New Project by JCDC: Support for Opening Japanese Cuisine Courses and Dispatching Instructors to Overseas Culinary Schools

TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar 25, 2025--

While Japanese restaurants overseas continue to proliferate (According to the latest survey, there are 187,000 stores, which is about a 20% increase since 2021.), there is a shortage of chefs with the specialized knowledge and skills in Japanese cuisine, as well as instructors capable of teaching the techniques of Japanese cooking at culinary schools abroad.
In order to make up for this shortage and further promote Japanese cuisine, food culture and ingredients, JCDC (Location: Tokyo, Representative: Yoshihiro Murata) has started a project to dispatch Japanese chefs to overseas culinary schools and other institutions that want to set up Japanese cuisine courses with the aim of teaching correct knowledge and cooking methods for Japanese cuisine, food culture and ingredients, with the cooperation of local Japanese Cuisine Goodwill Ambassadors, the Certification Body and graduates of past JCDC program. In this first year of the project, we have taken this ambitious initiative to Turkey and India.
Participants commented that “until now I thought that ramen and sushi were the only traditional Japanese dishes, but now I finally understand how important dashi is!”, “it was completely different from what I had imagined. This lecture has changed the way I look at Japanese food”, “I want to know more about Japanese food and how it has evolved to the present day”, and so on.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250323982734/en/

[Countries where events were held in 2024]
A. Istanbul, Türkiye
-Title: "Japon Mutfak Sanatlari Egitimi Ozel Semineri"
https://www.yenisafak.com/gundem/topkapi-universitesi-usla-uzakdogu-mutfak-akademisi-is-birliginde-profesyonel-japon-mutfak-sanatlari-mezuniyet-ve-unvan-takdim-toreni-gerceklestirildi-4659083
* Held as part of the events commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Establishment of Japan-Türkiye Diplomatic Relations

- Location: USLA (Ulslararast Servis & Lezzet Akademisi)
https://www.usla.com.tr/

- Dispatched instructor: Kimio Nonaga (Third generation owner/chef of Nihonbashi Yukari, Japanese Cuisine Goodwill Ambassador, A regular member of All Japan Food Association)

- Cooperative local instructor:
Shun-ichi Horikoshi (Owner/Chef of Itsumi, Japanese Cuisine Goodwill Ambassador)
https://www.itsumijp.com/
Sinan Damgacioglu (Partner of Uzakdogu Mutfak Akademisi Eğitim ve Danışmanlık A.Ş., Japanese Cuisine Goodwill Ambassador; A graduate of the JCDC program for 2016.)
Didem Yalçınkaya (Chef & Owner, Oishii Wok & Sushi; A graduate of the JCDC program for 2022.)

- Organized by
Japanese Cuisine and Dietary Culture Development Committee (JCDC)
https://en.jcdc.tokyo/
Uzakdoğu Mutfak Akademisi (The Certification Body)
https://www.instagram.com/uzakdogumutfakakademisi/
USLA (Ulslararast Servis & Lezzet Akademisi)

- Sponsored by
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (MAFF)

- Cooperated by
All Japan Food Association (AJFA)

B. Goa, India
- Title: "Honoring Nature’s Gifts -- Introduction to Traditional Japanese Cuisine"
https://www.bharatfact.com/goa-hosts-first-ever-japanese-cooking-course/

- Location: IHM (Institute of Hotel Management), Goa
https://ihmgoa.gov.in/home

- Dispatched instructor: Kiyoyuki Ichimaida (Professor of Japanese cuisine at Hattori Nutrition College)
https://www.hattori.ac.jp/

- Cooperative local instructor:
Brehadeesh Kumar (Japanese Cuisine Goodwill Ambassador, Chief chef of Ginkgo (Japanese Food and Ingredient Supporter Store); A graduate of the JCDC program for 2022.)
https://www.instagram.com/ginkgopune/

- Organized by
Japanese Cuisine and Dietary Culture Development Committee (JCDC)

- Sponsored by
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (MAFF)

- Cooperated by
Embassy of Japan in India
Institute of Hotel Management, Goa
Hattori Nutrition College
Hal Yamashita
Kai India, etc.

[The certification program of Japanese Food and Ingredient Supporter Stores Overseas]
https://www.jetro.go.jp/en/trends/foods/supporter/

[Guidelines for Certification of Cooking Skills for Japanese Cuisine in Foreign Countries]
https://www.maff.go.jp/j/shokusan/syokubun/attach/pdf/tyori-19.pdf

Goa, India @ IHM, Goa

Istanbul, Türkiye @ USLA/Uzakdoğu Mutfak Akademisi

Chef Kimio Nonaga (Japanese Cuisine Goodwill Ambassador)

The Israeli military on Wednesday ordered the evacuation of parts of Gaza City as it steps up its renewed offensive against Hamas.

Israel has vowed to increase military pressure until the militants return the remaining 59 hostages — 24 of whom are believed to be alive. Israel has also demanded that Hamas disarm and send its leaders into exile. Hamas has said it will not release the remaining hostages without a lasting ceasefire and full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

The war was triggered by Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack into Israel, in which Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251. Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed over 50,000 people, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not say how many were civilians or combatants.

Here's the latest:

Palestinians chanted against Hamas during an anti-war protest in the Gaza Strip, according to videos circulating online. It was a rare show of public anger against the militant group, which has long repressed dissent and still rules the territory 17 months into the war with Israel.

The videos, which appeared to be authentic, showed hundreds of people taking part in an anti-war protest in the heavily destroyed northern town of Beit Lahiya on Tuesday. People held signs saying “Stop the war,” “We refuse to die,” and “The blood of our children is not cheap.”

Some could be heard chanting: “Hamas out!” Other videos appeared to show Hamas supporters dispersing the crowds.

The Israeli military has ordered the evacuation of parts of Gaza City as it steps up its renewed offensive against Hamas.

The latest orders issued Wednesday apply to Zeitoun, Tel al-Hawa and other neighborhoods where Israeli forces have carried out previous operations during the 17-month war. The military said it will soon respond to rocket fire from the area and ordered residents to move south.

Israel ended its ceasefire with Hamas last week when it launched a surprise wave of strikes that killed hundreds of Palestinians.

It has vowed to increase military pressure until Hamas returns the remaining 59 hostages it holds – 24 of whom are believed to be alive. Israel has also demanded that Hamas disarm and send its leaders into exile.

Hamas has said it will not release the remaining hostages without a lasting ceasefire and full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

Palestinians walk next to a tent camp for displaced by the Israeli air and ground offensive on the Gaza Strip in west of Gaza Strip, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

Palestinians walk amid the destruction caused by the Israeli air and ground offensive at Al-Shati camp, Gaza City, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)