The Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s “Muslim and Other Various Cultures and Customs Acceptance Project” is being carried out this year as well, with the aim of accepting foreign travelers from diverse backgrounds such as vegetarians, vegans, and Muslims. This year too, VegeProject will be in charge of vegetarian and vegan-related activities.
As part of this project a series of seminars, store tours, matching events and other programs will be held for restaurants, accommodation facilities, retail stores, and tourism-related businesses in Tokyo. All eligible businesses can participate in these events free of charge.
Below, we will introduce the events and programs that will be held under this project.
Matching Event for Businesses Catering to Vegetarian, Vegan and Halal Customers
A matching event will be held where business operators such as restaurants, retail stores, and tourism-related businesses in Tokyo can try samples of vegetarian, vegan, and halal foods, as well as interact and discuss with food manufacturers. Many companies working together with us will also be exhibiting and introducing vegan products and ingredients.
On the same day, a seminar will be held where chef Fumio Yonezawa of creative cuisine restaurant “No Code” and Yusuke Watanabe of Cantonese restaurant “Cantonese En” will introduce best-practices of vegan catering.
【Matching Event (Food sampling & Networking)】
Date: October 24, 2023 (Tuesday) 15:00-16:30
Location: Vision Center Tokyo Nihonbashi (1-1-5 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku)
Capacity: 50 people
For details and application, please check the URL below.
https://first-gbp.jp/tokyo-inbound2023/kengaku/
Seminar for Service Providers to Foreign Travelers
A total of 8 seminars will be held teaching both the basics and practical know-how required for catering and providing service to vegetarians, vegans, Muslims, among others.
Haruko Kawano, representative of VegeProject, will serve as the facilitator for the seminar, “8th Diverse Food Cultures, Customs, and Global Trends (Vegetarian&Vegan) Panel Discussion”.
【8th Diverse Food Cultures, Customs, and Global Trends (Vegetarian&Vegan) Panel Discussion】
In this session, food pictogram expert Nobutaka Kikuchi will discuss initiatives concerning vegan and plant-based options in dining and retail in developed countries, as well as future trends in food diversity. Additionally, the session will host a panel discussion with foreign vegetarians residing in Japan, influencers, and specialists to discuss the current state and challenges of vegetarian options in Tokyo.
Date: November 28, 2023 (Tuesday), 14:00-15:30
Speaker: Mr. Nobutaka Kikuchi, CEO of FoodPict Inc.
Facilitator: Haruko Kawano, Representative of VegeProject Japan
Capacity: 70 people
Application Period: Until November 25, 2023 (Saturday)
Format: Hybrid ※Participation either in-person or online
The seminar consists of 8 sessions. You can choose and participate in sessions that interest you.
- Basic Knowledge of Food Inclusion, including Vegetarian and Gluten-Free Options
- Basics of Muslim inclusion, Latest Trends in Muslim Inbound Tourism ※
- Leading Examples of Vegan Inclusion, Tips for Cooking and Menu Creation ※
- Examples of Initiatives by Restaurants in Vegan, Vegetarian, and Organic Food
- Target-Specific Leading Examples of Muslim (Halal) Inclusion
- LGBTQ Basics and the Future of LGBTQ Tourism
- Latest Trends in Inbound Tourism, Current Situation and Needs for Food Diversity
- Diverse Food Cultures, Customs, and Global Trends (Vegetarian&Vegan) Panel Discussion
※ A store tour will be conducted after the 2nd seminar, and a matching event will be held after the 3rd seminar.
For details and how to apply, please check the following special website (Japanese)
https://first-gbp.jp/tokyo-inbound2023/
Vegetarian & Vegan Consultation and Advisory
Until March 2024, this project will also be offering onsite advisors. If you are a business operator in Tokyo who wants to know about, engage in, or further enhance vegetarian and vegan accommodations, please make use of this service. Haruko Kawano, representative of VegeProject, will serve as the advisor for vegetarian and vegan-related matters.
Please contact the organizing team or our organization ( staff@vegeproject.org ) for applications.
Additionally, we are planning on conducting a training program at vegetarian/vegan and halal-friendly venues, including cooking classes and other activities.
For more details, please visit the following page.
[Free] Vegetarian & Vegan Advisory (Tokyo Metropolitan Gov. Initiative)