Hello, all foodies!! Thank you for your patience. 🕰️ We are finally ready to announce the winners of the Japan Month Social Media Post Contest 2023.

Firstly, we would like to express our deepest gratitude to each and every one of you who participated in this contest. 🙏 Your voices, echoing through your posts, exclaiming "Delicious" and "I never knew about this dish" while savoring regional Japanese cuisines, truly warmed the hearts of all involved.

We are committed to continuing our efforts to let you enjoy the various charms of Japan, including Japanese food and regional cuisines. 🍱🍣🗾

Now, without further ado, let's move on to the announcement of the winners. 🏆

In late June, representatives from the Consulate-General of Japan in New York, JETRO, and JAL gathered to conduct the final judgment, selecting three winners from the 30 finalists.

Choosing between the posts was not an easy task, each one having its own unique charm and creativity. However, against our theme "We Love Japanese Food", we considered not only the photos but also the caption of the posts, and have decided on the winners that we believe embody the theme best.

So, let us now announce the winners for each area. 📣

Victoria’s Winning Comments,

There are so many aspects to love about Japan and Japanese culture, among the greatest being the cuisine! After visiting Japan once before, one experience that really stuck with me was all of the delicious food I ate while I was there, and I have been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to return. While I am lucky to live in NYC where there are several fantastic Japanese restaurant options, I look forward to sampling even more authentic dishes while visiting Sapporo!

Nee Nee’s Winning Comments,

My love for Japanese culture started with my love for anime. I was raised on shows like Sailor Moon, Inuyasha, Rurouni Kenshin, and I have lost count of how many more anime that I have watched! My love for Japan grew even more when I got the chance to take Japanese language and Japanese civilization classes in college!

Nowadays, my sister and I cosplay at conventions all around the US and attend Japanese festivals whenever we can. In fact, we heard about this contest at the 2023 Japan Day Parade and decided to enter! I cannot believe that I won and that I will finally be going to Japan! This will be my first time going. :) I am so grateful for this once in a lifetime experience! どうもありがとうございます!!

Jasmin's Winning Comments,

I decided to enter the contest because Japan, for me, is a magical place. It is made of tradition and steeped in culture, cross sectioned with innovation. It holds you captivated with its folklore and enamored by the generosity of spirit. Japanese food is a  reflection of it's history and geography. You can literally taste where the country was born from and the direction they are choosing to go. My heart is FULL! I am ready to share my love and enthusiasm of all that I will experience in this most beautiful land! 

JAPAN HERE I COME 💖 

To our winners, a heartfelt congratulations! 🎉 And once again, thank you to all the participants. 🙏

Moving forward, we will continue to share the charm of Japan throughout the year, not only in May but all year round, through various events and initiatives such as JAPAN Fes.

Together, let's thoroughly enjoy the wonderful things Japan has to offer! 🎌🍣🌸

Hey there! Are you ready for a big news?

Starting this year, May is now "JAPAN MONTH".

We're bursting with pride to announce that we're bringing the most exciting and vibrant aspects of Japan to the city with a spectacular lineup of events, cultural activities, mouth-watering cuisine, and so much more!

To kick off our celebrations, we're thrilled to announce the "Social Media Post Contest"! The thing you need to do is visit one of the Japanese restaurants in NYC that's participating in our project, order their "Japan Month Menu," take a photo, and share it on social media!

And guess what? The grand prize is "A pair of round-trip air tickets to JAPAN". With the sponsorship of Japan Airlines (JAL), the contest winners will receive a pair of round-trip air tickets to Japan in JAL miles.

A total of three pairs of round-trip airline tickets to Japan will be awarded. The winners will be selected by a selection committee consisting of representatives from Japan Airlines (JAL), the Consulate-General of Japan, and JETRO.

Get ready to have your mind blown with a thrilling Japanese experience right here in NYC and win the grand prize!!

This time, the winner will have a chance to visit

Sapporo, Itami, or Fukuoka.

One winner will be selected for each of the three travel destinations: Sapporo, Itami, and Fukuoka.

Since total of three pairs will receive round-trip air tickets.

Can’t you stop getting excited? We knew it!!

Now, let’s see 5 STEPS to hop on our contest!

Japan is divided into eight regions,

Hokkaido / Tohoku / Kanto / Chubu / Kinki /Chugoku / Shikoku / Kyusyu & Okinawa,

but for this contest, we have re-divided the country into three areas,

AREA 1.2.3, based on the destination.

And restaurants offering cuisine representing each area of Japan in New York City have partnered with us for this contest. The first step is to visit a restaurant that serves cuisine from the area corresponding to the destination you want to visit.

ex) If you want to go to Sapporo, visit restaurants that offer AREA1(Hokkaido,Tohoku,Kanto) cuisine.

Check out our mapping image of Japanese regional cuisine ”JAPAN MONTH menu”.

You can try them all in New York City!

Choose the cuisine according to the destination you want to visit or the destination according to the cuisine you want to eat.

Follow your heart and decide which restaurant you want to visit.

Restaurant details are below the page so let’s see the remaining steps first!

Visit the restaurant and order your meal. The order must include the "JAPAN MONTH menu" as introduced in the mapping image above and the restaurant details page below.

The theme of the contest is ”We love Japanese Food”, it opens from May 1 to 31.

Whether you post a picture of yourself enjoying the meal or a picture of a delicious-looking dish, it's up to you to come up with an idea. Post your love for Japanese food with photo and caption, on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, hashtag #mayisjapanmonth. Please make sure that your account setting is open, not private, so we can see your post.

Here are sample posts! We can't wait to see your love for Japanese food on display.

※videos are not subject to review. photo & caption only.

※The photo must show the JAPAN MONTH menu, but it does not have to be the menu by itself. It is also possible to order other dishes to make the photo more colorful. However, the number and amount of food ordered will not affect the selection process.

After scanning the application form QR located in the restaurant and entering the required information, your entry is complete.

※Post to your Social Media and submit the entry form, which is needed to complete the entry. Either one alone will not complete your participation in the contest.

That’s it and now…

Click or Tap and you can check the info about restaurant and cuisine!

Check the detailed contest rules from Here

You need to read and accept them before you entry.

Q&A

Q: Is it okay to post any dish's photo if I visit the participating restaurant?

A: The photo should include a JAPAN MONTH Menu item. Other than that, it's okay to order whatever you like. You can even order other dishes to make the photo more appealing. However, the number of orders or the amount spent won't affect the selection process.

Q: If I post with the hashtag #mayisjapanmonth on social media, is that enough for entry?

A: You need to submit the entry form through the designated QR code located at each participating restaurant. Posting on social media and submitting the entry form are both required for a complete entry.

Q: Is there a limit to the number of times I can enter the contest?

A: No, there is no limit. Please feel free to visit various restaurants and submit multiple entries.

Q: Do you have any tips for submitting an entry?

A: We're looking for photos and captions that convey a love for Japanese food and culture.

Q: Can I enter the contest if my social media account is set to private?

A: During the contest period, the contest organizers won't be able to confirm the content of private accounts. Therefore, we kindly ask that you switch your account settings to public during the contest period.