An online business negotiation platform WASHOKU GO has been launched by WADAMAN, an Organic Processed Food Processor since 2002 along with the preeminent Akanemaru, Oguraya, Osaka GYOKUROEN, and Ujien; manufacturing traditional Japanese speciality food in Osaka, western Japan.
The platform is intended for professionals/buyers who are interested in Japanese cuisine all over the world. It helps overseas professionals and buyers to cope with the global coronavirus crisis. It enables negotiations via live chatting, can provide samples, and allows visitors to learn Japanese cuisine and culture easily. The inaugural members aim to have 100 Japanese food manufacturers participate in the project.
Coming Together Against Covid-19
WADAMAN, a sesame manufacturer with a 139-year history in Osaka, is a pioneer in the Japanese food export business, winning the Export Excellence Award of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in 2020. It has joined forces with the four time-honoured food manufacturers based in Osaka for the project aspiring to promote food exports. The coronavirus disaster has decreased overseas negotiation and exhibition opportunities to almost nil. To break the deadlock, the group has decided to launch its own platform.
The original five-member companies participating in the WASHOKU GO project deal in an interesting range of products:
WADAMAN, working since 1883, sells organic sesame and products made of it, without any harmful chemicals entering your body. Oguraya, established in 1848, specialises in “kombu” (kelp), selling natural kelp for “dashi” (soup stock), salted kelp, tangle flakes of kelp, shredded kelp, “battera” kelp and more, all of which are natural.
Osaka GYOKUROEN started selling “kombucha” (kelp tea) in 1918 and became the original manufacturer of instant kombucha drinks. Exporting a large number of green tea products (sweetened) to the world, they can now be more accessible through WASHOKU GO. Ujien, since its founding in Kyoto Yamashiro has built up knowledge and experiences and developed a “single-minded commitment to tea”. Tea shops located in Osaka’s Shinsaibashi commercial district are loved by people all over the world. Akanemaru, manufacturing “An” (sweet bean paste) and “dorayaki” since 1940 also exports to countries such as Hong Kong, Singapore and confectionery manufacturers in the EU.
