The Embassy of Cambodia in Japan, in collaboration with the ASEAN-Japan Center, recently hosted a captivating “Cambodia Food Show” in Tokyo. This event, held on February 21, 2025, showcased the rich culinary heritage of Cambodia and highlighted potential trade opportunities between the two nations.
The show attracted approximately 100 attendees, including distinguished guests from various sectors. Notable figures present were Mr. Kunihiko Hirabayashi, Secretary-General of the ASEAN-Japan Center, and His Excellency Tuy Ry, the Cambodian Ambassador to Japan.
A key highlight of the event was the introduction of “The Taste of Angkor,” a Khmer cookbook prepared by Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. This culinary masterpiece has garnered international recognition, winning two Gourmand Cookbook Awards for “Best Asian Cuisine Book” and “Heads of State Food.”
The show featured live cooking demonstrations by renowned Cambodian chef Seng Sothea, owner of several acclaimed restaurants in Siem Reap, including Mahob Cuisine, BENG MEALEA Restaurant & Lodge, and Lum Orng Restaurant – Farm to Table Cuisine. Chef Sothea expertly showcased the use of traditional Cambodian ingredients like Kampot pepper and cashew nuts in modern culinary creations.
Visitors had the opportunity to explore and taste a variety of Cambodian products, including:
- Fragrant Cambodian rice
- Cashew nuts
- Kampot pepper and pepper pickle
- Dried mango and mango juice
- Mondulkiri coffee
- Palm sugar
- Cambodian white wine
- Angkor beer
The Cambodia Food Show served multiple purposes:
- Promoting Cambodian culinary diplomacy
- Expanding market opportunities for Cambodian products in Japan
- Strengthening economic ties between Cambodia and Japan
- Showcasing Cambodia’s unique food culture and thousand-year-old culinary heritage
This event marks a significant step in fostering cultural exchange and trade relations between Cambodia and Japan, while also introducing the Japanese market to the diverse and flavorful world of Cambodian cuisine.
References:
- ស្ថានឯកអគ្គរាជទូតកម្ពុជា សហការជាមួយមជ្ឈមណ្ឌលអាស៊ាន-ជប៉ុន រៀបចំពិព័រណ៍ម្ហូបអាហារកម្ពុជា «Cambodia Food Show» នៅប្រទេសជប៉ុន
- ស្ថានឯកអគ្គរាជទូតកម្ពុជា សហការជាមួយមជ្ឈមណ្ឌលអាស៊ាន-ជប៉ុន រៀបចំពិព័រណ៍ម្ហូបអាហារកម្ពុជា “Cambodia Food Show” ដើម្បីផ្សព្វផ្សាយលើកកម្ពស់ការទូតម្ហូបអាហារខ្មែរ និងជំរុញទីផ្សារផលិតផលខ្មែរក្នុងប្រទេសជប៉ុន
