What is the International Furikake Conference?
| ■Greeting
In May 2013, in Kumamoto Prefecture, which is said to be the birthplace of furikake, we hosted the event called “Furikake Grand Prix in Kumamoto.” This event gave us an opportunity to participate in "THAIFEX2013," the Thailand's largest food exhibition held in the end of May. There, we proudly introduced our local specialty, furikake, to the world.
Although furikake has been one of the most popular foods in Japan, it had not been known by the world at all. Still, we received a number of positive comments and reactions by restaurant owners and buyers from all over the world. Since furikake is something to be eaten by sprinkling onto rice, we have got an impression that it would be widely accepted by Thai people whose staple is also rice. At the same time, we thought that furikake’s rich nutrients might be able to support children in ASEAN countries who are suffering from malnutrition. In the same year, when we attended the “Furikake Grand Prix in Iwasaki of Fukushima Prefecture,” we worked with some Furikake making companies from Kumamoto to support the promoting of Fukushima rice because Fukushima rice was suffering from the harmful rumor about radiation. |
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Those experiences inspired us to establish the International Furikake Conference as a private group in 2013. The International Furikake Conference started “the Furikake for Support Program,” in which we donate furikake for schools in the ASEAN countries such as Thailand and Laos. We also held the first nationwide grand prix, “Nationwide Furikake Grand Prix 2014” in the end of October and within the two days of the event, approximately 30,000 people visited us. This made us realize the great potential of Furikake.
Now we are proud to announce that the private group, the International Furikake Conference was evolved as the general incorporated association in February 2, 2015.
We will continue to strive to carry out our activities in order to pursue our big dreams through small furikake. |
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| ■Mission Statement
Our corporation’s mission is to contribute for regional development, local economic advancement, and active international interactions by the promotion of regional industries, tourism, and culture, and especially by the promotion of furikake. |
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■Our Activities
May 2013: Hosting “Furikake Grand Prix in Kumamoto”
May 2013: Exhibiting furikake at a Thailand food exhibition, “THAIFEX2013”
October 2013: Hosting the “Furikake Grand Prix in Iwaki Fukushima Prefecture”
August 2013: Establishment of the International Furikake ConferenceThe first general meeting of the International Furikake Conference
October 2013: The second general meeting of the International Furikake Conference
January to March 2014: Conducting of marketing research in Thailand
March 2014: Visits of a trading company in Thailand, some schools and Japanese factories in Laos.
April 2014: Distribution of sample furikake at Phimai Festival in Laos.
April 2014: The first general meeting of the International Furikake Conference
October 2014: Hosting the “Nationwide Furikake Grand Prix 2014”
November 2014: Visiting “Sprinkle Furikake onto French Food Culture” project in France
December 2014: Start of “the Furikake for Support Program” in North East area of Thailand
December 2014: The fourth general meeting of the International Furikake Conference
February 2015: Establishment of as the General Incorporated Association, International Furikake Conference. |
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| ■Furikake from Kumamoto
Regarding the origin of furikake, it is said that various furikake-like foods emerged for the purpose of food supplement here and there in Japan during Taisho and Showa era. Yet, an industry group, Japan Furikake Association defines Gohan No Tomo, which was sold in Kumamoto, as the first furikake in Japan. This Gohan No Tomo was invented by a pharmacist, Suekichi Yoshimaru. Back then, the lack of calcium was a big problem for Japanese people, so Yoshimaru thought to grind fish bones into powder and sprinkle it onto rice for the dietary supplement. He dried small fish, grinded them, and cooked them. He further added nori and sesame so that the flavor was more enjoyable. He put this powder into a small glass bottle and sealed it with calk and waxed the calk in order to prevent it from being dry. This was the first furikake, Gohan No Tomo (friend of rice). During the World Wars, since Gohan No Tomo was one of scarce nutrient rich foods, it was forced to be stored in military warehouses. |
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| ■CSR Activities
Because of the support from a number of companies, we have been able to donate furikake to the kindergartens and elementary schools in Thailand and Laos whose children are facing the lack of mineral and calcium. We will continue to do this activity with a hope to support children who are suffering from malnutrition just as Japanese children went through in the past. |
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| langage:Japanese |
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