Japanese prefectures showcase tourism and food culture in New York

New York – Japan’s National Governors’ Association held an event in New York on Thursday to promote famous sights and food cultures in six prefectures in the Asian country.

The six were Toyama, Shizuoka, Mie and Nagano, as well as Miyagi in the country’s northeast and Chiba.

The tourism seminar, aimed at travel agencies and media organizations, was held to expand sales channels for local products and attract travelers from North America as the Japanese market shrinks due to the decreasing population.

At the venue, “Kokiriko,” a folk song from the Gokayama rural district, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Toyama, was introduced together with a graceful dance performed to pray for a good harvest.

The event also included a presentation on the characteristics and history of Shizuoka tea, as well as an Iga-style ninja show representing Mie, which drew a cheer from the audience as the performers engaged in spectacular action sequences, wielding swords and other weapons.

“We want to showcase the unique appeal of our regions in New York, the world’s cultural and economic hub,” said Shuichi Abe, the association’s president and Nagano governor.

Over the weekend, an exchange meeting between prefectural governors and buyers, including trading house officials, is scheduled to be held, as well as a tasting event featuring prefectural products.

At a reception following the seminar, a business operator from Nagano gave a soba buckwheat noodle-making demonstration, while regional specialties were served, including Miyagi’s zunda mochi cakes of pounded rice topped with sweet green bean paste.