Read the Akaito Artist Interview with Chef Tokuoka – LINK

In Kashima City, Saga Prefecture, Japan, where Akaito Saffron®︎ is produced, saffron has been manufactured as a medicine since the Edo period. With the cooperation of the Kashima City Government, we would like to introduce the history of saffron in Kashima.

The history of saffron in Kashima City dates back to the Bunsei Era of the Edo Period. In a list of medicines that Morita Pharmaceutical (the predecessor of today’s Yutoku Yakuhin Co., Ltd.) handled at that time, there is an existing document that describes “saffron medicine” as “a wonder drug for the uterus and blood”. (Photo above)

According to the history of Kashima City, Morita Pharmaceutical’s origins date back to around 1818, when the founder, Mr. Hansuke Morita the First, received a secret recipe for making ointment from a Dutchman living in Nagasaki, and named it “Toujin (Foreigner’s) Ointment” and began selling it. The third generation of Mr. Hansuke Morita expanded the business across Japan around the end of Meiji Era, and by 1931, the company’s production had reached 500,000 yen* with approximately 200 employees. [*500,000 yen at that time was more than 900 million yen in terms of today’s value.]

As for the Saffron medicine, a record of Morita Pharmaceutical’s manufacturing output in 1920 shows that the number of units manufactured was 201,400 and the price was 14,098 yen.

Saffron has long been used as a part of the traditional medicine in Japan. In Kashima City, the hometown of Akaito Saffron®︎, the history of saffron has also been inherited from generation to generation.

After the 3 months of aging period, we are proud to present the new Akaito Saffron®︎. Try Akaito’s unique aroma with a hint of sweetness.

Small trial quantities are available from 0.2g on the online store. <Click Here>

For larger quantities, please contact us by email info@akaito.jp

Craft gin from the Tatsumi Distillery (Alchemiae) in Gujo Hachiman, Gifu Prefecture met Akaito saffron ®︎. It was born on the new moon day in November 2022. The beautiful yellow colour from the saffron, the elegant aroma and the flavour of juniper berries mixed with saffron, clean yet slightly spicy after taste – this limited production of special craft gin was well received by the lucky few customers who could purchase it. 【Sold out. Thank you very much. Unfortunately, there are no plans to restock.】

We have harvested this year’s Akaito Saffron®︎ in our Akaito Farm in Saga prefecture.

PARFUM SATORI’s latest perfume – Nobiyaka (Japanese word, meaning “freely” and “relaxing”) – uses Akaito Saffron ®︎ extract together with loquat and plum wine, which go well with saffron, resulting transparent fruity floral with a burst of fresh loquat and mellow plum wine.

Product details and online shop link: HERE

Breaking News.

“国産サフラン　赤い糸がつなぐ思い”

See the NIKKEI’s feature coverage of Akaito in the newspaper’s national edition of February 5, 2023.

Enquiries:
https://akaito.jp/contact/