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- Promoting Nagato’s food at Tourism Expo Japan 2019
Promoting Nagato’s food at Tourism Expo Japan 2019
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Last updated:
Oct 30, 2019
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About the writer:
Nagato Tourism Convention Association
One of the world's largest travel festivals
Tourism Expo Japan 2019 Osaka Kansai, one of the world's largest travel festivals, was held at INTEX Osaka in Osaka from Thursday, October 24 to Sunday, October 27.
Staff from the Nagato City Tourism & Convention Association will also be on site on the 26th (Sat.) and 27th (Sun.), the days for general visitors.
Although the Yamaguchi Prefectural Tourism Federation, which includes Nagato City, had a booth at the event, we decided to promote the event at the booth of the Japan Food Tourism Association. In this report, we will provide a report on the event from the staff's point of view.
Food tourism," a food-themed journey
Food tourism refers to travel based on the theme of "food" or "food culture" unique to a region.
The Japan Food Tourism Association is working to certify areas where visitors can enjoy local ingredients and experiences, and where "food" is the purpose of the trip, as "Food Tourism Areas.
Nagato City exhibited as a candidate for certification. The "Eat" program of Nagato City's "Nagatrip" experience tourism program is truly a food tourism initiative, and at the booth we distributed our existing guidebooks and newly created leaflets.
A new movie summarizing the programs conducted this summer will also be shown at the event.
With "delicious" and "fun" as keywords, we delivered the charm of Nagato's food in three minutes.
Senzaki Kamaboko" made without baking
In a total of three "presentations with tastings" held over the two days, staff members from Nagato City held a microphone and promoted the food in front of 50 visitors each time.
Beginning with a discussion of the Canadian national team that participated in the Rugby World Cup 2019, camping and food experiences in Nagato City, we introduce the JAL Mukozugu Double Marathon, which features food from Nagato such as Senzaki Kamaboko and Yakitori, as well as a wide variety of aid stations.
The eagerly awaited tasting included the distribution of "Senzaki Kamaboko" and the story of Nagato City's food and food culture as told by the staff.
Senzaki Kamaboko, known as "Odawara of the East and Senzaki of the West," is made using the "yaki-nuki" method, in which fresh sliced sea weed is placed on a board and grilled instead of steamed. Its crunchy texture and rich flavor surprised visitors with just one bite.
This year's event will feature "Hamachidori" from Yamato Kamaboko Co. on Saturday the 26th and "Hakuraku" from Fujimitsu Kaifudo on Sunday the 27th.
As approximately 800 people enjoyed the food over the two days, many people asked for the brand name of both products. The staff members were able to experience anew the appeal of Senzaki Kamaboko, and it was an opportunity for people to learn more about Nagato City through food.
Food-related quiz competition
On Sunday the 27th, in addition to PR in the booth, a food quiz competition was held on stage alongside Hokkaido (Sapporo and Hakodate), Notojima in Ishikawa Prefecture, and Towada City in Aomori Prefecture.
Two questions were submitted from Nagato City.
The quiz includes the history and efforts related to "food" in Nagato City, such as the reason why the city became a "yakitori (grilled chicken) town" due to its flourishing poultry industry, and the name change of horse mackerel to "Senzaki Toro Aji" after the issuance of the Senzaki Season Declaration.
The story of the fishing, seafood processing, and poultry farming industries was listened to with great interest by the visitors, who were also pleased to hear that they would like to try the yakitori style of fresh chicken with salt.
Not only seeing and hearing, but actually tasting and enjoying the food along with the story.
The booth, which spotlighted "food" from various regions of Japan, was filled with the "delicious" and "fun" expressions of visitors. We received candid feedback through tastings, presentations, and quizzes, and were once again able to confront the appeal of Nagato's abundant "food" during the two-day event.
