Japan Creative Centre (JCC), Embassy of Japan in Singapore and FLP Yomiko Singapore invite you to experience the creative culinary culture of the Shonai region in Yamagata prefecture. Learn more about the history and background of this region that is blessed with natural resources and delicacies, as well as Japan’s first "UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy" Tsuruoka City, that is located in the Shonai region. Participants will also have the opportunity to sample an assortment of Shonai cuisine, upcycled food products, and sake from participating breweries.

• Welcome speech by JCC Director Mr. Toru Furugori


• Presentation on the culinary culture of the Shonai region


• Tasting of an assortment of Shonai cuisine, upcycled food products, and sake from participating breweries

The Shonai region of Yamagata is rich in natural resources and is surrounded by mountains and sea. This fertile land where many rivers flow is one of the best rice producing areas in Japan, and is blessed with seasonal delicacies from the mountains and sea. The wisdom and passion of our ancestors formed a rich culinary culture that has been passed down to this present day. Carefully preserving local cuisines with new innovations and creative dishes incorporating into their daily diet and ceremonies to foster a unique and colourful gastronomic culture. In December 2014, Tsuruoka City, located in the Shonai region, was recognised as Japan’s first "UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy".

It covers an area of 2,405 km², or 25.8% of the prefecture's land area, and is comprised of two cities, Tsuruoka and Sakata, and three towns, Mikawa, Shonai, and Yuza.

The region is rich in nature, blessed with seasonal delicacies from the mountains and the sea, and it has formed a rich culinary culture.

Located in the Shonai region of Yamagata prefecture along the Sea of Japan, Tsuruoka is a city of approximately 1,300 square kilometres and home to 130k residents, making it the largest administrative division in the Tohoku region. The city is blessed with abundant natural resources, distinct seasonal changes, and a variety of landscapes, allowing traditional industries such as rice cultivation, agriculture, forestry, fishing, and sake-brewing to develop well into the present day.

The people of Tsuruoka have fostered their unique and colourful gastronomic culture through careful conservation of local cuisine, as well as constant innovation to create new and creative dishes, which are then incorporated into their daily diets and ceremonial practices. Tsuruoka City was the first city in Japan to be selected to join the UCCN City of Gastronomy in 2014.

Bilingual in Japanese and English, Ms. Tomoko Shiga is a veteran interpreter and emcee who has been promoting Yamagata prefecture in Singapore. She has also worked closely with Japan Creative Centre through events and conferences, such as the Japanese Film Festival, glass art talk and incense appreciation seminars in recent years.

Is this your first time to Japan Creative Centre? Follow the map below to Japan Creative Centre now.

Getting to Japan Creative Centre
4 Nassim Road Singapore 258372
Tel: +65-6737-0434

By Public Bus:
Bus services: 7, 36, 77, 105, 106, 111, 123, 132, 174, 174E, 502, 502A, 502B (Alight in front of Delfi Orchard)
For latest information on bus routes and fares, please refer to SBS Transit.

By the MRT:
You may also take the MRT to the nearest MRT station, Orchard (NS22).
Train fares, travel times and route maps are available on the SMRT website.

Driving to JCC:
Nearest parking is at Orchard Hotel, Delfi Orchard and Orchard Rendezvous Hotel.