Bringing Japanese Food Culture to India
What is “Washoku”?
1) “Washoku” is originally a word that combines “wa”, meaning Japan with “shoku”, meaning eating or foods. “Washoku” refers not only to the Japanese cuisine but also to the dietary cultures of the Japanese people.
2) In December 2013, “Washoku, traditional dietary cultures of the Japanese, notably for the celebration of New Year” was added to UNESCO’s roster of intangible cultural heritages.
3) Washoku, Japanese food, is getting popular all over the world, and in India, people start to enjoy Japanese food.
What is “Sake”?
1) Sake is a rice-based alcoholic beverage original to Japan and traditionally appreciated by all Japanese people. Sake is also becoming increasingly popular in the world. The export of Sake is rapidly increasing, and Sake has earned a good reputation in many parts of the world.
2) Sake has played a central role in Japanese life and culture for the past 2,000 years. You can drink Sake at chilled, normal, or warm temperature.
3) There are more than 1,500 Sake brewers in Japan and each brewer produces different varieties and tastes of Sake. Some of them are sweet, while some of them are dry. There is sparkling Sake as well. Most Sake is very mild, with a delicate and pleasant aroma.
Promotion activities of Japanese food and sake by the Embassy of Japan in India
- Reception with participation of Japanese food companies, November 2017, at the occasion of World Food India 2017
- An Evening with Sake, November 2017
- Sake Trade Tasting, November 2017
- Japanese Food Promotion Event, March 2018, at the occasion of the visit of Mr. Miyakoshi, Special Advisor to Prime Minister of Japan
- An Evening with Sake, September 2018
- An Evening with Japanese Food, February 2019
- An Evening with Sake, September 2019
- An Evening with Japanese Food, February 2020
- A Tasting Tour with Japanese Sake and Food, March 2021
- "Washoku Day" Events, November 2022
- "Washoku Conclave" Event, June 2023
Japanese Food and Ingredient Supporter Stores Overseas
1) "Japanese Food and Ingredient Supporter Stores Overseas" is a certification program to certify overseas restaurants, bars and retailers, which carry Japanese food and beverages, as official “Japanese Food Supporters”, in order to further promote safe and delicious Japanese food products and alcoholic beverages to every corner of the world.
2) As of February 2020, there were 40 “Japanese Food Supporters” in India.
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List of Japanese Food Supporters in India (Address and contact information).
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JETRO: certification program of Japanese Food and Ingredient Supporter Stores Overseas (https://www.jetro.go.jp/en/trends/foods/supporter.html)
Contact
If you want to import Japanese agricultural, forestry, fishery and food products and Japanese Sake to India, please feel free to contact the Embassy of Japan in India.
Email: jpemb-economic@nd.mofa.go.jp