Reasons to Travel to Fukui, Starting with Food. "Fukui Prefecture Gastronomy Project: Etsuzan Jakusui" Enters its Second Year.

"Fukui Prefecture Gastronomy Project: Etsuzan Jakusui" Explained

'Etsuzan' refers to the deep green mountains of Echizen. 'Jakusui' refers to the clear waters of Wakasa. Fukui's cuisine is the very essence of the land, nurtured over many years by this rich nature and the lives of the people who inhabit it. Launched in fiscal year 2025, the "Fukui Prefecture Gastronomy Project: Etsuzan Jakusui" aims to discover and promote this value both domestically and internationally. Takeshi Kadokami, a food columnist (Editorial Advisor for 'Amakara Techo'), serves as the General Producer. Furthermore, a selection committee, including 'curators' who are connoisseurs of food, selects "Fukui Restaurants You Should Visit Now" to establish Fukui as a "destination to travel for food."

Theme for Fiscal Year 2026: Fukui, the Land of Cuisine x Craftsmanship.

Vegetables grown in the mountains of Echizen, cut with 700-year-old forged blades. Fish caught in the seas of Wakasa, served on lacquerware finished by artisans' hands. The flavors are supported by soy sauce and vinegar brewed in local cellars. From ingredients and seasonings to tableware and tools, the craftsmanship of Fukui breathes life into every element that constitutes its cuisine.

The overlapping skills of those who cultivate ingredients, those who cook, and those who create crafts give birth to Fukui's unique gastronomy.

In fiscal year 2026, we will develop various initiatives under the theme "Fukui: The Land of Cuisine x Craftsmanship (Shokutaku)."

General Producer Takeshi Kadokami, Food Columnist

A Message from the General Producer

This year, we aim to understand Fukui's food culture more deeply, broadly, and significantly. Food culture is not solely composed of ingredients and dishes; it is formed by a combination of various elements such as the tools and tableware that support it, the skills of the artisans who create them, and the cultural background cultivated over a long history. Through this project, we hope to convey the true charm of Fukui's food culture and help you discover a new side of Fukui.

Representative Director, Geode Inc. / Food Columnist.

In addition to serving as Editorial Advisor for the Kansai food magazine 'Amakara Techo,' he works as a producer, focusing on writing and editing related to food. He also serves as Assistant Director General of the All Japan Food Society, Chairman of the Kansai Chapter of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, and Visiting Professor at Kyoto University of Art and Design, Faculty of Art, Department of Food Culture Design.

Key Initiatives for Fiscal Year 2026

"Fukui Restaurants You Should Visit Now" - 30 New Restaurants to be Announced on July 30th

A selection committee, led by three curators with a deep understanding and ability to communicate food culture, along with chefs involved in past projects and local advisors, will meticulously select "Fukui Restaurants You Should Visit Now" that embody Fukui's ingredients, climate, and craftsmanship. In addition to the 25 restaurants selected last year, 30 new establishments will be chosen and announced on official social media on July 30th.

Curators for Fiscal Year 2026

Maki Makimoto

Editorial Advisor, "Aji no Techo"; Food Journalist; Tabearukist

Producer of Toranomon Yokocho (Mori Building), a gathering of renowned restaurants in Tokyo, and a key figure in the tonkatsu boom. He travels extensively throughout Japan and the world, dining out over 600 times a year. He enjoys everything from standing soba shops to kaiseki, French cuisine, izakayas, and sweets, reporting on them daily in TV, radio, and magazines. He is currently serializing "Maki Makimoto's Fukui Full Stomach Diary" on the official website of the Fukui Prefectural Tourism Federation.

Takuro Tatsumi

Actor; Chairman of the "General Incorporated Association: Association for Loving Japanese Wine"

A graduate of Kyoto University. He is a versatile actor known for his intelligence, dignity, and playful spirit. Passionate about regional revitalization since his time on "Kuishinbo! Banzai," he has served as ambassador for numerous tourism and cultural initiatives. He is also known as a gourmand and wine connoisseur. He is an Honorary Sommelier of the Japan Sommelier Association and a Master Sake Brewer. His programs "Takuro Tatsumi's Wine Romance" (BS TV Tokyo) and "Takuro Tatsumi's Let's Toast with Japanese Wine!" (Hachioji FM) are popular. He is also a Visiting Professor at Kindai University.

Aki

Model

A native of Fukui Prefecture. In addition to her modeling career, she also serves as the director of an apparel brand. Her heartwarming home-cooked meals and bento boxes, prepared while raising two sons who play baseball, have been featured in numerous media outlets, including TV and magazines, and she has published many essay and recipe books. She hosts a cooking segment on a morning information program. She also streams on YouTube "Aki's Mom's Kitchen."

Autumn Monthly Fair (Autumn 2026)

Under the common theme of "Cuisine x Craftsmanship," over 50 participating stores across the prefecture will offer "Dishes to Eat Now This Autumn" in their unique styles. An opening event for media and influencers will be held on September 30th.

Etsuzan Jakusui Food Fest (Autumn 2026)

A food event featuring over 30 selected restaurants. Held around Fukui Station, it's a one-day culinary festival where you can experience the cuisine of Fukui's leading chefs and collaborations of "Cuisine x Craftsmanship."

Restaurant Forum (Spring 2027)

Inviting star chefs to share their culinary philosophies, approaches to regional ingredients, and communication strategies. This will create a space for approximately 40 participants, including local chefs, producers, and students, to learn and interact.

Star Chef x Selection Chef Collaboration Dinner (Spring 2027)

Star chefs and selection chefs will collaborate to offer a special course themed "Cuisine x Craftsmanship." This will be a one-night-only banquet event for a limited 60 participants.

Selection Tour (Stay tuned for more details)

Multiple 1-night, 2-day tours will be held for food enthusiasts in urban areas, visiting selected restaurants, traditional crafts, and production sites.

Press Conference Held

A "Fukui Prefecture Gastronomy Project: Etsuzan Jakusui Press Conference" was held on June 25, 2026, at 291 Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo. Over 20 media outlets attended, where we reported on fiscal year 2025, announced new curators, and presented an overview of fiscal year 2026 initiatives, including the food festival, monthly fair, and tours scheduled for this autumn.

A talk session featured General Producer Takeshi Kadokami, along with curators Maki Makimoto and Aki.

Maki Makimoto passionately spoke about the Fukui restaurants he encountered during his nationwide culinary travels, stating, "There are places that are not yet known in Tokyo, but you absolutely must go." Aki shared how her childhood food memories in Fukui connect to her current culinary passion and her feelings for her family. She also recounted an episode about her favorite childhood dish, "Kodai no Sasazuke" (small sea bream preserved in bamboo leaves).

Chef Ryo Horiuchi of le jardin Fukui (left) and Chef Shunsuke Tanaka of Nihon Ryori Takashi (right)

Chef Horiuchi's "Warm Salad of Six-Row Barley and Squid with Sea Urchin Flavored Foam" and Chef Tanaka's "Guji Grilled on Hoba Leaf"

Several traditional crafts of Fukui were also exhibited, offering a moment to enjoy Fukui's cuisine and craftsmanship.

Furthermore, at the venue, special menus themed "Cuisine x Craftsmanship" were served by Chef Ryo Horiuchi of le jardin Fukui and Chef Shunsuke Tanaka of Nihon Ryori Takashi, both selected in 2025. Guests enjoyed tastings that allowed them to experience the world of Etsuzan Jakusui, along with exhibits representing the artisans' craftsmanship.

Project Basic Information

Fukui Prefecture Gastronomy Project: Etsuzan Jakusui

Organizer: Fukui Prefecture, Department of Cultural Exchange and Tourism Promotion

Contractor: Geode Inc. (Chuo-ku, Osaka)

Official Website: https://fupo.jp/lp/fukui-etsuzanjakusui/

Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/etsuzan.fukui/

Inquiries Regarding This Matter

[Media and Interview Application Desk]

Geode Inc. (Press Conference Secretariat)

Contact: Mariko Isohata

E-mail: etsuzan_fukui@gmail.com

Urbanex Yodoyabashi 1106, 3-3-11 Hirano-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka 541-0046

[Administrative Contact]

Fukui Prefecture, Department of Cultural Exchange and Tourism Promotion

3-17-1 Ote, Fukui City, 910-8580

TEL: 0776-20-0762

We welcome collaborations in any form of interest, such as media coverage, interviews, tour development, and content creation. Please feel free to contact the secretariat first.