Kayo Iba
（Tsurugi town）

Kayo Iba, a resident of Tsurugi, is an active influencer and shares the ancient legend of Tokushima. In September 2024, she published a book on the legends associated with the Kojiki and Mt. Tsurugi.

In addition to her cultural work, she is a registered dietitian skilled in cooking and baking. She runs a café at an accommodation facility in Mima City where she serves coffee and chiffon cakes.

Inspired by a desire to create products using local specialties, she developed a bagel made of indigenous millets cultivated on the steep slopes of Tsurugi, called the “Mt. Tsurugi Bagel.”

This bagel is made with satisfyingly chewy dough fermented with natural yeast from Hokkaido and generously mixed with indigenous foxtail millet and common millet. The nutty aroma of the millet and its lightly crunchy texture add a pleasant accent, resulting in a hearty and filling bagel.

In addition to the multigrain variety, several flavors are available, including chocolate and matcha with sweet red bean paste.

She plans to open a takeout-only shop at her home and recommends bagels as a perfect snack for hiking Mt. Tsurugi, saying, “Even one bagel is filling.”

Looking ahead, she hopes to open a café and guesthouse on the Sadamitsu shopping street in Tsurugi, creating a welcoming space where people can gather and connect.