Arab News Japan

On Feb. 14 at the Consulate General of Japan in Dubai, Consul-General Mr. SEKIGUCHI Noboru presented Managing Director & Partner of Bentoya Kitchen LLC & Gourmet-Ya Trading, Mr. TANIUCHI Shinji with a certification for his culinary efforts in the region.

Established in 2015, the “Japanese Cuisine Goodwill Ambassador” certification aims to promote exports of Japanese products, as well as facilitate the spread of Japanese food and dietary practices within Japan and beyond it.

“I believe this scheme is very effective in publicly recognizing achievements of people who are engaged in food and restaurant industry and have promoted the attractiveness of Japanese food and dietary cultures for a number of years,” Mr. SEKIGUCHI told Arab News Japan.

Mr. TANIUCHI, the first “Japanese Cuisine Goodwill Ambassador” appointed in Dubai, also made his mark by opening the first restaurant managed by a Japanese chef called Bentoya Kitchen in 1997.

He later went on to open a Japanese food store in 2012 called Gourmet-Ya—a long way from beginning as a Japanese chef in 1995.

Speaking of Mr. TANIUCHI, the Consul-General shared: “I observe he has gained trust from a lot of people in the food industry in the UAE including Dubai, and given that he understands very well the consumers’ taste for dietary and the related services in Dubai, the UAE,”

He continued by stating how “he is, therefore, the right person who could promote further and effectively the attractiveness of Japanese food and dietary cultures in this region.”

Mr. SEKIGUCHI also touched on the various hardships faced by Mr. TANIUCHI, including economic, social, and political conditions, and also highlighted the presence of a Japanese community in the MENA region bewitched by Mr. TANIUCHI’s efforts.

“I would like to introduce such authentic tastes of Japanese food to people here in Dubai, and the Consulate-General of Japan in Dubai will make further efforts in promoting Japanese food and dietary cultures,” the Consul-General told Arab News Japan.

These efforts would prove helpful as a Japanese food, and culture continues to grow globally.