Three companies within the NOK Group, NOK Kita-Kanto Co., Ltd. (Head office: Kita-Ibaraki City, Ibaraki Prefecture), Unimatec Co., Ltd. (Head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo), and NOK Klüber Co., Ltd. (Head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo), which have business sites in the Kita-Ibaraki area, sponsored and participated for the first time in the “Ayu (sweetfish) fry release experience activity” (organized by the Okita River Fisheries Cooperative Association) held on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in the clear waters of the Okita River flowing through Kita-Ibaraki City.
On that day, eight employees from the three group companies released 30 kg of ayu fry together with local elementary school students.
The NOK Group promotes coexistence with local communities and biodiversity conservation in the regions where it operates, with the aim of realizing sustainable local communities. The three NOK Group companies have sponsored and participated in this project with the aim of supporting activities to protect the rich waterfront environment of Kitaibaraki City and contributing to creating opportunities for local children to experience nature firsthand. Moving forward, we will continue to strive to maintain the rich natural environment of the region and engage in environmental education for the next generation of children.
■ About the ayu of the Okita River
The Okita River originates from Mt. Sankoshitsu (elevation 870m) in Hitachiota City, Ibaraki Prefecture, flows through Kitaibaraki City, and empties into the Pacific Ocean. It is the longest Class 2 river (approximately 22km in length) in the northern coastal region of the prefecture. The upper reaches are home to cherry salmon and char, while the lower reaches are known as a good fishing ground for ayu, making it a clear stream with a rich ecosystem.
Every year on June 1st, ayu fishing opens on the Okita River, attracting many anglers from within and outside the prefecture. In addition to wild ayu that migrate upstream from the Pacific Ocean, continuous stocking of juvenile fish helps preserve the environment in which ayu can thrive.
■ Overview of the “Ayu Fry Release Experience Activity”
・Date and time: May 20, 2026 (Wednesday) 13:00~
・Location: Near the Ipponbashi Bridge on the Okita River (Ishioka, Nakago-machi, Kitaibaraki City, Ibaraki Prefecture, near Kitaibaraki Municipal Ishioka Elementary School)
・Sponsor: Okitagawa Fisheries Cooperative Association
Participants: 8 employees from the NOK Group, and all 15 students from Ishioka Elementary School in Kitaibaraki City.
Release contents: 30 kg of ayu fry
