SEAFOOD Scotland and diplomats from the Japanese Consulate have met to discuss the importance of the Japanese market to the Scottish seafood sector.
The Scottish trade and marketing body supports local seafood companies to recover a premium export market, that prior to the pandemic was valued at over £16m with more than 2,000 tonnes of products shipped to Japan each year.
Yesterday, Mr Adam Wing – Head of Trade Marketing – invited the Consul General of Japan in Edinburgh Mr Tadashi Fujiwara and Japan’s cultural diplomat Mr Sora Sato to sample Scottish seafood prepared in Japanese styles.
The Japanese restaurant Harajuku Kitchen prepared dishes including nigiri, gunkan and sushi rolls, which featured species such as mackerel, salmon, langoustines, brown crab and lobster.
The meeting took place ahead of the international Tokyo Seafood Expo, where later in August Seafood Scotland will host seven Scottish exporters on its pavilion.
Along with Scottish Development International, it will also host around 100 trade buyers for a Celebration of Scottish Seafood at the British Embassy, Tokyo.
Mr Wing said: “Scotland and Japan have historically enjoyed a great relationship, with the two countries collaborating across a range of sectors.
“When it comes to seafood, Japanese consumers demand only the best, requiring high quality and traceability.
“Their appreciation of Scottish seafood products is a real testament to the work our seafood sector has put in to ensure excellence in quality, freshness, and flavour.”
Mr Fujiwara added: “Scotland’s reputation for producing high quality sustainable seafood is one of the key reasons that demand for Scottish seafood continues to increase in Japan”.
Scottish farmed salmon already enjoys Geographic Indicator status in Japan, ensuring consumers can always be certain they’re eating the authentic product.
