Vegan Let's go to Gunma where vegetables are delicious! August 8, 16:19

The cabbage first place! 1st place Edamame 2nd! 2nd in cucumber! Is n’t it great?

Gunma Prefecture has overwhelmed other prefectures in vegetable production. It is also called “Vegetable Kingdom”. The Gunma Prefecture is trying to show its presence with vegetables in the wake of next year's Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

The keyword is “vegan” that is attracting attention overseas.
(Maebashi broadcaster reporter Asa Watanabe)

200 million people worldwide! ? What is vegan?

“Vegans” are those who practice the principle of eating only vegetables and grains to protect the environment and animal welfare. “Vegetarian” is well known, but vegans differ in that they do not eat any animal-derived foods such as eggs or dairy products.

This vegan is actually said to have nearly 200 million people all over the world, especially in the United States and Europe. It is estimated that approximately 20 million people in the United States and 8 million people, or 10% of the population in Germany, are vegan.

Among the celebrities, the popular American singer Ariana Grande, Hollywood actress Natalie Portman, former tennis queen Venus Williams, and others are vegans. is known.

In Europe and the United States, restaurants and other restaurants targeting vegans are increasing, and it is growing rapidly as one market. On the other hand, vegans that have not yet spread in Japan. There are not many restaurants.

The ingredients from Gunma are vegan-oriented!

Meanwhile, Gunma Prefecture is drawing attention next year's Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

There are certainly many vegan people among foreign tourists visiting Japan. This is a great business opportunity for the vegetable kingdom, Gunma Prefecture.

Gunma Prefecture has abundant production and variety of vegetables, benefiting from a climate with long sunshine hours and large temperature differences. Among them, cabbage and konjac are the best in Japan. Cucumbers and soy beans are one of the largest productions in the country, and fresh vegetables and processed konjac and soy products that do not use animal origin are essential for vegan cuisine.

This is vegan food

The restaurant “Awatama” in Maebashi City was the first to adopt a vegan menu. When the owner, Hideki Obayashi, worked at a restaurant in Tokyo, he became vegan because of the fact that most foreign customers were vegan. We are starting to offer vegan dishes at the store.

Here are the vegan dishes. It is a course of all 5 dishes from appetizer to dessert. The appetizer is a salad made with corn soup and cheese made from nuts. The main hamburger was made with millet and lotus root. Soy milk is used for dessert cakes, and dairy products and eggs are not used.

Mr. Obayashi said, “Because it ’s vegan, it does n’t mean that you do n’t have a choice of food.

Also pay attention to farmers and JETRO!

Producers are also paying attention to vegans.

Maebashi farmer Tomokazu Ino grows about 100 kinds of vegetables such as cabbage and paprika. We want to promote vegan people with vegetables that are almost free of pesticides and are good for the body.

Ino said, “I think Gunma's vegetables are really delicious. I want to spread the vegetables made in Maebashi to the world more and more.”

JETRO's Gunma office, which encourages overseas business, has started to connect these producers and restaurants.

In March, vegan charismatic chefs visited the field of Ino from the US and Germany at the request of JETRO. Chefs who picked up Maebashi special vegetables and checked their quality. The chef who put vegetables in the field also says “I like it!”.

Mr. Ino said, “I was very happy and confident to say“ sweet ”and“ good. ”We cultivated delicious vegetables and steadily created an environment where people could eat freshly picked vegetables. I want to. "

Tomonori Shibahara, General Manager of JETRO Gunma Office, said, “Towards 2020, aim for“ vegan friendly Gunma Prefecture ”.

Expand the possibilities of Gunma

I was shocked by a vegan interviewee who pointed out that “there are no restrictions on food and only Japanese people eat anything”. I think vegans that are n’t very familiar in Japan are also a great business opportunity.

Overseas vegans are said to have many high-income people such as Hollywood actresses and CEOs of major companies. If you come to Japan for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, aim for delicious vegetables and come to Gunma. I am excited about such expectations.

I would like to pay attention to whether Gunma's vegetables can expand their possibilities.

Maebashi broadcaster reporter Asa Watanabe

As of 2017, the tomato is my favorite vegetable for police coverage.