Exploring the Future of Octopus Cuisine: Connecting Our Tables to Global Issues

In recent years, have you heard people voice concerns about dishes like takoyaki, which are supposed to include octopus but sometimes don’t? The rise in global popularity of octopus is notable, yet Japan's dependency on imports is increasing, leading to concerns about supply shortages. Compounding these issues are illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices, alongside the degradation of marine ecosystems – all intricately related to the future of octopus consumption.

The upcoming event, “World Food Day” Month 2025 Pre-Event: Exploring How Eight Legs Connect My Table to the World, aims to unpack these complex relationships. Scheduled for September 30, 2025, from 19:30 to 21:00, this online gathering will bring together experts in fishing and aquaculture, activists familiar with human rights issues, and representatives from Japan’s fishing cooperatives.

Event Highlights

1. Makiho Akago (OAFIC Inc.) will discuss “The Global Demand for Octopus Dishes”. With over two decades of experience, OAFIC provides essential support for fisheries, agricultural sectors, and livestock.
2. Akihisa Matsuno (Western Sahara Friendship Association) will present insights on “Global Octopus Fishing and Human Rights” based on his book, “Stolen Octopus of Western Sahara”, to be published in January 2025.
3. Hiroyuki Nishimoto (Hyogo Prefectural Fisheries Cooperative Federation) will address “What’s Happening in the Seto Inland Sea”, shedding light on community efforts to enhance local marine resources.

This event is part of a series focusing on prevalent food issues through different lenses, including potatoes, pork, beans, and sesame seeds. By centering octopus, a familiar ingredient, we will illuminate the challenges faced by fisheries in various regions, from Africa’s Western Sahara to Japan’s Seto Inland Sea. This exploration aims to reveal how seemingly distant issues are interconnected and how understanding these connections can guide us towards sustainable food practices.

Context and Significance

The “World Food Day” Month campaign, initiated in 2008, aligns with the UN-designated World Food Day on October 16. It serves as a nationwide effort in Japan to promote awareness and action regarding food-related issues. The campaign emphasizes viewing food as a systemic concern rather than just an individual effort, emphasizing the importance of a comprehensive perspective on food systems.

As the fifth installment in this series, the pre-event focuses on octopus, a delicacy that resonates with many. Our exploration will engage with various global perspectives, addressing rights, environmental sustainability, and economic complexity. By deepening our understanding of these intertwined issues, we aim to uncover pathways toward more sustainable food choices.

About Hunger Free World

As an NGO committed to eliminating hunger for over 25 years, Hunger Free World (HFW) works towards empowering communities in regions like Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, and Uganda. Their mission centers around realizing people's right to food and fostering participatory development that enables communities to have a say in their future. HFW acknowledges that hunger is a multifaceted issue, necessitating an integrated approach that addresses the political, economic, and social structures contributing to it. Their goal includes alleviating food insecurity and improving nutrition as part of a holistic strategy to combat hunger.

Join Us

Are you interested in participating? The event is free to join! Just register by filling out the online form before the deadline of September 30 at 12:00. For those wishing to view the recording, please indicate your interest during registration. Note that live participants will have the privilege of asking questions during the event.

For more details about the event, visit here.

If you have any inquiries regarding this event, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Hunger Free World office in Tokyo:

- Address: Yamasho Building, 8th Floor, 4-8-13 Iidabashi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-0072
- Phone: 03-3261-4700
- Email: [email protected]

We invite you to join this vital conversation about food, sustainability, and the future of our oceans.