TO BECOME A
FOOD PARADISE
Located in the Shōnai region of Yamagata Prefecture along the Sea of Japan, Tsuruoka is a city of approximately 1,300 square kilometres and home to 130,000 residents, making it the largest administrative division in the Tōhoku region. The city is blessed with abundant natural resources, distinct seasonal changes, and a variety of landscapes, allowing traditional industries such as rice cultivation, agriculture, forestry, fishing, and sake-brewing to develop well into the present day. The people of Tsuruoka have fostered their unique and colourful gastronomic culture through careful conservation of local cuisine, as well as constant innovation to create new and creative dishes, which are then incorporated into their daily diets and ceremonial practices.
DESIGNATION AS
UNESCO
CITY OF GASTRONOMY
UNESCO's City of Gastronomy is part of the wider Creative City Network established in 2014.
Jul 2011
Committee for Promotion of Tsuruoka Creative City of Gastronomy is established
Oct 2011
Visited UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France. Start of gastronomic projects by Japanese Cultural Centre in Paris
Nov 2011
Attended UNESCO Annual Conference as a Candidate City and presented the allure of Tsuruoka's gastronomy as well as the vision for the future.
Dec 2011
Stopped application process to be a member city
Apr 2012
Awarded 2011 Commissioner o Cultural Affairs (Culture and Arts Creative City Division)
Aug 2012
Submission of request form to resume application to be a member of the City of Gastronomy Network
Feb 2013
Submission of application to visit UNESCO HQ
Jul 2013
Resume application to be a member of the City of Gastronomy Network and evaluation of application
Oct 2013
Release of new application procedure to be a member of City of Gastronomy
Mar 2014
Submission of application according to the new procedure
Sep 2014
Attended UNESCO Creative City Network Anual Conference in Chengdu, China
Dec 2014
Designated as UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy
TSURUOKA CITY OF GASTRONOMY LOGO
The logo depicts the different elements that make up the unique gastronomy of Tsuruoka City
*Hover over the elements to find out more*
