The Fukuoka Prefectural Government is hosting a series of four seminars titled “Vegan and Muslim-Friendly Tasting Seminar”. The purpose of these seminars is to promote food inclusivity, aiming to create an environment where people of all nationalities, cultures, and religions can enjoy food together.
The second seminar, held on August 5, featured lectures by experts on the fundamentals of vegan and Muslim-friendly practices as well as key points in menu development. On vegan matters, the lecture was given by Haruko Kawano, representative of VegeProject Japan. On Muslim matters, the lecture was led by Tomohiro Sakuma, President of the Halal Japan Association.
In the latter half of the same day, a tasting session was held by professional food suppliers. Karuna Co., Ltd., a distributor of vegetarian and vegan foods, and Ninomiya Co., Ltd., a supplier of Muslim-friendly foods, provided a wide variety of items. Participants enjoyed tasting these diverse dishes while also interacting with the lecturers and the companies providing the samples.
On August 20, the third seminar, titled “Learning from Case Studies! Local Companies’ Efforts in Food Diversity – Japanese Cuisine Edition”, was held. The speakers were Yasuhide Noda, Executive Director of Umenohana Group, a nationwide restaurant group specializing in tofu-based kaiseki cuisine, and Kazuhiro Kinomiya, owner of Itto, a high-end sushi restaurant in Fukuoka City, as well as the restaurant Aito Unagi. The representative of our organization served as the facilitator. After the seminar, both businesses offered tastings, including Umenohana’s vegan-friendly Saishoku Kaiseki course and Itto’s vegan fig dessert topped with soy milk cream.
Both the second and third seminars welcomed over 100 participants from a wide range of industries within the prefecture, including restaurants, hotels, and food manufacturers.
Participants in these seminars are also eligible to receive personalized support services from professional advisors for vegan and Muslim-friendly menu development and store promotion. On vegan matters, the representative of our organization serves as an advisor and provides on-site visits upon request.
The fourth seminar, titled “Learning from Case Studies! Local Companies’ Practical Examples – Ramen and Sweets Edition”, will be held on Thursday, September 4. Our organization’s representative will continue to serve as the facilitator. Business operators in Fukuoka Prefecture are encouraged to join.
For details on how to register, please check here.
You can view the official flyer of the project here.
