Japanese exhibitors have been attending Seafood Expo North America, which takes place this year from 10 to 12 March in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A., for many years, but with China's recent ban on seafood from Japan, the 2024 edition of the show has been pivotal, according to Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Executive Vice President Katsunori Nakazawa.
“It’s more important than ever now to focus on important markets like the U.S.,” Nakazawa said.
On 11 March, Nakazawa spoke to an invited group of SENA attendees at “Discover All the Charms of Japanese Seafood in Boston” – a JETRO-organized event that took place at the Westin Hotel in Boston's Seaport district.
Along with Nakazawa, guest speakers included the President of JETRO New York Satoshi Miura, the Consul General of Japan in Boston Kotaro Suzuki, and Oga’s Japanese Cuisine Executive Chef and Owner Toru Oga.
JETRO, which has six offices across the U.S. spanning from coast to coast, is on a mission at this year’s SENA to familiarize more Americans with Japanese seafood. Though many Americans can easily recognize and often seek out sushi and sashimi, they are typically unaware of the bountiful other “fruits of the sea” the oceans surrounding Japan offer, Miura said.
“Japanese people do not eat sushi every day at their homes,” Miura said. “We eat a variety of seafood, like people do here in New England.”
To give attendees a taste of the diverse seafood options Japan has to offer, Oga prepared Japanese sea scallops prepared in a strawberry sauce, sea bream topped with roe, and yellowtail buri.
JETRO is hoping increased U.S. sales offset the impact of China's ban, Nakazawa said. In order to maintain the momentum generated at SENA, JETRO has confirmed the organization will be attending Seafood Expo Asia (SEA), taking place 4 to 6 September in Singapore, for the first time.
