Japanese food fair held at Aeon Mall stores in Cambodia

JETRO held the Japanese food fair "Japan Fair 2023" from November 2nd to 12th at three Aeon Mall stores that are certified in Japanese food support stores program in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The fair featured 278 products from all over Japan, including confectionery and beverages (including alcoholic beverages), instant foods, vegetables and fruits, and Japanese beef, of which new products accounted for 70%.

During the event, visitors were especially concentrated on weekday evenings and weekends, with young couples with small children and families of three generations.

It was the 5th time the Japan Fair was held in Cambodia. Although trust in Japanese food is high, many products, such as miso and yokan, are still difficult to imagine the taste and eating method just by looking at the package. Therefore, this year’s fair featured many programs to familiarize visitors with the products through tastings and hands-on experiences.

A sushi roll-making booth was set up at the venue, which was crowded with around 600 pairs of parents and children. On weekends, tuna and salmon cutting shows were held and sashimi were sold at the spot. The popularity of sushi and sashimi in Japanese cuisine, combined with excited visitors taking pictures, led to a steady sales of the fillets.