CEO, AEON Co., Ltd.
Accepting the award for AEON is Mr. Yasuhide Chikazawa,
Vice President, Merchandising Reform Officer
AEON is the largest retailer in Japan and has been very supportive of U.S. products over the years. They hold the largest American Fair every May to coincide with the arrival of cherries from California.
President COO, Calbee Corporation
Calbee is a pioneer in importing fresh potatoes from the United States. Calbee worked with the U.S. potato industry and USDA to open the Japanese market for U.S. fresh potatoes for chipping. Imports of fresh potatoes for chipping from the United States have been increasing every year.
President, Yoshinoya Co., Ltd.
Yoshinoya is synonymous with beef bowls. With over 1,100 restaurants in Japan, it is the single largest user of U.S. beef in Japan. After the BSE incident in the U.S., Yoshinoya was the first major restaurant to resume using U.S. beef when the Japanese market reopened. Mr. Abe, who also serves as the Senior Vice Chairman of the Japan Foodservice Association, has consistently voiced the need for Japan to establish a science-based food safety regulatory system.
President, Nihon Hotel Co., Ltd.
Mr. Ogino was highly supportive of the Office of Ag Affairs support Partner’s in Agriculture project in 2010 and helped arranged special bento boxes using Iowa pork and U.S. vegetables for Secretary Vilsack’s train to Yamanashi.
President, Shoei Food Corporation
Accepting the award for Shoei is Mr. Hidemitsu Honda, Vice President
Shoei is one of the major importers of U.S. dried fruit and nuts, and is a leader in processing dried fruit and nuts in Japan, preparing ready-to-use products for confectionary stores and bakers. Shoei has processing facilities in the U.S. and China and has worked with USDA to maintain access for U.S. products into Japan.
President, Nishimoto Trading Co., Ltd.
Nishimoto Trading is a pioneer of citrus imports from the United States. Nishimoto was Sunkist’s sole agent (importer) in Japan for many years and today Nishimoto imports about 70% of Sunkist products in Japan.
Vice Chairman of the Science Council of Japan*
Dr. Karaki has been instrumental in promoting sound science-based food safety regulatory systems in Japan. His leadership has helped save the integrity of Japan’s biotech approval process, a collapse of which could have resulted in a disaster for the U.S. grain trade in 2010.
*Dr. Karaki was not present at the induction ceremony as he was out of the country on that day. He completed his assignment as Vice Chairman of the Science Council of Japan at the end of September and is now President of Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts.
