Kyoto Vegan/Vegetarian Festival May 2 (Sunday)

To find out more about how the Kyoto Vegan Earth Day was brought to life, Kyoto resident Jennifer Teeter interviewed Iwasa Akiko (a.k.a. Chiko), who has been organizing the Vegetarian Festival since 2003.

From 10,000 Things:

Can you tell us a little bit about the Vegetarian and Vegan scene in Kyoto?

9 years ago, when the first Vegetarian Festival was first held, people had only heard of the word vegetarian and many thought "vegetarian" simply meant vegetable. Also, many people thought it was strange for people to chose to lead a lifestyle where they didn't eat animals for religious purposes. However, as the years have passed, judging by the people who come to the VegFest, questionnaires, the number of vegetarian restaurants and the media attention vegetarianism has garnered, we can see that the image of vegetarians has changed. Perhaps Kyoto and Tokyo can be considered the easiest places for vegetarians to live in all of Japan. Kyoto is well-known for the vegetarian cooking of Buddhist monks called shojin ryori, and in addition, Kyoto attracts many foreigners, so the number of restaurants in Kyoto that are conscious of the diet of vegetarians has grown.

How did the Vegan Earth Day festival come to life?

The vegetarian festival started 9 years ago, but it was already an ALL VEGAN festival. Tokyo Earth Day, the largest open-air event in Japan, is quite famous, but many of us felt a little uncomfortable at the event. Despite the presence of many wonderful booths at Earth Day selling recycled plates and silverware, eco-bags, et cetera, we wondered why was there so much food with meat in it. There were only a few vegetarian shops on the premises and it felt as if there wasn't any vegetarian food at all but just long lines for restaurants selling animal products. It was a very strange atmosphere. While it is impossible for everyone to all of a sudden become vegan, couldn't we, on Earth Day at least, go without food made from animals?

So, now that people in Japan understand what it means to be vegetarian, we hope that the next step will be that people understand what VEGAN means. We have received requests that we have a Vegetarian Festival twice a year from the many people that come and stalls at the Vegetarian festival. It is from these requests that Vegan Earth Day was born.

Over the year, do you feel that the Vegetarian Festival has had an influence on the vegetarian scene in Kyoto?

I don't think we have influenced the vegetarian scene. It is more the hard work of vegetarian restaurants, the influence of celebs from overseas, and the health boom. These and other factors have played a part and and people in Japan are increasing their understanding about vegetarianism.

What changes have you seen over the years?

Now, there is more of a positive response when people say "I am a vegetarian." You hear more often people responding with "Wow, that's cool" and "Teach me some recipes." Also, we receive lots of messages telling us how people have become vegetarian after coming to the festival and learning about environmental problems and the devastating situation of animals for the first time. A great part of this open-air event is that while eating delicious food and learning, people can have a great time and reflect on their own eating habits and ways of thinking.

Do you have any advice for people that are thinking of becoming vegetarian or vegan?

It is not that difficult. First you have to give it a try. After two weeks, your body will feel great and you won't be able to stop. The media presents a variety of ways to be vegetarian, from macrobiotic diets to the raw food diet. But, everyone is different so you need to find the way that works for you and enjoy your vegan life. Also, be confident in how wonderful it is to find vegan friends and together expand the circle of vegan friends for the future of the earth.

Finally, what is your favorite vegan food?

I guess I am a Japanese person after all, so my favorites are miso soup with tofu and brown rice, and I like eating lots of in-season fruit.

Thank you Chiko for your inspiring answers! From this interview, it is clear to see that this event promises to be thought-provoking, educational, and fun. Hope to see you there!

- Jen Teeter

More Kyoto vegetarian festival staff profiles

Kyoto Vegetarian/Vegan Festival Website:

Exhibitions of NPOs for animal welfare and environmental issues
Workshops and discussions by environmental educator and animal rights activists
Vegan food booth area
Stage performance
Organic vegetables for sale
Vegan products for sale (clothes, cosmetics and more)

Place:

平安神宮前　岡崎公園
Okazaki Park is just east of Kyoto Kaikan, and south of Heian Shrine

会場に駐車場はございません。公共交通機関をご利用ください。
No parking will be available. Please use public transportation

〒606-8344 京都市左京区岡崎円勝寺町124
JR京都駅から市バス5系統岩倉操車場前行きで30分、
京都会館美術館前下車すぐ
If coming from Kyoto Station:
From the A-1 bus stop, take route 5 to "Kyoto Kaikan/Bijutsukan-mae"
(about 30 minutes)

Japan Vegetarian Society is a nonprofit organization (NPO) that was officially founded in May of 2001.

Their motto is "to always consider the well-being of our earth and its people" and they aim to teach and promote vegetarian as it is concerned with general well-being, nutrition, ethics, respect for life, preservation of our environment, and stopping starvation in developing countries.

JPVS strives to spread necessary education and practical suggestions to anyone who may be interested: "We hope our network will help vegetarians to help one another. Please join us if you are interested in living a vegetarian lifestyle."

Main website of Veggy Magazine

JPVS Blog

Back issues of Veggy Magazine, with news and features from Kamakura, Kyoto, New York, and how to "detox" with vegetables, and ベジィ・カップルの甘い生活 (veggy couple no amai seikatsu) "the sweet lifestyle of a veggy couple."