You may or may not know that I’m obsessed with all things Japan. Basically, I am obsessed with the food (sushi!!), language, and Japanese culture as a whole. Susan of Transient Travels is well aware. So when she asked me if I wanted to attend the Japan Pavilion; an event she was doing PR for, I didn’t need to be asked twice.
The Japanese Ministry of Agriculture (MAFF), Forestry and Fisheries hosted a tasting event as part of the International Boston Seafood Show. They came to the event to introduce the U.S. seafood industry and consumers to the diversity and quality of Japanese seafood. Of course, to me, Japanese food mostly equals sushi. But there’s so much more; and I had some of the most amazing Japanese food ever at the Japan Pavilion.
Speaking at the event were Mr. Masashi Itoh, the Deputy Director of the International Trade and Tariff Team for the MAFF; Mr. Masaru Tsuji, the Consulate-General of Japan in Boston; and Theodore C. Bestor, a Professor of Anthropology and Japanese Studies at Harvard University.
And then there was the food. Seaweed salad is one of my favorite things in the world and The Marine Foods Corporation brought an amazing one.
Yellowtail is delicious as is, but hamachi teryaki that Dainishi offered was simply incredible.
Look how pretty the Nomura Trading Co.’s salmon roe is.
The yellowtail from Hyoshoku Co. was exceptionally fresh and basically melted in my mouth. But I also loved the yellowtail from Morimatsu.
If you didn’t think you liked wasabi, you would after trying the wasabi from Kinjirushi. They made a delicious avocado and wasbi salad that they beautifully displayed.
I also got the opportunity to talk to Masashi Itoh, the Deputy Director of the International Trade and Tariff team for the MAFF and his translator, along with Nika of Nika’s Culinaria. Along with talking about why distributors and restaurants in the U.S. love Japan’s seafood, we learned about some of Japan’s customs (when someone passes you a business card, you hand them yours first; and always under the card they are handing you).
There was tons of other delicious foods and I left the Pavilion feeling extremely satisfied and with a renewed desire to continue learning Japanese (learning the language is one of my big life goals!). And maybe even an urge to try some Japanese cooking of my own. As always, I will report back. Sayounara!
[Sues]