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The award ceremony for the "Food Action Nippon Award 2013" (organized by the same executive committee) was held on December 3 at the Sankei Plaza in Otemachi, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo. This award recognizes businesses and organizations whose efforts contribute to improving food self-sufficiency rates, aiming for a society where domestically produced food can be consumed with confidence. This fifth edition received 819 entries.
The Grand Prize was awarded to Kirin Beverage's "Kirin Nippon Rice Tea: Made Exclusively with Delicious Japanese Rice Using 100% Domestic Rice!"
At the ceremony, Executive Committee Chairman Takeo Koizumi (Professor Emeritus, Tokyo University of Agriculture) stated, "Japan's food self-sufficiency rate is 39% on a calorie basis, remarkably low among developed nations. While Washoku (Japanese cuisine) has been recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage, it would be deeply regrettable if it were prepared using foreign ingredients. We intend to continue activities that encourage those involved in the food industry." Next, Manabu Akaike, Chair of the Judging Committee (Director, Universal Design Research Institute), praised the initiative: "Future businesses will struggle to sustain themselves without adopting the Creating Shared Value (CSV) approach—a corporate strategy combining public benefit with business profit. Kirin Beverage's case, where they swiftly embraced CSV and established a dedicated division, is exemplary."
In addition to the Grand Prize, Excellence Awards, and Special Jury Awards in each category, the "Eat and Support!" Award was presented to initiatives contributing to the recovery of areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake.
New awards introduced this year included the "Food Culture Award" for promoting regional revitalization through food culture, and the "Best FAN Award" for celebrities contributing to Food Action Nippon (FAN) activities and Japan's food self-sufficiency rate. Terry Ito, recipient of the Best FAN Award, remarked, "Japanese vegetables are getting tastier every year, better than last year. This is proof of the tremendous effort Japanese farmers are putting in."
On the day, an exhibition was held at Yurakucho Station Plaza and the Tokyo Kotsu Kaikan event space. Award-winning businesses and organizations set up booths to introduce their products and activities, highlighting the appeal of local ingredients and the benefits of domestic production.
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