#Japan #Tokyo #Tanita #Healthy Cuisine #Local Dishes

The 8th Regional Tanita Rice Cooking Contest Invites Healthy Innovations

The 8th Regional Tanita Rice Cooking Contest is officially underway, inviting participants to submit their innovative takes on local cuisine through a healthy lens. The contest promotes the transformation of regional dishes into health-conscious meals based on Tanita's standards for healthy diets. The event is organized by Tanita Corporation, headquartered in Itabashi, Tokyo, under the leadership of President Chisato Tanida.

Early Bird Incentives

To encourage early participation, teams that register by June 30 will receive a bonus of 5 points during the document review stage. This added incentive aims to motivate participants to submit their applications promptly. The contest features two divisions: the general category with a submission deadline of August 25 and a high school category, where entries must be submitted by September 7.

Contest Highlights

The overarching goal of the contest is to modernize traditional Japanese regional dishes, showcasing the importance of health and nutrition. The ten finalists will be selected through document review, leading to a national competition scheduled for November 15 at the Hattori Nutrition College in Shibuya, Tokyo. At this national finale, professional chefs from the college will bring the selected recipes to life for evaluation by judges.

Judges will assess each dish based on taste, presentation, and the participants' understanding and adaptation of the local cuisine. The winners will receive substantial prizes: the Grand Prix team will win 500,000 yen, while the two runner-up teams will each take home 100,000 yen. Additionally, every applicant will receive a participation award in the form of a 500 yen Amazon gift card.

New High School Category

In an effort to pass down the tradition of local cuisine to younger generations, a new high school category has been introduced. This division is designed with a lower barrier to entry for high school participants. Unlike the general rules, which require a registered dietitian as part of the team, the high school category only evaluates the submitted documents. One team will be crowned the high school Grand Prix winner, and two teams will receive the high school runner-up titles. The high school Grand Prix winner receives a 50,000 yen gift card, with 30,000 yen for the runners-up.

The inclusion of a high school category aligns with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries' initiative outlined in the Fourth Basic Plan for Promoting Food Education. This initiative emphasizes the importance of preserving Japan's food culture in light of the challenges posed by the Westernization of diets and an aging population.

Contest Goals: Revitalizing and Passing On Local Cuisine

Regional cuisine represents the heart of Japan's food culture, yet it faces challenges from modern lifestyle changes and a declining connection within communities. Launched in 2018, the Regional Tanita Rice Cooking Contest seeks to address these challenges by fostering the creativity and innovation required to revitalize local dishes within the framework of healthy eating. By inspiring young participants to engage with their culinary heritage, this contest aims to spark a renewed interest in Japan’s traditional food culture, ensuring it thrives for future generations.

With the eminent chef Mamoru Kataoka stepping in as the judging chair to replace the late Yuuko Hattori, the contest promises fresh insights and a wealth of knowledge, further enhancing the credibility and excitement surrounding this culinary event.