Japanese Delegates Return from Seattle after participating in the TOMODACHI Food Innovation for Regional Sustainability in Tohoku Program

From May 15, 2016 to May 29, 2016, ten delegates from Japan between the ages of 18-35 traveled to Seattle, Washington to partake in the TOMODACHI Food Innovation for Regional Sustainability in Tohoku (FIRST) Program. Given the name, the program participants all possess deep ties with Tohoku, and work as fishermen, food processors, farmers, and community specialists. Despite their young age, they all actively work to advance food innovation in the region and strive to be next generation leaders for food innovation in Japan.

Over the two week program, the delegates had the opportunity to participate in 12 different seminar learning sessions and visit ten various sites: farms, community/school gardens, fisheries, restaurants, processing facilities, social impact organizations, retail markets, and consumer cooperatives. Towards the end of the program, a “Taste of Tohoku” event was held, where the delegates prepared dishes from their region for approximately 70 guests.

Due to the diverse participants and their various backgrounds and experiences, each delegate was able to share his or her knowledge of food innovation in Japan while being exposed to innovative practices in the United States at farmers markets and local restaurants. The participants were able to make new cross-cultural connections and discover that the passion for food innovation is borderless. Furthermore, they now have new ideas to implement in their work in Japan. One delegate reflected, “I met many people who have expanded my possibilities for my work and life.” Their heightened commitment for a positive future for Tohoku and Japan will surely inspire other next generation food leaders to tackle global challenges in food and farming innovation.