The community revitalization program "Youth Connection@STARBUCKS" was held for the first time at Hirosaki Park Civic Square on August 18. Sponsored by "Starbucks Coffee Japan" (Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo).

This year is the second year of the program, in which high school students gathered through open recruitment propose a plan that will bring excitement to the local community, and work to realize the plan on a four-day schedule. This is the first time that Aomori has been held.

This year's event was held at 653 Starbucks stores in 45 prefectures nationwide, and about 2000 high school students participated. At the Hirosaki Koenmae store (Shirogincho, Hirosaki City), three female high school students attending around Hirosaki attended.

In the same program that started on July 28, Shio Tokawa, a second-year student at Tooku Gijuku High School, proposed that "I want to hold an event that looks good on Instagram at Hirosaki Park." We named the event "Wakudoki Hirosaki" and acted to the visitors in the park on August 18, the final day of the event limited menu that was thought of by three people.

Ayaka Shibata, a second-year student at Hirosaki Technical High School, said, “We offered a menu that considers a combination of 3 types of scones and 7 types of tea. It was difficult to explain to the customer, but I was able to participate. I was happy."

Ai Kasai, a second-year student at Kashiwagi Agricultural High School, said, "I provided ice coffee that I dripped myself with cut apples. In the future I would like to get a job of communicating with people. I will be able to talk more than before. I think it was true."

Mr. Tokawa said, "We offered the original drink "Zions Blend", which is a shake of citrus and coffee. I wanted to interact with foreigners, so I asked a Taiwanese tourist who was sightseeing in Hirosaki Park I was able to have a conversation by arranging words side by side."

The three said, "At first, I was nervous about wearing a green apron with the Starbucks logo on it, but I was nervous just before it started." Mr. Tokawa said, “I was excited about what kind of people would come, but I think we were able to provide a project that would make the people who were excited. As the name of the event, I think we and the customers could enjoy it. I show a smile."