A new event that celebrates veganism will soon reach Japan. “Vegan Forest 2018” promotes all that is “kind to life” and is set to be held this year in Yamanashi, a prefecture near Tokyo known for hiking, climbing, and fishing.
The festival will include food, drinks, workshops, stalls, and music. According to the press release, Vegan Forest is not just for vegans; it intends to introduce people to the vegan lifestyle as well as offer a space for those who already practice it. “Regardless of age and preference, we aim to create a place where you can have fun,” Vegan Forest said online.
“Vegan is a lifestyle that respects the lives of all animals,” the organization said and drew attention to the expanding market which has seen a diverse range of new vegan foods, clothes, and products introduced.
A range of vendors will make an appearance at Vegan Forest. Event-goers can enjoy treats like sushi, burgers, vegan meat, pizza, Indian curry, rice bowls, soup, bagels, dumplings, and sweet confections, as well as freshly baked bread.
On the vendor side, the event will include stalls featuring everything from scented candles to reflexology, handcrafted wood products to essential oils, organic produce and garden fertilizers, as well as hemp cotton clothing. There will also be educational booths and workshops for those looking to learn more about animal rights, raising vegan children, and cruelty-free cosmetics.
The launch of the event in Japan is of note due to the country’s mixed relationship with meat consumption. While the vegan movement has generally accelerated around the world, some regions, like Japan, remain conflicted. In March, VICE begged the question: “How do you create a vegan movement in a country raised on broth made from pork bones?”
However, change is occurring. The Vegan Society affirmed that the movement is “undoubtedly growing.” Recently, the Japanese government announced it would no longer be conducting year-long pesticide poisoning tests on dogs. Meanwhile, a 63-year-old Japanese aquarium permanently closed its doors due to low visitor attendance rates, after reports of poor animal welfare. Further, the Japanese government recently invested in Integriculture, a startup company that produces clean meat – a cruelty-free and slaughter-free meat product.
The Vegan Society wrote, “As a new generation in Japan finds its voice, it’s clear the culture is shifting. Change may be slow and subtle, but it’s there.”
The event will be held at the Kobuchizawa Resort on July 29th from 10 am to 4 pm.
Image Credit: Adobe Stock
