Valentine's Day makes hearts dance with sweet scents and vibrant colors. On February 14th every year, many people likely choose chocolates while thinking of close friends, companions, and cherished partners. What if the chocolate you picked up was actually connected to the smiles of children in cacao-producing regions and local community activities? Morinaga & Co., Ltd., a food manufacturer headquartered in the "Morinaga Shibaura Building" completed in Shibaura, Minato City in 2024, has been continuing the "1 Choco for 1 Smile" activity since 2008. Started with the aim of supporting "children in cacao countries," this initiative has brought changes to countries near the equator and is set to take deep root in the local community in the form of visiting classes at local elementary schools in 2026. This time, we spoke in depth with Keita Watanabe of the Corporate Communication Division about the commitment to the "Morinaga Shibaura Building," the "1 Choco for 1 Smile" initiative, and further activities in Minato City.

--First, please tell us about the new headquarters building. By rebuilding the aging company building, the new ""Morinaga Shibaura Building"" with 7 floors above ground and 1 floor below ground was born in March 2024. The lattice-like exterior is very impressive, but what is the intention behind the design?

""Actually, that lattice-like mirror design is not just a decoration, but an ingenuity to capture 'light and wind.' It reflects light to efficiently bring it indoors, and if you open the windows, a natural flow of wind is also created. With such mechanisms, we aimed for a building that leads to energy saving without relying too much on lighting and air conditioning. In addition, wood is used for the ceiling of the main entrance (piloti) and the walls and pillars inside the building, incorporating Imari timber from Imari City, Saga Prefecture, the hometown of the founder, Taichiro Morinaga.""

--So it's a building where the latest technology and the founding spirit are mixed.

""The new headquarters building was designed as a place to embody the '2030 Vision' aiming for rebirth as a wellness company and our corporate philosophy. One of the things we cherished when rebuilding the company building that had been here since 1972 is 'coexistence with the local community.' For example, the entrance hall on the 1st floor has a function as a temporary evacuation site to accept people who have difficulty returning home in the unlikely event of a disaster, and the space on the entrance side secures a spacious area by intentionally not placing things. Such design is intended to plan for local disaster prevention and mitigation.""

--A cafe is also operating on the 1st floor.

""'KOMOREBI cafe' on the 1st floor is available not only for employees but also freely for the general public. Due to the location being an office district, people working nearby and residents drop by casually, creating communication. We aim for such a 'space open to the community.' The Shibaura and Tamachi area is also where our factory used to be, and is a land with a very deep connection. We would like to return the joy of being able to continue our business here in the form of contribution to everyone in the community.""

--Now, I would like to ask in detail about your company's ""1 Choco for 1 Smile."" Please tell us the original trigger for this activity, which started in 2008 and will mark its 18th year in 2026.

""It started in 2008 when the marketing person in charge at the time learned about the serious issues faced by cacao production areas, the raw material for chocolate. While we deliver delicious chocolate, there is a reality that people supporting its source are suffering, such as child labor and inadequate educational environments in cacao production areas. We started exploring what we could do as a manufacturer, which coincided with the milestone of the 90th anniversary of Morinaga Chocolate.""

--So, initiatives to support farmers and children in cacao production areas started from there.

""The biggest feature of this activity is that it is 'customer participation type.' There are several annual initiatives leading to donations such as campaigns and collaboration projects, but particularly symbolic is the special period campaign of about one and a half months including the Valentine's season. During the period, every time a customer purchases one eligible Morinaga Chocolate product such as 'DARS,' 'Koeda,' or 'Carré de chocolat' at convenience stores or supermarkets, 1 yen is donated. In recent years, 'Morinaga Milk Cocoa' and 'Itachoco Ice' have also been added to the target, allowing participation in a wider range of categories.""

--The simplicity of ""1 yen"" might be the secret to its longevity. Actually, what kind of changes have been born from the support so far?

""The cumulative donation amount over the 17 years until last year reached about 340 million yen, and the number of supported children exceeded 17,000. Impressive is the episode of Mr. Godfred from Ghana, who used to work as a child laborer and could not receive education. He continued to attend school with support from elementary school age, graduated from university, and now teaches children as a teacher. When the initiative started, it was an era when the word sustainability was not yet established. The fact that a child who received support from that time became an adult and nurtures the next generation is exactly the form of sustainable support we have been aiming for.""

--I think it means you have been working on it ahead of the industry. I heard that you, Mr. Watanabe, also visited a cacao production area.

""Yes. I visited Ghana in 2023. I realized that mechanisms toward independence, such as providing school lunches and organizing child labor monitoring volunteers by local residents, are steadily being built locally. What we are doing is not just 'point' support of simply giving things, but creating an 'independent' mechanism where the region can improve income through cacao cultivation while protecting children with their own power even after the support ends. While maintaining such awareness, I would like to continue continuous support together with our partners, the international NGO Plan International and the Japan-born NGO ACE.""

--Are there any future numerical targets set?

""Actually, we do not set specific numerical targets. Because the issues of cacao production areas cannot be solved by one company alone. What we cherish most is 'getting people to know the current situation of cacao countries' through this activity itself. For example, during the summer vacation period last year, we conducted a campaign titled '1 Choco for 1 Smile Summer Campaign' in cooperation with Gakken Kids Net. We distributed worksheets to think about 'until chocolate is made' and set up a booth displaying cacao beans at an event called Independent Research EXPO, aiming primarily for children to 'know.' In this campaign, we created a mechanism where not only participating in events but also simply visiting the campaign site or downloading worksheets leads to donations. This is because we believe there is value in children obtaining information and thinking about it themselves. We believe that getting to know and expanding the circle of activities is the most important thing.""

--It is wonderful that knowing leads to donations.

""That's right. In this campaign, we also held an event called '""I See! Chocolate"" Wall Newspaper Contest.' The contest involved creating their own wall newspaper, and elementary and junior high school students all over the country researched really enthusiastically and summarized the crisis of cacao countries and our initiatives in their own words. I am convinced that such a chain of learning will create a better society in the future.""

--In February 2026, a visiting class at Shibahama Elementary School is scheduled. Please tell us about regional cooperation in Minato City.

""Shibahama Elementary School is right in front of our company, and all employees watch over the children going to and from school energetically every day. This class was realized from the desire to directly convey what we are working on in the world to the children who are the protagonists of such a local area, and to learn together face to face. On the day, our Representative Director and President COO, Shinya Mori, will serve as the lecturer. In the class, through videos, quizzes, and workshops, we will have children think about the social issues behind their favorite chocolate as 'personal matters.' We want them to realize the SDGs philosophy of 'leave no one behind' not as empty theory but from a single piece of chocolate.""

--It is surprising that the president himself will be the lecturer. It seems it will be an unforgettable class for local children as well.

""Actually, for this visiting class called 'Future Learning,' not only specific departments but many employees including myself go to schools in various places as lecturers. We believe that difficult social issues can be conveyed directly precisely because there is a tool called sweets, which has a very high affinity for children. There would be nothing happier than if a child with consciousness to change the world grows up from the local Shibahama Elementary School.""

--It is conveyed that you cherish interaction with local people, including ""KOMOREBI cafe"" on the 1st floor of the new headquarters building.

""Currently, we have a panel display introducing activity contents on the 1st floor where the cafe is located. We are also displaying excellent works from the 'Wall Newspaper Contest' I mentioned earlier, so we would definitely like you to see them. By the way, the concept of the cafe is 'agitation,' the same as the theme of the new headquarters building. A place where people gather, mix, and new ideas and smiles are born. Thanks to the affordable pricing, we have received favorable reviews from neighbors that a comfortable place has been created. During 'Tamachi Halloween' held last autumn, nearly 1,000 people visited, and seeing the smiles of children rushing to the costumed Kyoro-chan, I reaffirmed the significance of being rooted in this land. Also, this year, we will implement a project to present 'DARS' to the first 30 customers each day who use the cafe during the special period of '1 Choco for 1 Smile,' from February 2nd (Mon) to February 13th (Fri). We hope you will drop by on this occasion.""

--Finally, please give a message to everyone spending Valentine's Day in 2026.

""Valentine's Day is a special day when chocolate plays the leading role most in the year. I believe happy times are flowing for each person, whether delivering thoughts to loved ones or enjoying a treat for themselves. Our wish as a confectionery manufacturer is to have that circle of happiness expanded to 'people who make chocolate.' A single piece in your hand becomes a school or school lunch for children in cacao production areas across the sea, and becomes the power to fulfill the dream of one young person. We would be happy if Valentine's Day becomes an opportunity to turn your eyes to cacao production areas even a little.""

<<1 Choco for 1 Smile>>
https://www.morinaga.co.jp/1choco-1smile/

<<KOMOREBI cafe>>
Address: Morinaga Shibaura Building 1F, 1-13-16 Shibaura, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Hours: Weekdays only 8:30 - 16:30