Sustainable Food Asia Collaborates with Tokyo's Job Experience Program for Students

Sustainable Food Asia Participates in Job EX Program

Sustainable Food Asia Inc., based in Minato, Tokyo, has recently taken part in Tokyo's innovative career experience program for middle and high school students called Job EX. This initiative, promoted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, aims to connect students with companies and organizations, providing them with practical opportunities to explore future career paths. The event took place over two days on August 28 and 29, 2025, at the Sustainable Food Museum in Nishi-Shinbashi, Tokyo.

The Context Behind the Initiative

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is actively promoting a 'Children First' society through the 'Kodomo Smile Movement,' which brings together various stakeholders, including businesses, NGOs, and schools, to foster a supportive environment for children. The Job EX program is a vital part of this movement, focusing on creating meaningful connections between students and industries, enabling them to gain real-world work experiences.

Sustainable Food Asia is committed to accelerating collaboration in the food sector across Japan and Southeast Asia, and restructuring the food industry sustainably for future generations. The company's participation in this program aligns perfectly with its mission to allow young individuals to experience the possibilities within the food sector.

Career Experience Overview

The activities were held at the Sustainable Food Museum, which showcases products and services from over 100 food tech and agri-tech companies, while also operating a café. During the first day of the program, students received lectures on the sustainable food industry and were introduced to various food tech and agri-tech exhibits at the museum. They also had the opportunity to interact with customers at the café, providing them with firsthand experience in customer service.

On day two, participants applied what they had learned in a menu development workshop, presenting their creations to the staff for feedback. This practical approach allowed students to deepen their understanding in a way that traditional classroom learning could not achieve.

SFA Staff Introducing Food Tech Companies

SFA Staff Introducing Food Tech Companies

Program Details

- Date: August 28-29, 2025
- Location: Sustainable Food Museum, Minato, Tokyo
- Participants: Four high school students from Tokyo

Program Activities:

- Orientation: Introduction to SFA’s activities and the sustainable food industry
- Workplace Tour: Exploring the Sustainable Food Museum and showcasing startup companies and collaborative projects
- Hands-on Experience: Assisting in café operations
- Menu Proposal: Designing a limited-time menu
- Reflection and Presentation: Students presented their menu ideas and received feedback, sharing their learnings and insights over the two days.

The highlight of the experience was a collaboratively developed lunch menu, a Banh Mi-inspired sandwich, which is being offered as a limited-time September special at the Sustainable Food Museum.

The Banh Mi-Inspired Sandwich

The high school participants played an active role in creating a special sauce for the sandwich, utilizing sustainable ingredients showcased at the museum. The sauce features an umami seasoning made from seaweed, 'Umamo Dashi Soy Sauce', and a plant-based fermented mayo made from soy milk and rice koji, known as 'Koji Mayo'. Additionally, the sandwich filling includes fruit meat made from jackfruit and flavored with onion flakes produced from onion scraps, known as 'Tamanegi Gururiko'. This collaboration between student creativity and SFA’s expertise resulted in an environmentally conscious, plant-based menu.

Through participation in the Job EX program, Sustainable Food Asia is committed to furthering its social contribution and talent development within the field of sustainable food.

Company Overview

Sustainable Food Asia aims to create a new standard in food by developing new business ventures and alliances to address societal challenges. Established in partnership with IMA Inc. and Livness Corporation, the company focuses on research, development, manufacturing, and importation of sustainable food products in Japan and Southeast Asia.

In November 2022, the company made headlines by developing and launching the first menu in Japan that features 'fruit meat' made from jackfruit. Sustainable Food Asia also hosts the Sustainable Food Camp, a platform for discussing and expanding sustainable food efforts across Asia and globally.