Vegan menus are finally available at the University of Tokyo’s student cafeteria! Initially, you can find them every weekday on the Hongo campus Central Cafeteria. Regular customers are welcome.
It has been approximately three years since we started this project. The spread of COVID, the strict policies of university cafeterias in terms of raw material introduction, and price limitations have presented challenges. Finally, in 2022, we can announce that the vegan menus are available.
Availability of the Vegan Menus
VegeProject Japan held regular meetings, and organized tasting events with students, the University of Tokyo CO-OP Office, and cafeteria owners. Also, we provided vegan certification for the menus after close inspection of all ingredients. The vegan mark is printed in promotional media, the digital signage at the entrance, and in the menu to indicate and make these options easily recognizable.
Article on the release of vegan menus at the University of Tokyo on CO-OP official website
Each cafeteria within the University of Tokyo will gradually introduce the vegan menus. Initially, you can purchase them at the Central Cafeteria (Chuuo Shokudo) in Hongo campus. The central cafeteria is an elegant installment right below the iconic Yasuda auditorium. Access is not restricted to students and professors, and regular visitors can order as well.
The menu includes a soy-meat vegan curry, vegan pasta, and several kinds of vegan side-dishes rotated on a daily basis.
入口にあるデジタルサイネージ
Including vegan choices is a response from the university’s commitment to the inclusion of vegetarians and vegans, the promotion of the SDGs, animal welfare, and healthier lifestyles. We hope that this project will help students and other people who use the restaurant to learn about vegan choices.
Example of the vegan menus offered at the University of Tokyo.
Spinach and soy-meat curry with salads, salty-sweet eggplant and soy-meat soboro, and boiled okura
For more details about the introduction of the vegan menu at the University of Tokyo, you may check this article on VegeTime (Japanese only).
About VegeProject Univeristy
VegeProject Japan started as a student project led by current director Kawano Haruko for the introduction of vegan menus at the University of Kyoto.
After becoming a nonprofit organization, VegeProject Japan expanded its activities to work in conjunction with corporations, restaurants and local governments. However, we continue our activities to introduce plant-based menus at cafeterias under the name “VegeProject University”.
Would you like to introduce vegan menus at your cafeteria or university?
VegeProject Japan provides support to university cafeterias and committed students willing to cooperate.
Please check our official website and the details on VegeProject Univeristy, and contact us through this form!
Official links:
・The University of Tokyo CO-OP cafeteria: https://www.utcoop.or.jp/service/cafeteria/
・Press release for this project: https://www.utcoop.or.jp/news/news-16522/
※The visits of regular customers are welcome, but entrance may become restricted in accordance to COVID-related regulations. Before your visit, you may check the current state at their COVID-related Entrance Restrictions page.