On October 17, we held the Shojinvegan Seminar, “Discover the Significance and Examples of Japanese Plant-Based Cuisine to Spread it Worldwide! “ at the Osaka Gas Hug Museum. This seminar aimed to elevate Japanese plant-based cuisine—rooted in Japanese culture—as a global brand, distinguished as “Japanese Vegan” or “Shojinvegan,” contrasting with Western vegan concepts while sharing the Japanese ethos with the world.
The seminar attracted 132 attendees from not only the Kansai region but also from Tokai and Kanto, sharing the importance, information, and examples of bringing Japanese plant-based culture to a global audience. The two-part session provided valuable insights into branding for many participants.
Speakers and Topics (Honorifics Omitted)
Part 1
Masaaki Yoshikawa, Shojinvegan Initiative Representative
“Expanding Japanese Plant-Based Cuisine Globally – Significance, Examples, and Methods”
Masato Kaneda, CEO of Fesbase Inc.
“JPNEAZY: Registration and Customer Referral Strategies for High-End Restaurant Reservations Catering to Inbound Travelers”
Shoyo Yoshimura, Head Priest at Sōtō Zen Temple Hachiyasan Fumonji (Author of Thoughts on Shojin Cuisine), Shojinvegan Initiative Advisor
“The Spirit of Zen Shojin Cuisine”
Ryuuji Matsubara, CEO of Ryukishin Inc.
“Development of Gluten-Free Noodles and PBF Ramen Broth Base”
Koji Sumihama, CEO of Sumihama Sohonpo
“Dedication to Koyasan Noodles” – with a tasting
Fuji Oil Co., Ltd.
“Plant-Based Dashi MIRACORE® Focused on ‘Satisfaction'” – with a tasting
Hitoshi Takayama, Toss Inc.
“Menu Development Using MIRACORE®”
Hitoshi Sugiura, Project Advisor at the Sustainable Restaurant Association Japan
“Global Trends in Vegan and Vegetarian Dining”
Rika Yajima, CEO of Aeru Co., Ltd., Shojinvegan Initiative Vice-Representative
“Communicating the ‘Wa’ Spirit Embedded in Japanese Tradition and Culture to the World and Future Generations”
Part 2
“Japanese Vegan Ramen Initiatives” – with a tasting
Presenters: Ryuuji Matsubara, CEO of Ryukishin Inc.; Hitoshi Takayama, Toss Inc.
The seminar offered attendees from diverse backgrounds, including government, academia, private companies, and the food and beverage industry, new insights and experiences through hands-on sessions.
We plan to continue hosting seminars to promote the Japanese spirit of “Wa” to the world through food, benefiting a wide audience. For inquiries about the Shojinvegan Initiative, please contact us via the inquiry form on the “About Us” page of our website.
⭐️For more information about Shojinvegan, see URL：https://shojinvegan.jp/news/SyN0FLMZ
(Text taken from ‘Shojinvegan’)