[FOODEX Kansai] Vegan/Plant-Based Specialty Area Set Up & Cooking Demo by Popular Vegan Shop Owner - Learn Key Points for Creating Popular Vegan Menus! July 22-24

The "Hotel & Restaurant Show & FOODEX JAPAN in Kansai 2026" will be held from July 22 (Wed) to 24 (Fri), 2026, at INTEX Osaka.

NPO Vege Project Japan will set up the "Vege Project Zone" within the venue to showcase vegan and plant-based products free of animal-derived ingredients.

On the 24th (Fri), a cooking demonstration will be held by Mr. Junichi Nakai, the owner-chef who was an early pioneer in Osaka, establishing and growing the vegan specialty store "Paprika Shokudo Vegan" into a popular establishment.

Items include hamburger steak and shrimp alternatives made without animal products, katsuobushi broth, ramen soup, and baked goods.

In the vegan area, titled "Vege Project Zone," a total of 12 companies, including those with vegan certification, will introduce products useful for developing and upgrading vegan and plant-based menus. Visitors can learn about a wide range of vegan products while sampling them.

Scene from the Vege Project Zone in 2025

Exhibitors in the Vege Project Zone (in Japanese alphabetical order): - iVegi Co., Ltd. (Cookies, sweets, tempeh) - Agro Roodens Co., Ltd. (Keema curry and rice honey made with new ingredients from rice and koji) - FLC Design Co., Ltd. (Plant-based & gluten-free & allergen-free rice flour baked goods) - Karuna Co., Ltd. (Alternatives for hamburger steak, shrimp, tuna, squid, etc.) - Keihan Sangyo Co., Ltd. (Miso ramen soup) - Sho Kakai Sei Gi (Baked goods, sauces) - Hama-Ya Katsuobushi Co., Ltd. (Katsuobushi broth alternatives) - Meissen Fine Food Co., Ltd. (Hamburger patty alternatives) - Maruzen Food Industry Co., Ltd. (Soy sauce, tonkotsu-style, tantanmen ramen soup) - U-NEXT HOLDINGS Co., Ltd. (Tomato keema curry, vegetable soup curry) - Lapin Co., Ltd. (Okara snacks, okara granola) - NPO Vege Project Japan (Vegan certified products & introduction to vegan initiatives)

Popular Vegan Restaurant "Paprika Shokudo Vegan" Owner-Chef and VegePro Representative to Appear! Vegan Cooking Demonstration (July 24, 12:00 PM onwards)

Scene from the cooking demonstration in 2025

On July 24 (Fri) from 12:00 PM, a cooking demonstration will be held on the FOODEX venue stage by Mr. Junichi Nakai, owner of the vegan-certified restaurant Paprika Shokudo Vegan. In addition to this restaurant, Mr. Nakai also manages Shojin Sushi Minamo (a vegan sushi restaurant) and Shinsekai Paprika Shokudo Vegan & Glutenfree (a vegan & gluten-free kushikatsu restaurant).

Using plant-based ingredients introduced in the Vege Project Zone, Mr. Nakai will present original vegan menus. Yoko Kawano, representative of Vege Project, will serve as facilitator, providing explanations on vegan ingredients and vegan-friendliness, and eliciting key points for creating popular vegan menus from Mr. Nakai.

Additionally, during the demonstration, there will be tasting opportunities for vegan-friendly granola, broth, and ramen soup for attendees to enjoy. Businesses considering the introduction or improvement of vegan and plant-based menus are highly encouraged to attend.

[Hotel & Restaurant Show & FOODEX JAPAN in Kansai 2026 Event Overview]

Date & Time: July 22 (Wed) - 24 (Fri), 2026 / Daily: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM *Last day until 4:30 PM Venue: INTEX Osaka *Vege Project Zone Booth Number: 4-T1 Admission Fee: Free Advance Visitor Registration: https://www.ult-thunder.jp/kansai-exhibition-2026/visitor/fill-1

*General public, students, individuals under 16 years of age (even with a guardian), and those accompanied by children are not permitted to enter.

[Cooking Demonstration Overview]

Date & Time: July 24 (Fri) 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM Venue: FOODEX Demonstration Stage (INTEX Osaka Hall 4) Participation Fee: Free Seminar Information Page: https://hoteres-osaka.jma.or.jp/seminar.php

*After advance visitor registration, please register from your My Page (display admission ticket).

NPO Vege Project Japan

For anything related to vegan, vegetarian, and plant-based options, including vegan certification, product development, and PR, contact Vege Project.

This NPO works to increase vegan and plant-based choices in society by collaborating with corporations, local governments, national governments, universities, and international organizations.

Activities include support for vegan product development and marketing, issuance of vegan certification, participation in vegetarian/vegan-related projects by local and national governments, introduction of vegan menus at universities such as Kyoto University and the University of Tokyo, as well as restaurants, creation of vege maps, and holding lectures.

HP: https://vegeproject.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vegeproject_japan/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vege.project.japan/

X: https://twitter.com/VegeProjectJP