The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is currently running a program that offers seminars, workshops and 1-on-1 consultations to support Tokyo-based restaurants, hotels, retailers and tourism-related businesses in introducing or expanding vegetarian, vegan, halal and LGBT+ friendly services. VegeProject Japan has been the advisor in charge of vegetarian and vegan catering, and promoted the expansion of vegan-related activities within the program since 2019.

Below we introduce seminars, a networking event and the consultation services provided within this program in relation with vegetarian and vegan catering.

Networking, Tasting and Exhibition Event for Vegan and Halal-Friendly Products (October 30th)

An event will be held where participants can network with companies offering vegetarian, vegan, and halal-friendly ingredients and products. About 25 businesses will be exhibiting.

Companies that will be exhibiting vegan products at the networking event
ETHICAL FOOD Inc.
TSUKISHIMA FOODS INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
Japan Food Science Co., Ltd.
MARUZEN FOOD INDUSTRY CO.,LTD.
OMGT LLC
Mirakuen Co., Ltd.
DM KOKOKUSHA Co.,ltd.
Nihon Beauty Co., Ltd.
SYUEI Co. Ltd
TableMark Co., Ltd.
Melodian Co.Ltd.
Yoshida Foods International JAPAN Co., LTD.
FARM　OHATA
MISOHAN Co.,Ltd
Saniku Foods Co., Ltd.
NISSHIN SHOKAI CO., LTD.
WATANABE SEIMEN CO., LTD.
J-avance Co., Ltd.

Date: Tuesday, October 30, 2024, 15:00–16:30
Venue: Vision Center Hamamatsucho (Hamamatsucho TS Building, 2-8-14 Hamamatsucho, Minato-ku)
Capacity: 50 people (on a first-come, first-served basis)
Registration Deadline: Friday, October 25, 2024

For details and registration for the event, please check the URL below.
https://first-gbp.jp/tokyo-inbound2024/kengaku/

On the same day, the third session of the “Seminar on Accommodating Foreign Travelers,” introduced below, will be held at the matching event venue and online.

Seminars on Vegetarian, Vegan and Halal Food Service

A series of eight seminars on accommodating to different needs of foreign travelers will be held. Our organization’s president, Haruko Kawano, will serve as a facilitator for the third and seventh sessions, dealing with vegetarian and vegan catering.

Session 3: Case Studies on Vegan and Plant-Based Catering at Restaurants (October 30)

It will be held at the venue of the tasting & networking mentioned above. Online streaming will also be available.
Hiroshi Hasegawa from 2foods, food chain and manufacturer offering “healthy junk food”, and Chihiro Miyazaki, CEO of vegan ramen Soranoiro, will discuss their businesses and provide practical advice on the development and promotion of vegan and plant-based options.

Date: Wednesday, October 30, 2024, 13:30–15:00 *The aforementioned tasting & networking event will start at 15hs.
Capacity: 70 people in total (both in-person and online, first-come, first-served)
Venue: Vision Center Hamamatsucho (Hamamatsucho TS Building, 2-8-14 Hamamatsucho, Minato-ku)
Application Period: Until Sunday, October 27, 2024
Format: Hybrid (both in-person and online participation)

Session 7: Attracting and Promoting Vegetarian and Muslim Travelers (November 28)

Eric Brent, founder of the globally popular vegan and vegetarian restaurant platform Happy Cow, and Ikushi Motomiya from the halal restaurant search app Halal Navi, will share tips and promotional strategies for attracting vegetarian, vegan, and Muslim customers. Our organization’s representative will also join Eric Bent’s talk and be in charge of .
Date: Thursday, November 28, 2024, 14:00–15:30
Capacity: 70 people (first-come, first-served)
Registration Deadline: Monday, November 25, 2024
Format: Online

If you plan to attend multiple seminars, you need to register for each one in advance. For more information about other seminars and how to apply, please check the URL below.
https://first-gbp.jp/tokyo-inbound2024/seminar/

Advisor Dispatch Service for Accommodating Foreign Travelers

This program also includes 1-on-1 advisory service that will run until March 2025. In this program, our representative serves as the advisor on vegetarian and vegan matters, and can offer visits to restaurants, accommodation facilities, and tourism-related businesses in order to provide consultations and respond to other requests on the development and promotion of vegetarian and vegan menus.

If you are a business in Tokyo interested in learning more about how to starting or improve vegetarian or vegan catering, please take advantage of this service.

For more details, please check the link below:
【Tokyo Metropolitan Government Sponsored & Free of Charge】We Offer Consultation and Support for Vegetarian and Vegan Options