October 13rd 2019 O.A.
2019 Japanese Food & Restaurant Expo
Saturday September 28th was the Mutual Trading Japanese Food & Restaurant Expo at the Pasadena Convention Center.
This is annually held by the Mutual Trading for the Japanese food industry individuals and this year is their 31st year.
This is the largest Japanese food expo in the US. 135 companies participated this year and promoted their products.
Food booth had popular dishes like ramen, Japanese curry, takoyaki, karaage chicken and char siu. Spices, snacks and processed food were also introduced.
Expensive ingredients like fresh fish utilizing ULTS, a deep freezing technology, and Wagyu from Miyazaki caught the attention too.
Mutual Trading introduced tortilla using fish paste and other new products using Japanese ingredients.
With this year’s theme being “Global environment”, attendees were given chopsticks, forks and ochoko sake cups to minimize waste. Different suggestions were also given how to lower waste for the environment as well.
Other than local sake, shochu, and beer being introduced, a demo of sparkling sake and cheese pairing happened at the sake pavillion.
A special booth for made in Japan wine was also set up at the event.
About 2,700 people attended this year and the event ended in great success.
Consul General of Japan
Thursday, October 3rd was Consul General Akira Muto’s arrival reception at the official residence of consul general.
Consul General Akira Muto is taking over the work of previous Consul General Chiba who left office in August 16th.
Consul General Muto entered Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1985. He took important posts in embassies of Moscow and Washington DC. He also took post as the Consul General of Japan in Boston as well.
At his greeting statement, Muto talked about working hard on strengthening the US/Japan relationship since Japan is now in the new Reiwa era, and hopes Japan’s green technology thrives in California.
City and state representatives also stated their greetings. Attendees including Japanese business and organization representatives celebrated the new consul general taking office.
Calligraphy Exhibition
A calligraphy exhibition was held at Little Tokyo’s JACCC.
This is held by the Beikoku Shodo Kenkyu-kai and 6 female calligraphers’ works were displayed.
Saturday, October 5th was the opening ceremony and many representatives from Japanese organizations attended. Demonstrations were held by the Shodo Kenkyu-kai and President, Hiroko Ikuta.
Shodo Kenkyu-kai started in 1965 and has been active since to spread Japanese calligraphy in the US.
The exhibition also displays works from younger calligraphers as well.
The calligraphy exhibition is running until next week, Sunday October 20th at JACCC first floor in Doizaki Gallery.