VegeProject representative Haruko Kawano took part in an interview conducted by French news agency AFP. This interview has been reported by multiple news companies, most notably Le Figaro. Alongside Le Figaro, other news sites such as South China Morning Post and RFI also covered the interview in June 2023.
Youtube: “Japanese eateries serve up vegan options for non-meat eating foreign tourists”
The articles highlighted Japan’s endeavors to create a thriving plant-based food scene; however, compared to other tourist destinations, the number of options available fall behind. Many of those interviewed expressed sadness and disappointment in the current lack of dietary diversity. One from America commented that there were “just enough (vegan restaurants) for [her] to survive”. Haruko stated that she believes Tokyo’s vegan/vegetarian’s culinary scene has great potential, but many shop owners are reluctant to introduce vegan dishes. One concern is the perceived lack of suitable ingredients, as traditional Japanese cuisine heavily relies on animal products such as fish stock (dashi). However, Haruko argues that great tasting dashi has already been made without the use of animal products and believes that it’s possible to create a truly beautiful Japanese vegan dish.
As media attention on the plant-based sector increases, VegeProject will continue to advocate for the creation of more plant-based options. This has already shown some success, as the articles credited VegeProject for the effort of transforming the town of Ikaho in Gunma prefecture into a model hub for vegetarian tourists.
We hope that, luckily with the help of VegeProject Japan’s VegeMap (the updated paper version is scheduled to be released this year) and Vegan Certification, it’ll be easier for residents and travelers to find restaurants that offer wonderful vegan options that show that not only is it possible to account for vegan customers, it can mark a successful business.