Dear International Fugu Association members,
Following GoTo Travel, the GoTo Eat Campaign has started in support of the restaurant industry.
Expectations are rising for the year-end party season starting in December.
Demand for lunch seems to have returned moderately now, but that for dinner and banquets is still in a difficult situation.
Dinner and banquets are the main dishes for blowfish, so I hope that the demand will come back soon.
1. International Seafood Show Tokyo 2020
With the cooperation of everyone, we were able to close the event safely.
This time, seven Fugu traders and organizations gathered, and it was the first "blowfish pavilion," and very conspicuous!
At the online meeting, the iPhone broadcast that introduced each booth to overseas buyers was well received.
After all, the live online meeting is exciting. I felt the possibility of an online event in a new style.
Besides, when each exhibitor cooperated, the Fugu dressing and sashimi demonstration show, the grilled Fugu cooking demonstration, Fugu soup stock tasting, etc. were exhilarating.
A lot of audiences gathered, and it became a little crowded (^^;), and worried the people involved, but at the same time, the liveliness pleased them.
Without a doubt, the first Fugu pavilion was the "BEST-TEAM Award"!!!
At this seafood show, we made a unique registration system for admission by thoroughly implementing safety measures against coronavirus.
Still, many buyers came on the days, and more than 10,000 people visited in three days.
It was unavoidable that there were fewer visitors than usual.
Still, since it was the first large-scale business meeting in a situation where it was not available anywhere else, the organizer felt it was a great success and relieved. It protected the safety of exhibitors and visitors while there were many concerns.
Our appreciation goes to the staff and everyone involved for their hard work.
Taking advantage of this experience, I want to prepare for the next seafood show in Osaka in February 2021.
2. Results of the Fugu export questionnaire
The first export questionnaire to all Fugu handling companies has completed the final deadline, and the counting work has almost done.
We received encouraging messages from more than 100 corporations and organizations.
Thank you very much!
We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to the Japan Mariculture Association, National Federation of Fisheries Co-operative Associations (JF-ZENG YOREN), Wholesale Co-operative of Tokyo Fish Market, the National Fugu Federation, and all the companies and organizations for their cooperation.
The aggregated results will be posted on the website of the International Fugu Association by November 6th.
http://www.exhibitiontech.com/fugu/
Now we are ready to make a business trip to Singapore!
I'm looking forward to it.
3. Introduction of media publication
The Kansai edition of the Asahi Shimbun dated September 28 published an interview article.
I also contributed a three-page story under the title of "Activity Guidelines for the Trafugu Aquaculture Industry for Increasing Domestic Consumption and Exports" as a close-up measure for the post-coronavirus pandemic in the aquaculture industry in the October issue of the Aquaculture Business magazine.
This time, I wrote it with the feeling that we should move forward as much as possible for domestic production and sales, and of course, for the overseas market!
The other day, there was a poster and video shooting of "Good Fugu Day" on November 29th of this year by the National Seawater Aquaculture Association.
With all the members' cooperation, the photo of Shimonoseki's sashimi was also reportedly taken beautifully. I'm looking forward to the finished pictures!
4. Notice of partial revision of Fugu handling notice (director's note).
I received a notification from the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare.
It is an essential matrix for ensuring Fugu's hygiene, but it does not affect the system very much. I think various forces are working.
The corrected part is Note 1 of 2 of Attached Table 1.
The amendment used to cite the Ariake Sea definition in the Fisheries Act, but with the revision of the Fisheries Act, the citation will be deleted.
Therefore, this amendment is a change in the Ariake Sea's definition, and there is no change in operation.
Director's notice Posting location: Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare website
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/0000094363.html
5. Today's greeting
Last but not least, today, October 29, is Trafugu's day and my birthday.
We will do our best to connect the Japanese blowfish food culture to the future.
We wish all the people who handle blowfish this season as well.
We thank you for your continued support.
That's it for this newsletter.
