It’s
the number and following facts (1):
- Japanese food is the SECOND
favorite food in Indonesia following Chinese food
- 1183 Japanese restaurant ONLY
in Jakarta, not including non sushi restaurant which has increasing
What’s
behind the number?
Brief
story from the past…
Japan
occupation first entered Indonesia in 1942 until its end on 1945, though since
1898 many immigrant from Japan have entered Indonesia, most of them are sailor.
During its occupation, Indonesia had been introduced into several knowledge
and application of education and agriculture, even though these were introduced
and shared in purpose to gain sympathy from Indonesia and prolong the
colonialism. As a normal social effect
of war and colonialism, Nikkei, as the descendant of Japanese – Indonesia have
even joined with Indonesia in gaining the independence.
The
Blending Between Culture and Taste
Since
the first enter, Japanese culture has been enriching the diversity in
Indonesia. Acknowledged through various media in form of education as the part
of Japan reciprocation on its 3 years colonialism, music movie, music, etc, the
culture has been accepted well. Even after decades of colonialism, Japanese expatriate
in Indonesia is the second largest number after Korea which also strengthening
the fact that Indonesia and Japan have been maintaining the 55 years of
diplomatic relation(2) as per 2013.
Through
the cultures blending, Japanese food has been taking the main part of it. Known
on the Umami (5th taste), Seafood, Rice and Tea, Japanese food is
well delivered through its impression of healthy food. The seafood in
particularly, indirectly standardized by the demand of customers as a fresh
seafood. Despite the encouraging effect on the charm of the movie, music and
culture direct penetrating in several cultural events, the taste of the
Japanese food has been indeed matched with Indonesia taste, Asian taste.
Accordingly on the number presented, the number of Japanese restaurant, either
sushi or non sushi restaurant keep increasing, until today.
What’s
The Challenge…?
As
an “old” product, though the market was built well, Indonesia is one of the
market that easily moved by the crowd, leads on the crowd effect. Korean food
is coming as the new challenger. Again, culture penetrating through media has
been also accepted well by the society, the potential market. As in capital
city, Jakarta, Korean Restaurant will be playing the on the Asian food market
part.
As
in response, Japan has developed strategies to deal with, in Indonesia, In
Japan for Indonesia. Japan acknowledges Indonesia as the big market, including
Indonesian in Japan. Take a concern on Indonesia as the country which has
highest number of moslem, Halal food has been developed seriously through Halal
Certification program. Even one company in Saitama prefecture in Japan has to
renovate the factory for only producing Halal products and as Japan Halal Association,
it is notified that as for now, 200 restaurants already have Halal
Certification, in Japan (3). The government also put a hand on this action, to
maintaining and regaining more market, they’ve budgeted 500 USD for culture
promotion (4).
What
business should respond then?
Replying
the message that Japanese food is obviously indeed has big market, domestically
and globally, it is an essential for business to take a deeper concern of it.
Not just by acknowledging the demand, however, projecting the potential demand
as well, acknowledging the needs, research for it may require.
For
raw material suppliers as an instance, noticing the needs of end customer
would’ve been directing them for better distribution activities. The community
of Japanese food business may generate a knowledge sharing for the current
market, issues and policy. Latest policy such as Radioactive certification requirement and seafood quota has been considered thoroughly both for exporter and importer in Indonesia.
As for Universal Trading, we've been assisting our customer in Indonesia to supply several Japanese restaurant in Jakarta and Surabaya. Various Japanese mix products from dry food and frozen food have been requested monthly.
As
an potential new comer of the business, both exporter and importer, the
comprehension that all –country- food market is about culture, not just the
origin of the food culture but also the market culture is a deliberate
knowledge should’ve be taken. Again, it’s about the blending of culture and
taste, make it a delicious blending will generate to delicious opportunity, as
well as the earnings.
Source:
(1)&
(2) :Jetro
