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The 2nd NEXCO East Japan Highway Meal Championship

NEXCO East Japan (Chiyoda, Tokyo) and NEXCO East Japan Area Tract Co., Ltd. (Minato, Tokyo) are thrilled to announce the commencement of the 2nd NEXCO East Japan Highway Meal Championship starting Wednesday, October 1, 2023. This event aims to determine the No.1 Highway Meal through customer voting on a selection of exclusive meals sold at Service Areas (SA) and Parking Areas (PA). This competition celebrates the 20th anniversary of NEXCO East Japan.

What is the Highway Meal Championship?

• - This year introduces a new champion meal, known as the “second generation” highway meal, which has already sold around 600,000 servings since its launch on January 9, 2024.
• - Expect a spectacular lineup of local gourmet dishes that utilize regional ingredients, featuring exclusive signature meals only available at this event.
• - With a total of 125 entries, including new creative menu items from various SA and PA outlets, this year surpasses last year’s participation.
• - Customers will play a key role in deciding the No.1 Highway Meal through voting during both the preliminary and final rounds.
• - As a special bonus, all customers ordering entry menu items will receive shopping vouchers, and there are also chances to win luxurious prizes.
• - The event welcomes back the beloved food entertainer Hassy (Yosuke Hashimoto) as the Highway Meal Ambassador.
• - This year, local characters will collaborate to further enhance the Highway Meal excitement!

Event Schedule

Preliminary Rounds:

• - Dates: October 1, 2023 - November 30, 2023
• - Entry menu sales: Also starting on October 1.

Finals:

• - Dates: January 15, 2024 - March 15, 2024
• - Announcement of results is scheduled for April 2024.

How to Participate

Voting at SA and PA:
During both the preliminary and final stages, customers who enjoy the second-generation highway meal entry menus will receive voting cards to cast their votes right at the venues.

SNS Voting:
For those unable to visit SA and PA, an SNS voting option will be implemented, allowing them to participate in the championship from afar and support their favorite entry menus. Voters will have a chance to win a digital gift worth 10,000 yen through a lottery.

Order Special Benefits

In celebration of NEXCO’s 20th anniversary, all customers ordering second-generation highway meal entry menus during the event will receive shopping vouchers worth 200 yen to use in the shopping corner! Additionally, customers evaluating their meals will be entered into a lottery for fabulous prizes:

• - For Preliminary Rounds: 300 winners will receive 1,000 yen digital gift options.
• - For Finals: 15 winners will receive JTB gift cards worth 15,000 yen, 40 winners will get local specialties worth 10,000 yen, and 100 winners will receive local souvenir sets worth 2,000 yen.

The menus earning the most customer support from both SA and PA voting and SNS will represent their regions in the finals. The dish that receives the highest overall votes will be crowned as the No.1 Highway Meal.

For detailed information, please check the special website: Highway Meal Championship Special Site.
(Note: Entry menu information will be disclosed on October 1, 2023.)

Contact Information

For inquiries regarding the event, please note that responses will be provided via email only. Please be aware that response times may vary especially during weekends and holidays.
Contact the 2nd Highway Meal Championship Operation Bureau at: [email protected].

Meet Hassy, Your Highway Meal Ambassador!

A meat expert and rice sommelier, Hassy has dined at over 15,000 establishments at his own expense. He encourages culinary experiences through his specialized SNS account (@fallindebu), amassing over 600,000 followers. Committed to energizing Japan through food, he also serves as an advisor for regional development at the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Local Characters Joining the Fun

Highlighting local attractions, each local character is set to collaborate with the Highway Meal to elevate the competition around the second-generation highway meal further.

NEXCO East Japan is currently promoting an initiative under the theme “ENJOY! Stop By!” to enhance the enjoyment of drives on highways. So, when hitting the road, consider taking a break at SA and PA to savor the unique Highway Meals that celebrate regional specialties.