SHAF LLC (headquartered in Iwate Prefecture) has launched ringogocco, a new ice cream brand built entirely around apples grown in Iwate Prefecture. Starting Wednesday, August 5, 2026 — the brand's debut — a limited quantity of cup ice creams that let customers compare four apple varieties side by side will go on early sale at the Osaka venue of the Ice Cream World Expo "Aipaku®," one of the country's largest ice cream events, held at Abeno Harukas Kintetsu Main Store. The first lineup uses Sun Fuji, Ohrin, Shinano Gold, and Haruka apples grown in Karumai, Iwate Prefecture. Made with the apples used whole, skin included, each cup is designed to bring out the differences in sweetness, acidity, and aroma between varieties, with a fruit content of up to 37%. Rather than a single generic "apple flavor," ringogocco proposes a new kind of ice cream experience built around enjoying the differences between varieties.
Features of ringogocco
1. Comparing varieties, not just "apple flavor"
Even among apples, sweetness, acidity, aroma, and aftertaste differ from variety to variety. ringogocco turns four distinct varieties into four separate ice creams, one variety per cup, inviting customers to taste through them and find their own favorite.
2. Whole fruit, skin included — fruit content up to 37%
Rather than syrup or concentrated juice, ringogocco uses apple flesh with the skin still on (each apple is carefully washed before processing). The blend is adjusted right up to the limit of what will still set as ice cream: fruit content reaches 37% for Sun Fuji, Ohrin, and Shinano Gold, and 31% for Haruka. Built around capturing the aroma of the skin that flesh alone can't deliver, the concept is "biting into a whole apple, with a spoon."
3. Sourced from Karumai, Iwate — the founder's hometown
Karumai is the town where the brand's founder was born and raised, eating whole apples, skin and all. In Japan, where peeling apples before eating is the norm, few people know the taste of biting into one whole. That original flavor is the starting point for the first lineup, sourced from apples grown in Karumai.
Spring and summer bring warm weather and plenty of sunlight, while autumn nights turn sharply cooler. This dramatic swing in temperature slows the apples' respiration, letting them store nutrients to the fullest.
To preserve the differences between varieties, apples harvested at the orchard are sent directly to the factory without being processed into syrup or juice, and turned into ice cream from there.
The Taste of Each of the Four Varieties
At Aipaku Osaka, four cup ice creams are on sale, each showcasing a single Karumai-grown apple variety.
#01 Sun Fuji | Iwate Prefecture
A classic apple with an excellent balance of sweetness and acidity. A honey-like, full-bodied sweetness layers with a moderate tartness for a deep, rounded flavor — an approachable cup that feels like "the essence of apple."
#02 Ohrin | Iwate Prefecture
Defined by a rich, showy aroma that opens up the moment it hits your tongue. The acidity is gentle, letting a mellow sweetness and a light finish come through — an elegant sorbet built around fragrance.
#03 Shinano Gold | Iwate Prefecture
Marked by a pronounced acidity and crisp sweetness. A citrus-like, refreshing aroma pairs with a juicy, fruit-forward flavor for a tangy-sweet, clean finish.
#04 Haruka | Iwate Prefecture
A variety born in Iwate Prefecture with an unusually gentle acidity. Mild and easy on the palate, with a refined, layered sweetness, a delicate aroma that rises through the nose, and a soft, gentle finish.
Sale Details
Event Name: Ice Cream World Expo "Aipaku®" (Osaka venue)
Dates: Wednesday, August 5 – Monday, August 17, 2026
Hours: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM (closes at 5:00 PM on the final day; subject to confirmation)
Venue: Abeno Harukas Kintetsu Main Store, Wing Building 9F Event Hall (1-1-43 Abenosuji, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka)
Products: ringogocco cup ice cream, four flavors total — Sun Fuji / Ohrin / Shinano Gold / Haruka
- Price: ¥650 each (tax included)
- Category: Frozen dessert (氷菓)
- Volume: 100 mL per cup
- Quantities are limited, and sales will end once stock runs out.
Sales Format: Limited early sale at the venue only. There are no plans for online sales during the above period.
Official Website: https://ringogocco.jp/
About Aipaku
"Aipaku®" is the nickname for the Ice Cream World Expo, an ice cream festival produced by the Japan Ice Cream Mania Association (a general incorporated association). Held in locations across Japan since its first edition in 2015, it has drawn more than 4.4 million visitors cumulatively, making it one of the largest ice cream events in the country.
About Karumai
Located in mountainous terrain at the northern tip of the Kitakami Mountains, at an elevation of 200–300 meters, the town stays relatively cool even in summer, and autumn arrives early.
Spring and summer bring warm weather and plenty of sunlight, while autumn nights turn sharply cooler. This dramatic swing in temperature slows the apples' respiration, letting them store nutrients to the fullest.
Apples from the Ninohe region (the "Cassiopeia Federation"), which includes Karumai, are certified for high quality through processes such as optical sensor sorting.
To preserve the differences between varieties, the sourcing area is kept to Karumai, and apples are shipped directly from the orchard.
