Regional revitalization through traditional Japanese culinary culture : The Washoku Festival in Miyagi-Ishinomaki

This study investigates the potential for rediscovering regional resources and promoting tourism through traditional Japanese culinary culture, focusing on the 2022 Washoku Festival held in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, as a case study. The festival featured creative dishes made with seasonal local ingredients, prepared by chefs from long-established restaurants across Japan. This initiative highlighted the possibilities for sustainable tourism development through interregional exchange and the preservation of Japanese culinary culture. The event also incorporated educational elements, such as guided tours to disaster memorial sites, which deepened participants’ understanding of the region’s history and resilience. By linking food culture with local identity and post-disaster recovery, the festival served as a platform for cultural exchange and innovation. The findings suggest establishing a new model of community development centered on traditional Japanese cuisine, thereby contributing to the achievement of SDG Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.