Food Education Brand

Kikkoman Holds Lectures on “Japanese Omotenashi” for Students in Shanghai and Guangzhou, Guangdong
―Promoting the international exchange of food culture & aiming to provide youth learning opportunities―

February 3, 2025

In December 2024 and January 2025, Kikkoman invited Ms. Yuka Hoshino, the Head Hostess of the Ukai Group, a restaurant chain operating throughout the Tokyo and Kanagawa prefectures, to give a lecture on “Ukai-Style Japanese Omotenashi” (“omotenashi” is a fundamental aspect of Japanese culture that embodies the spirit of selfless hospitality and genuine service that is carried out with sincerity and attention to detail) at Shanghai University and Guangzhou Vocational School of Tourism and Business. Through this lecture we aimed to fulfill Kikkoman’s management principle of “promoting the international exchange of food culture”, and provide a learning opportunity to youth studying Japanese culture, culinary techniques and spirit-of-service.

Group photo at Guangzhou Vocational School of Tourism and Business

Aspiring to expand upon “the international exchange of food culture” and foster exceptional individuals who will act as a bridge between China and Japan, Kikkoman has been hosting lectures and events on Japanese culinary training and Japanese culture at universities and vocational training schools in Shanghai and Guangzhou, Guangdong Province since the 2010s. For many years the Ukai Group has collaborated with us for this initiative by providing professional chefs to conduct cooking classes on washoku (Japanese cuisine). This time, our first post-covid collaboration, Ms. Hoshino, Head Hostess in charge of service staff training within the Ukai Group, gave lectures on “omotenashi”, Japan’s world-renowned style of customer service.

This lecture was held for Japanese language students at the School of Foreign Languages Shanghai University located in Shanghai city in December 2024, and for students of culinary arts and hotel management at the Guangzhou Vocational School of Tourism and Business located in Guangzhou city, Guangdong province in January 2025. From 2010 to the present, Kikkoman has been providing multifaceted educational support to students in this Shanghai University department through the Kikkoman “紫 MURASAKI” Fund. In addition, since 2014, we have offered annual educational opportunities to the Guangzhou Vocational School of Tourism and Business as well, mainly in the form of cooking classes taught by culinary professionals.

Last year, the Ukai Group, food and “omotenashi” professionals, celebrated their 60th anniversary since founding. In charge of overall management and education of service staff, Ms. Hoshino provided a lecture on the spirit of the Ukai Group’s “omotenashi” based on her experience in several positions, including general service staff, hostess, and her current position as Head Hostess. Students expressed murmurs of admiration at Ms. Hoshino’s unique art of omotenashi, crafted with careful attention and consideration, such as providing red straws with drinks for female guests to avoid lipstick-stained clear straws. During the explanation on practicing hospitality and its required mindset, the venue was filled with a warm atmosphere as the students pondered what they could do to show their appreciation for their loved ones, embodying the omotenashi mindset, and Ms. Hoshino gently looked on. In the post-lecture Q&A session, the attendees’ high level of interest was evident in their wide array of questions spanning from the handling of unforeseen circumstances to career considerations.

Head Hostess Ms. Hoshino
Q&A session with students

The person in charge of organizing this lecture commented, “I think the opportunity to receive insight on the subtle philosophy of “omotenashi” underlying Japanese food culture from the head of customer service for a restaurant group boasting more than 60 years of history is both invaluable and a once-in-a-lifetime experience for students from both institutes. I was deeply impressed by the students’ expressions as they excitedly challenged the quiz, and intensely watched the video introducing a typical day at the Ukai Toriyama restaurant. We will continue striving to create opportunities to learn about Japanese food culture from diverse and varied perspectives”.

In our ongoing pursuit to promote the international exchange of food culture, Kikkoman will continue to provide learning opportunities for youth worldwide, that encompass not only cooking classes, but also the broader aspects of customer service and food culture.

About the Ukai Group

Established in 1964, the Ukai Group marked its 60th anniversary in 2024. The group operates restaurants offering both Japanese and western cuisine throughout Tokyo and Kanagawa prefectures in addition to the development, production and sales of western-style confectionary and other products. The Ukai Group also has 2 restaurants outside of Japan. (As of February 2025)

Please refer to the official Ukai Group website at the link below for more information.

https://www.ukai.co.jp/english/

About the Shanghai University Kikkoman “紫 MURASAKI” Fund

In 2010, Kikkoman exhibited its Japanese restaurant “紫 MURASAKI” at the Japan Pavilion during the Shanghai World Expo. Students majoring in Japanese at the School of Foreign Languages Shanghai University assisted with the restaurant’s operations as cooking assistants and food servers. This collaboration inspired establishment of the Kikkoman “紫 MURASAKI” Fund, for ongoing exchange with the university. Over the past fifteen years, the fund has continued to provide educational support through scholarships, opportunities for outstanding students to participate in the Japan Visit Program and the holding of special lectures with the aims of promoting the international exchange of food culture and fostering aspiring individuals who will act as a bridge between China and Japan.