Enhancing Multilingual Food Experiences for Foreign Tourists in Japan

TableCross, a Japanese company based in Shibuya, Tokyo, is set to revolutionize food experiences for foreign visitors through a new partnership with Reelu, headquartered in Minato, Tokyo. This collaboration focuses on bolstering the multilingual support system essential for offering authentic Japanese culinary experiences via the food booking service, byFood.

byFood caters to the needs of international travelers by providing reservations for gourmet tours, cooking classes, dining experiences, and restaurant bookings. The platform aims to promote and sell a variety of culinary experiences across Japan in multiple languages, giving travelers a unique opportunity to deeply connect with Japan's rich food culture.

Background of the Collaboration

With the resurgence of international travel, the number of foreign visitors to Japan is projected to surpass 42 million annually by 2025, reaching an all-time high. This increase is accompanied by an escalating demand for authentic Japanese culinary experiences. However, despite the abundant local food offerings, many regions face challenges in effectively communicating this wealth to international tourists due to inadequate foreign language guidance and hospitality measures.

Consequently, local attractions often struggle to present their unique culinary experiences as offerings for foreign visitors. The difficulty in securing skilled personnel to guide tours and activities, as well as establishing a robust reception system, has contributed to this gap. TableCross aims to address these challenges by enhancing the communication of Japan's culinary culture and tradition to international visitors.

Details of the Collaboration

Through this strategic partnership, Reelu will lend its expertise in managing multilingual support for foreign tourists using the byFood platform, which currently operates in English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Spanish. Workers registered with Reelu will assist in various multilingual tasks associated with product development and operational execution to support the delivery of culinary experiences.

By providing foreign language guides, the initiative seeks to facilitate understanding and smooth communication between participants and food experience providers. This aligns with the broader objective of enhancing the value of culinary experiences by incorporating local food culture and traditions.

Key Initiatives of the Collaboration:

- Multilingual support during food experiences and tours aimed at international visitors
- Assistance with reception, guidance, and facilitation on the day of the experience
- Support for communication between service providers and participants
- Strengthening operational systems geared towards product development

With this combined effort, experiences that were previously hampered by a lack of multilingual personnel will now be realized, contributing to the expanded provision of local culinary experiences.

Future Plans

TableCross is dedicated to showcasing the charm of Japan to the world through culinary experiences and has committed to a comprehensive support system ranging from content development to promotion. Through its collaboration with Reelu, the emphasis on multilingual support will be heightened to further empower regions whose culinary offerings have been challenging to present due to staffing restrictions.

Furthermore, the company aims to enhance visitor satisfaction while also contributing to the local economy by effectively sharing local food cultures and contexts. Additionally, for every reservation made, the initiative will ensure meals are provided to children in developing nations, thereby fostering social value in tandem with culinary experiences.

Comments from Leadership

Tamu Konno, CEO of Reelu

"Japanese cuisine presents a compelling allure for foreign visitors. However, to effectively deliver attractive experiences on-site, robust multilingual support and operational structures are essential. I'm thrilled that Reelu's workforce can contribute towards making more culinary experiences tangible and accessible to international guests. We will continue to support the expansion of travel experiences by providing the necessary manpower in the field."

Kaoru Jotai, CEO of TableCross

"Japanese cuisine offers immense appeal to all tourists, yet often the intricacies of its value are not adequately conveyed. By reinforcing a reception system that includes multilingual support, we strive to create an environment where local food culture and its background can be delivered as enriching experiences. We remain committed to promoting Japan's charm globally while contributing to social value creation through our offerings."

Company Overview

Reelu Inc.

Reelu operates a matching service that provides immediate multilingual support personnel for environments requiring linguistic assistance, under rigorous screening. The service is extensively utilized in tourist hotspots, airports, stations, and various settings catering to international clients.

- CEO: Tamu Konno
- Location: 8F Aoyama Tower Place, 8-4-14 Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo
- Website: Reelu
- Service Site: Reelu Tourism

TableCross Inc.

TableCross is a dynamic platform aimed at enhancing food experiences across Japan.

- CEO: Kaoru Jotai, COO: Selkan Toso
- Location: WeWork 16F Links Square Shinjuku, 5-27-5 Sendagaya, Shibuya, Tokyo
- Website: TableCross
- Service Site: byFood