Japan Safety Food Cooking Association Announces Top 10 Popular Certifications, 'Sports Food Meister' Ranks First

The Japan Safety Food Cooking Association (JSFCA) (HQ: Minato-ku, Tokyo, https://www.asc-jp.com/) has announced its latest Top 10 popular certifications.

We are presenting the Top 10 most popular certifications offered by the JSFCA.

Additionally, separate from the popularity ranking, we conducted a survey among 20 to 60-year-olds nationwide regarding 'certifications of interest.' Respondents were asked to select up to five certifications they were interested in from the JSFCA lineup and explain their reasons.

Here, we introduce the characteristics of each certification and the reasons why respondents are interested in acquiring them, along with their actual voices.

1st Place: Sports Food Meister® Certification
The most popular certification from the JSFCA is the 'Sports Food Meister®.'
Through this certification, one can acquire a broad range of knowledge from the basics of meals suitable for sports to nutritional balance and ingredient selection.
It is a certification that proves professional knowledge in meal management and guidance based on exercise volume and age, including meals during training periods or before and after matches, hydration, snacks, and the use of supplements.
Opportunities for success are expected in a wide range of fields, such as sports nutritionists, cooking class instructors, and restaurant owners.
The background to its first-place ranking may be the rising health consciousness and the widening interest in meals that support athletes. It is highly evaluated as a specialist who maximizes athlete performance through scientifically grounded meals.

■ Reasons for interest in the Sports Food Meister® certification:
'I am a corporate soccer player, and I am stoic about food.' (40s/Male/Company employee)
'It is a famous certification, and I thought it would lead to proper meals for muscle growth conditioning as I train myself.' (20s/Male/Company employee)
'It is what I am most concerned about now as my child is involved in sports.' (30s/Female/Company employee)

2nd Place: Food Education Health Advisor® Certification
In 2nd place was the 'Food Education Health Advisor®.'
Through this certification, one can acquire a broad range of knowledge from basic knowledge of food education to nutrition, dietary balance, and health management.
It is a certification that proves professional knowledge regarding food education, including the Basic Law on Shokuiku (food education), food education initiatives in other countries, the relationship between food education and lifestyle-related diseases, aging and oxidation, the function of antioxidants, intestinal flora, and the difference between pharmaceuticals and health foods.
Opportunities for success are expected in a wide range of fields, such as nutritionists at food manufacturers, restaurants, and nursery schools, and school lunch cooks.
The background to its 2nd-place ranking may be the rising health consciousness since the Basic Law on Shokuiku and the widening interest in lifestyle-related diseases. It is evaluated as an advisor who can lead others to health through daily meals.

■ Reasons for interest in the Food Education Health Advisor® certification:
'I want to choose ingredients thinking about my own health and my parents' health.' (30s/Female/Self-employed)
'I thought it would be useful during the growth process of my child.' (30s/Female/Housewife)
'I believe that diet is an important element for creating a healthy mind and body.' (50s/Male/Self-employed)

3rd Place: Coffee Sommelier Certification
In 3rd place was the 'Coffee Sommelier.'
Through this certification, one can broadly acquire skills from knowledge of coffee beans to roasting and extraction techniques.
It is a certification that proves professional knowledge for enjoying coffee, such as the history of coffee, how to choose green beans, compatibility of beans, characteristics by region, the relationship between brewing methods and taste, roasting based on bean differences, and latte art.
Opportunities for success are expected in a wide range of fields, such as baristas in cafes and restaurants, product development at coffee-related companies, and opening a coffee shop.
The background to its 3rd-place ranking may be the establishment of specialty coffee culture and the increasing number of people enjoying authentic coffee at home. It is evaluated as a specialist who understands the differences in beans, roasting, and extraction, bringing out the appeal of every cup.

■ Reasons for interest in the Coffee Sommelier certification:
'I like it enough to drink it every day, and I am interested in it, so I wanted to study coffee more.' (40s/Female/Self-employed)
'I want to study properly toward opening a cafe.' (30s/Female/Self-employed)
'Although I don't drink coffee often, I have an image that many people in the world do, so I want to study what kind of beverage it is.' (30s/Male/Self-employed)

4th Place: Cafe Owner Management Specialist® Certification
In 4th place was the 'Cafe Owner Management Specialist®.'
Through this certification, one can acquire a broad range of knowledge from cafe opening to operation and management.