President Yoon Attends G7 Dinner Featuring Fukushima Sake

On the 20th, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 21st that Fukushima-produced sake and refreshments from earthquake-affected areas were served at the dinner table during the Group of Seven (G7) summit held in Hiroshima, Japan.

G7 Hiroshima Summit Welcome Dinner. [Image source=Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

The social dinner held at the Grand Prince Hotel Hiroshima, where the G7 summit took place from 9 PM for 130 minutes on the 20th, featured alcohol and food from the areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake.

The event was attended by G7 Chair and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, U.S. President Joe Biden, G7 leaders, eight invited country leaders including President Yoon Suk-yeol, heads of international organizations such as the United Nations, and their spouses.

Although the dinner menu mainly consisted of foods from Hiroshima, where the event was held, sake and food from the earthquake-affected prefectures of Fukushima, Miyagi, and Iwate were also served.

The sake used at the dinner included sake produced by Matsuzaki Shuzo, a sake company located in Fukushima Prefecture. Established in 1892, Matsuzaki Shuzo states on its website that it uses local rice and water to brew its sake.

Additionally, desserts and tea included products from the Great East Japan Earthquake-affected areas. For dessert, Iwate-produced dairy cheesecake and Miyagi-produced strawberry gelato were served to the leaders. After the meal, green tea and black tea from Miyagi Prefecture were offered.

Earlier, Fukushima Governor Uchibori Masao said at a press conference on the 15th, "I have heard that ingredients produced in Fukushima Prefecture are being used in the meals for dignitaries attending the G7 summit, and that Fukushima sake and processed foods are being provided at the International Media Center where foreign media covering the G7 summit are staying." He also emphasized that the G7 summit is "a valuable opportunity to deepen understanding of Fukushima Prefecture, which is on the path to recovery."

The Japanese government set up a promotional facility at the International Media Center exhibition hall in Hiroshima, where the G7 summit is being held, to showcase sake and food from Fukushima Prefecture and other areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Previously, Japanese authorities faced controversy during the 2021 Tokyo Olympics for using Fukushima-produced ingredients in the athletes' village dining hall.