The Taitung County Government is actively expanding into the Japanese market by launching the “Taitung Festival” in collaboration with 18 specialty restaurants in Southern Kyushu, Japan. The opening ceremony on March 12 at Miyazaki Haremachi Meat Bar Shokudo, featuring creative dishes that blend Taitung’s signature ingredients, such as roselle, red oolong tea, red quinoa, and millet, with each restaurant’s unique culinary style, successfully capturing the attention of Japanese consumers.
The event runs from March 12 to April 13, lasting for one month. By introducing a variety of special dishes, the festival allows Japanese food enthusiasts to experience the unique flavors of Taitung’s ingredients in-depth.
Deputy Magistrate Wang Chih-Hui expressed that the “Taitung Festival” is being held in collaboration with popular restaurant districts in Miyazaki and Kumamoto Prefectures, promoting the fusion of Taitung’s specialty ingredients with local Japanese cuisine. This initiative helps more people discover the diverse flavors of Taitung while enhancing business opportunities. He also extended special thanks to Vice Governor of Miyazaki Prefecture Sato Hiroyuki and Miyazaki Prefecture Taiwan Exchange Ambassador Hoshimoto Toru for their attendance and support, further strengthening Taiwan-Japan culinary and cultural exchanges.
The Taitung County Government noted that the opening ceremony received widespread media coverage in Japan, and guests highly praised the innovative use of Taitung’s specialty ingredients. Among the 18 participating restaurants, Comfort Diner and its six affiliated restaurants introduced limited-time dishes, incorporating red oolong tea into both smoked salted chashu and braised Miyazaki beef tendon, creating a perfect fusion of tea aromas and meat textures, offering Japanese consumers a distinctive new flavor experience.
For dessert, Miyazaki mango was paired with Taitung’s roselle to create a mousse, delivering a harmonious balance of tartness and sweetness with rich layers of flavor, making it a highlight of the meal. These innovative dishes that merge the best of both regions not only showcase Taitung’s premium ingredients but also capture the hearts of Japanese diners.
The Taitung Finance and Economic Development Department stated that the “Taitung Festival” marks a successful entry of Taitung’s industries into the Japanese market, earning recognition from the Southern Kyushu restaurant industry. Moving forward, the Taitung County Government will continue promoting international marketing initiatives, deepening collaborations with the Japanese market, and allowing more people to savor Taitung’s unique flavors, further expanding business opportunities.
