Road to Boston: Japan is back

For Japanese exhibitors, this year’s International Boston Seafood Show comes at an emotional time, opening on the one-year anniversary of the T?hoku earthquake and tsunami.

However, despite the tragedy’s effect on country’s storied fishing and seafood industries, Japan’s seafood exports managed to increase in terms of value last year, up 10.2 percent from 2010 to more than USD 295 million, according to Japan’s Ministry of Finance.

Joji Morishita, counselor of the Fisheries Agency of Japan, attributed the increase, in part, to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (MAFF), which monitored the country’s seafood products to reaffirm their safety.

“In returning to [Boston], we hope to allay any potential buyer concerns, while also demonstrating Japan’s resilience and commitment to delivering safe, healthy and high-quality seafood to the global marketplace,” said Morishita.

There are 10 exhibiting companies in the Japanese Pavilion (booth No. 1967) this year, the same number as last year. They are Ahjikan Co. Ltd., Kanbe Co. Ltd., Morimatsu Suisan Reito Co. Ltd., Osaki Suisan Co. Ltd., S. Marche Co. Ltd., Sapporo Chou Suisan Co. Ltd., Shinmarusyo Co. Ltd., Tosakatsuo Suisan Co. Ltd., Yamamoto Noriten Co. Ltd. and Yamayo Co. Ltd.

Also in attendance is renowned New York chef David Bouley, owner of Bouley, his flagship TriBeCa restaurant, and brushstroke, a new kaiseki restaurant. Bouley will lead a discussion on the quality and versatility of Japanese seafood in a seminar titled “Japanese Seafood for the Evolving American Palate” in Room 104B of the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. on March 11. Also presenting are Steve Lutz of the Perishables Group and representatives from the MAFF and U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Editor’s note: Next week, SeafoodSource Contributing Editor Chris Loew takes an in-depth look at Japan’s fishing and seafood industries leading up to the one-year anniversary of the T?hoku earthquake and tsunami. 

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