INTERNASHOKUNAL

Our mission is to promote a society which ensures that all people, with or without dietary restrictions, are able to overcome language barriers and choose what to eat safely and with peace of mind.

At the present time there are 2.25 million foreign residents in Japan, and the number of tourists to Japan each year is 9.2 million. It is also estimated that the number of Japanese children with food allergies reached 600,000 (10% of all children), and for adults this figure is 2.4 million (2% of all adults). In particular recent years has seen an increase in the number of toddlers with food allergies. For those with dietary restrictions eating out becomes very difficult. Even cooking at home can be tricky when there are limited ingredients at ones disposal. All of which can lead to nutrient deficiencies and health issues. When uncommon ingredients are used, it can be difficult for Japanese as well as foreign residents to judge the exactly what is contained in food products.

The name of our organization derives from the English word “international”, and the Japanese word for food, “shoku”. The central aim of our organization, namely to contribute towards a multicultural society through food, is illustrated by this name.