On Monday, June 16, 2025, the seminar titled “Seminar on Food Diversity – Aiming to Be the No.1 Vegan-Friendly City in Japan” was held, hosted by Tottori City and the Tottori City Tourism and Convention Association.
The event aimed to deepen the general public’s understanding of vegetarianism and veganism, and to encourage local businesses to implement vegan options. It featured a lecture session and a vegan food tasting. A large number of restaurant and lodging business operators from within the city, local government officials, and members of the public interested in veganism from a health or other perspective gathered for the event.
The first part of the lecture session was led by Haruko Kawano, the representative director of our organization. She provided a broad overview of plant-based catering, including domestic and international trends, case studies, reasons to introduce vegan options, and practical advise.
In the second part, Mr. Yukichi Fukui, who has produced vegan menus at several restaurants and now works as the owner-chef of the vegan health-focused restaurant Daruma no Ki in Tottori, shared examples of his experience implementing vegan options at food establishments.
The vegan food tasting that followed took place at San’in Kaisan Robata Kaba Tottori Station Branch, which already offers vegan-friendly options, including full-course vegan meals.
Vegan dishes supervised by Mr. Fukui were served by both the above restaurant and Dining Bar Connect. A variety of vegan dishes were served, featuring “Veggiena Pure Green,” a versatile seasoning developed by Mr. Fukui and certified by our vegan certification.
Participants first learned about vegan lifestyles and the plant-based market through the lecture session, and then deepened their understanding of vegan cuisine—including ingredients, cooking methods, and presentation—through the tasting experience.
The event also facilitated networking among participants. Many shared positive feedback about the initiatives and praised the vegan dishes. We are grateful to have been involved in such a valuable opportunity.
Businesses based in Tottori City that participated in the seminar are eligible to receive a free expert consultation service to support the introduction of vegan menus. We hope this seminar will serve as a catalyst for further vegan-friendly efforts throughout Tottori City.
Flyer for the “Food Diversity Seminar – Aiming to Be No.1 in Japan for Vegan Menu Availability in Tottori City”