Slow Food Movement in Japan Establishes a National Organization

Thirty-two Japanese organizations engaged in the Slow Food movement held a general meeting in Yufuin, Oita Prefecture on July 26, 2004 and established the movement's first national-scale organization, "Slow Food Japan," with its head office in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. Mr. Hirotoshi Wako was selected as its first president, and Mr. Giacomo Mojoli, International Director of Slow Food Headquarters, was selected as honorary president.

The Slow Food movement started in northern Italy in the late 1980s with the aim of rediscovering traditional, local food cultures, and as a counterpoint to modern food culture being standardized by fast food industries. The Slow Food movement in Bra, Italy has made various efforts worldwide not only to protect traditional food culture, but also to conserve biological diversity and promote sustainable agriculture.

Slow Food Japan is the sixth national-level organization to be established in the world. The Slow Food movement has been spreading in Japan over the past few years, and the establishment of this organization will encourage further development of the movement nationwide. It will be giving special emphasis to the Ark of Taste project, which aims to change the tide of standardization in farm products and in how food tastes.

http://www.slowfood.com/

Posted: 2005/02/01 12:22:10 PM
Japanese version