The National Museum of Tanzania, in partnership with the Embassy of Japan, has launched a special exhibition on Japanese traditional cuisine, highlighting sushi as part of global cultural heritage and a tool for strengthening ties between nations.
The exhibition, opened at the National Museum grounds in Dar es Salaam, will run for two weeks and is expected to attract both local and international visitors.
Speaking on behalf of Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Dr. Pindi Chana, the Director General of the National Museum, Dr. Noel Lwoga, said the event underlines the power of food in connecting societies, preserving history, and expanding tourism opportunities.
“Sushi is recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage with a history of over 1,000 years. Through this exhibition, we learn how to value food heritage as part of national identity,” Dr. Lwoga said.
He added that Tanzania possesses a wealth of traditional foods that could be promoted to boost cultural tourism in the same way Japan has positioned sushi on the world stage.
“Food is not only history, it is culture. Tanzania has the opportunity to broaden tourism beyond wildlife to include gastronomy and cultural experiences,” he said, urging Tanzanians to visit the museum to learn the history of sushi and sample the cuisine.
Deputy Ambassador of Japan to Tanzania, Ueda Shoichi, said the exhibition, themed I Love Sushi, is designed to introduce Japanese cuisine to Tanzanians while fostering cultural understanding between the two countries.
“Tanzania has strong potential for sushi lovers. This is an opportunity for people to experience Japanese culture through food,” Shoichi said.
He noted that while Tanzania currently has no sushi restaurants, the expectation is that such establishments will be introduced in the future.
He further pledged Japan’s commitment to strengthening cultural and other forms of cooperation with Tanzania.