Message from the executive president

The Ajinomoto Foundation for Dietary Culture was established in 1989 for the purpose of supporting dietary culture research and raising public awareness, and in 2013 became a public interest incorporated foundation. Since its establishment it has continued to organize many projects for dietary culture researchers as well as for members of the general public interested in dietary culture.

Although food is deeply connected to all kinds of people, in the past, its importance as a subject for research and discussion was not understood. Around 1980, experts from various fields gathered and held discussions based on the idea that "food is also a culture (food should also be recognized as a culture)", which gave birth to the term "dietary culture (food culture)" and led to the public understanding of its essence. Our foundation has inherited that purpose, and as food culture research continues to develop, we are working continuously to encourage more people to take an interest in food culture, which will perpetually lead to better eating habits for people around the world.

Our Foundation continues to support food culture-related research through the Forum on Dietary Culture, a membership-based interdisciplinary research forum that brings together experts from many fields, including social science, humanities, and natural science, as well as through research grants. In addition, the Foundation works to communicate the appeal and profundity of dietary culture to many people through symposiums, public lectures, our Dietary Culture Library, public exhibition, the dietary culture magazine "vesta", and the publication of records of the annual Forum on Dietary Culture.

In particular, the Dietary Culture Library, which has a collection of over 45,000 books on food, the dietary culture magazine "vesta," which covers food from various angles through special features in each issue, and the "Forum on Dietary Culture," a record of the forum's findings, are "treasure troves of knowledge" where you can come into contact with the wisdom of our predecessors and the cutting-edge knowledge of leading experts. Please make use of our activities.

Looking to the future, by deepening our various ventures and further developing food culture, we will contribute to the creation and improvement of a rich and healthy diet for the people. We appreciate your continued warm understanding and support.