TOMODACHI FIRST Program Participants Return to Japan After Learning About American Food Culture in Seattle

Community. Growth. Leadership. Innovation. These four words capture the essence of revitalization. After the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, the Tohoku region has been undergoing the reconstruction process, especially agriculturally. Thanks to devoted young professionals in the area, this progress has been picking up speed.

TOMODACHI Food Innovation for Regional Sustainability in Tohoku (FIRST) Program invests in these future leaders of food innovation in Japan, with particular focus on the Tohoku region. Due to the difficulties that arose after March 11, 2011 (unhealthy soils, radiation issues, etc.), the people in the region have had to become more creative and more innovative in their efforts to continue their businesses and further awareness for their products. In partnership with iLEAP, the program took ten participants to Seattle to learn about organic, seed-to-table, Alice Waters, and other concepts in American food culture. They have also been connecting with the local Japanese American community there and the Japanese food-related business owners who have taken ahold of the American Dream.

From June 6-18, 2015, this inaugural FIRST group visited Seattle, Washington for a two-week program where they met with Americans in their industry and learned about the American way of creating and processing foods. They expressed their desire to set a long-term plan for food innovation and sustainability in the Tohoku region and how they can give back to their communities upon returning to Japan. Many wish to expand their businesses globally and introduce modern/international philosophies into their respective workplaces. On July 27, they gathered in Tokyo to follow up on this mission and presented to the group their individual long-term plans for food innovation and sustainability in the Tohoku region.

Yukinori Shitautsubo from Iwate Prefecture, selected by Aera Magazine as one of the top 100 Japanese innovators of our time said, “There are far too many people who don’t have access to healthy foods, and I want to change that.” He prioritizes cooperation in his world and hopes to continue to receive inspiration from the friends and mentors he met in Seattle where he established meaningful connections with people within and outside of his own community.

Tomomi Sato is action-driven and took immediate steps after 3.11 to help her community by founding Ishinomaki Genki Shoten, an online market featuring products of local farmers and fishermen. It currently holds 50 contracts with local producers and is helping to ease the strain of unemployment in the region, especially providing hope and opportunity for sustainability to the younger generations. She vows to continue to support her community through the connections she’s made through this program.

Shitautsubo and Sato represent the passion and leadership of this inaugural group selected for their innovative work in the Tohoku region connected to the food industry.

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This program is funded by TOMODACHI’s Fund for Exchanges through generous contributions from Toyota Motor Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation, and Hitachi, Ltd.