Dear International Fugu Association members,
The new coronavirus is spreading around the world, and events and schools kept closing in Japan.
The Tokyo Olympics in July are also been postponed. and the situation remains severe.
Usually, March is a season with many events such as graduation ceremony, welcome and send-off party, cherry blossom viewing, but the restaurants are not crowded as dine-out is discouraged.
It looks like you need patience for a while.
Although we were invited, the International Fugu Association's presentation at the 36th Marine Toxin Study Group was canceled because the spring conference of the Japanese Society of Fisheries Science was called off.
We were disapointed but look forward to the next opportuity.
Nevertheless, if the deficit continues for more than three months, some restaurants will face critical business condition.
The Japanese government is taking emergency measures as follows.
To businesses affected by the new coronavirus infection.
https://www.gfp1.maff.go.jp/uploads/2020/03/200311_shikingurisien.pdf
In addition, the link below summarizes support measures in more detail.
https://www.meti.go.jp/covid-19/pdf/pamphlet.pdf
However, there are many voices saying that even if the Japanese government gives unsecured and unguaranteed loans,
it will only increase debt, so we would like to pay attention to measures at the stage when the virus has subsided.
In Japan and abroad, there have been cases where reputation of fresh fish, such as Japanese raw fish, has not been based on scientific evidence.
The Japanese government has instructed us to disseminate it to all of you as a measure against damage to reputation so that there is no misunderstanding. Please read the attached document.
For the food industry, we were fortunate that the new coronavirus is not the so-called "food poisoning" in which the virus was transmitted through food.
The world's major seafood events that were scheduled to be held this spring have also been postponed to after the summer. However, in June, the international fisheries expo in Fuzhou, China is said to be scheduled in June.
They requested the secretariat of the Fugu association to participate in the exhibition. Indeed, we must respect the Chinese business philosophy.
We would like to jump into the Chinese market if it would exit a slight opportunity that the Chines government would lift the ban on Japanese blowfish in China.
Last year, the Japanese government highly recognized the International Fugu Association's promotional activities for Singapore on invitation-type and in-the-country promotion.
If it can be implemented again this year, "Promoting the Japanese FUGU cuisine to the world" will advance.
The schedule will be very tight, but we want to do the best.
Cherry blossoms are in full bloom at many locations in Japan, and the spring of hope has arrived.
The convergence of the virus is awaited.
That's it for this newsletter.