Monthly Feature:
Different than American Families, Japanese families tend to see the New Year’s holiday as one of the most important holidays in the year. However, there is a common conversation that takes place around New Year’s among both Japanese and Americans alike. That is, “what is your New Year’s resolution?” In the New Year, people in the United States usually set goals for themselves such as adopting an exercise regime and adopting healthier eating habits. This year’s resolution for myfood.jp is to continue conveying the message about the quality of American food products to an even wider Japanese consumer audience. In addition, the article highlights an event that the U.S. Poultry and Egg Export Council (USAPEEC) in collaboration with ELLE Cooking magazine and ABC Cooking Studio hosted in Tokyo on December 21, 2009. The event was a one-day Special Cooking Lesson with a famous chef.
This month, myfood.jp also features restaurants and menus introduced through Tokyo Disney Sea Hotel Mira Costa’s “Heart of Romance”; the Westin Hotel Tokyo’s The Terrace restaurant; and Tokyo’s Winter Restaurant Week 2010 at the Atre Shinagawa shopping center.
The American landmark featured this month is Seattle, WA. Readers are introduced to the “Kumamoto” oysters which were originally brought to Washington from Miyagi and Kumamoto Prefectures. After World War II, Washington’s production of oysters was almost extinct but was recovered thanks to shipments from these Japanese Prefectures. The article also notes that the “Kumamoto” oysters are unfortunately no longer produced in the Kumamoto Prefecture. The article also introduces other seafood, Washington wines and famous restaurants.

Weekly Feature:
Our resident food for health and beauty expert, Ms. Yoko, talks about the health benefits of a variety of U.S. wines.
Close up interviews: This month, myfood.jp interviewed Akiko Freeman, Proprietor of the Freeman Vineyard and Winery in Sonoma, CA. Mrs. Freeman grew up in Japan and then started a winery with her husband in 2001. She tells the story of how her award-winning “Akiko’s Cuvee” was created.

Recipes:
This months’ recipe page features Fried Cornish hen; Japanese style roast beef using U.S. beef; roast pork with gravy sauce; the Ambassador’s chef’s cranberry sauce; and Marinated seafood and grapefruit.

News & Topics:
This section continues to list local restaurant promotional activities for U.S. foods. According to Gurunavi, the most popular restaurant navigation website in Japan, at the end of 2009, the U.S. Meat Federation’s Barbeque Back Ribs became really popular among participating restaurants, as well as the American Beef Christmas Menu Fair. Finally, the American Embassy’s Agricultural Trade Office in Japan is co-hosting a “Yamanashi-Iowa Friendship Recipe Contest” which has also gained popularity.

Keep in touch:
There are several ways for you to be an active part of this website.

If you are a generic agricultural industry organization and want us to highlight your industry and commodity;
If you are a state or regional organization and want us to promote groups of products in your state or region;
If you are a farmer or a rancher and want to talk about how proud you are of what you produce;
If you are in the foodservice or retail business and want to talk about American culinary cultures while promoting your restaurants or stores;
If you are a culinary writer who wants to contribute your articles to myfood.jp;
Please contact ATO Tokyo for more information: