Kikkoman Foods Inc. Hosts ‘Kikkoman Cookout’ at Jefferson Summer Festival in Jefferson, Wisconsin
August 19, 2025
In July 2025, Kikkoman Foods Inc. (KFI), the Kikkoman Group’s soy sauce production base in the United States, hosted the ‘Kikkoman Cookout’ as part of the Jefferson Summer Festival, held at a park in Jefferson, Wisconsin.
With construction underway for our new plant in the City of Jefferson, interaction with both the State of Wisconsin and the city itself has been gaining momentum. Aimed at promoting cultural exchange between Japan and the United States, this event was co-hosted by KFI, the City of Jefferson, and the Japan America Society of Wisconsin. Through this event, we aimed to strengthen Kikkoman’s presence in Wisconsin, particularly in Jefferson, and deepen our connection with the local community through Japanese cuisine and culture.
The City of Jefferson and the Japan America Society of Wisconsin actively promoted the event on social media, resulting in a turnout of approximately 650 attendees, far exceeding the originally expected 300. Furthermore, former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson delivered the opening message and gave a speech about Kikkoman’s history and the establishment of our new plant.
In addition to a booth showcasing Kikkoman products, the event space featured numerous food booths offering dishes made with Kikkoman Soy Sauce, such as sauce-dipped cutlet-style burgers, teriyaki-style chicken wings, and yakitori (Japanese grilled chicken skewers).
In addition, experiential booths were set-up to introduce aspects of Japanese culture, including origami (the traditional art of paper folding), suikawari (a traditional summer game that involves splitting a watermelon) and tanabata (a traditional celebration held on July 7th, based on a romantic legend), and were enjoyed by many attendees. On a special stage at the venue, taiko (traditional Japanese drums performed in a dynamic, powerful style) and koto (a traditional Japanese stringed musical instrument similar to a harp) performances were given, drawing enthusiastic applause and cheers from the audience.
An event organizer commented, “The venue was filled with excitement, far exceeding our initial expectations for attendance, and especially thanks to Governor Tommy Thompson’s impassioned speech. With support from KFI employees and volunteers, including local students, we witnessed spontaneous reactions from guests — from their surprise at the wide diversity of Kikkoman products to their engagement with Japanese food culture and cross-cultural experiences. It was an event full of discoveries.”
We also received positive feedback from attendees, such as “It was a wonderful event,” “(After seeing the wide variety of products on display) I hope even more Kikkoman items will be produced at the new plant,” and “I really hope this event will be held again next year.”
KFI will continue to value its connections with the local community and strive to further raise awareness of the Kikkoman brand in the North American market by participating in and hosting a variety of events, including those that showcase Japanese culture.