TOMODACHI Alumni Regional Framework Theme Event in Kansai-Chugoku-Shikoku Region: Learning About Wild Game from a Hunter to Rethink Food Sustainability

On October 31, 2020, the Kansai-Chugoku-Shikoku region held its online TOMODACHI Alumni Regional Framework Theme Event, organized by Maho Kitano, Regional Leader, and Miki Sakata, Regional Mentor. The event was supported by Prudential and the U.S. Consulate-General in Osaka-Kobe, gathering about 10 TOMODACHI Alumni across Japan.

The event titled “Shikoku Food Tour 〜 Teach me, hunter!” began with opening remarks by Mr. Morgan Perkins, Minister Counselor for Agricultural Affairs, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Maho Kitano then took up the issue of the damage wild animals cause to Japan’s mountainous regions and shared her wish to provide an opportunity to rethink our relationship with nature by learning about wild game.

In the first half of the event, Mr. Yoshifumi Tateishi, a hunter, joined as a guest and explained how to hunt on actual hunting grounds and how game is delivered to the public through a video. The participants were able to deepen their understanding on where to set a trap, how to capture animals, and tips to maintain taste when dissecting a wild animal through quizzes prepared by Mr. Tateishi. Moreover, he shared hints on eating sustainably, such as thinking about our connection with nature through hunting, and the best ways to eat wild game.

Later, Kiyoka Oyabu, an alumna of the TOMODACHI MetLife Women’s Leadership Program, gave a presentation on “Wine Pairings with Wild Game,” as she works at a wine import company. She introduced delicious wines that can be enjoyed in every season or with a variety of various foods.

In the latter half of the event, the participants joined a discussion on “My Wild Game Plan” and proposed wild game-related projects they want to take on in their daily lives. Various suggestions including creating a private group where people can exchange information about game, preparing wild game dishes at a home party, or creating a website where people can search for restaurants that provide wild game. Participants gave comments to help brush up one another’s ideas.

The participants shared thoughts such as, “I was able to imagine how game meat arrives at our table from the mountains by watching the actual scene in the video.” Participants became more interested in social issues and food by learning about wild game. Maho Kitano showed her willingness to tackle the issue of wildlife damage by serving as the head of the wild game club at her university. She displayed an assortment of game meat to the participants, explaining these products will be sold at her university’s school festival.

If you would like to taste the game meat caught by Mr. Tateishi, please visit the link below.

https://www.awa-kankou.jp/odekake/yamazatonomegumi/

The event was held as a part of the TOMODACHI Alumni Regional Framework, the TOMODACHI Generation Alumni Leadership Program supported by Prudential.