NETA-MATCH Joint Press Conference 2025
A Tasty Preview of Fall-Winter New Products
On July 24, journalists and companies gathered for a major press conference “NETA-MATCH” hosted by J&T Planning Co., LTD. at the Mitsubishi Hall & Conference in Muromachi. It was a unique opportunity to discover and test food products before their official release for the Fall-Winter 2025 season.
Companies from All Over Japan
Nearly twenty companies were present, including Yuraku Seika, known for the Black Thunder chocolate bar, Allied Corporation, offering Thai cooking products, and Marumiya, famous for its rice seasonings like Noritama. These companies came from all over Japan — from Tokyo to Tokushima, including Aichi, Saitama, Kanagawa, Yamanashi, Chiba, Ishikawa, and Okayama — showing the vitality and diversity of the Japanese food industry.
Product Announcements and Tastings
The event began with announcements of new items, bestsellers, and fun stories about some iconic products. Companies also shared data and trends in consumer behavior, as well as marketing strategies to promote their upcoming releases. We then had the chance to taste some of the new products — quick and delicious everyday meals!
Savory Foods: Quick and Tasty
We tried different savory products like sauces, cooking oils, seafood items (canned fish, crab, sardines), nori and shiitake mushroom chips, ready-to-cook grains, instant mabo tofu cups, and rice noodles.
Sweet Treats: Japanese Style
On the sweet side, there were dairy desserts like cream puffs, roll cakes, and Mont-Blanc-style puddings with Japanese chestnuts. We also saw chocolate chip cookies and buttery biscuits, as well as sweet tofu sticks inspired by pastries — each presentation made us more curious!
For example, we tasted a new sauce from Yamasa Shoyu Co., Ltd., served with a small tray of vegetables, pasta gratin with shrimp, and a caramel pudding. The sauce had a mild taste and could be poured, dipped, or cooked in teriyaki-style dishes and vegetables.
I especially enjoyed the grain-based meals offered by another company — available in three varieties, each paired with either meat or fish. A perfect match!
Regional Focus: Local Traditions and Initiatives
Local governments also joined the event. The mayors of the city of Yamagata in Gifu Prefecture, the city of Yamagata in Yamagata Prefecture, and the village of Yamagata in Nagano Prefecture came together with their regional mascot to sign the "Yamagata Agreements" — a cooperation initiative to support their mutual development. Signature dishes like Soba Ramen and Hayashi Rice were showcased. A joint event will take place on October 25 and 26 at Hisaya Odori Park in Nagoya to promote the three localities.
In Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, a special “Peach Afternoon Tea” event is being held from July 1 to September 30 at Ojigatake, with a stunning view of the Seto Inland Sea. It’s a refined tea-time experience focused on fruity desserts, mainly targeting a female audience. At the same time, the Kurashi Fruit Time pop-up at Kitte Osaka will offer tastings of luxurious fruits like Shine Muscat grapes and strawberries on September 7 and December 23.
Also in Okayama, Kojima is presented as the birthplace of Japanese denim. Kojima Jeans Street — a 400-meter road lined with over 40 local denim shops — highlights the iconic Japan Denim. To complete the experience, the Denim Lodge offers denim-themed accommodation right in the heart of Kojima. A unique way to dive into Japan's textile culture.
A Tasty and Interactive Ending
At the end of the conference, we visited a special exhibition area with product stands from all participating companies. It was a perfect chance to chat directly with the brands while sampling the products again.
Among the most memorable items: the Mont-Blanc chestnut pudding from MEITO (a dairy co-op), and Yuraku Seika’s new Black Thunder chocolate bar, “Ultimate Happy Butter,” filled with cookies and chocolate.
My personal favorite was the sweet tofu sticks from Sweets & Tofu. This already existing product now comes in three new flavors: chocolate cake, matcha chocolate, and black sesame chocolate. These plant-based, low-calorie treats can be eaten warm, cold, or frozen — all in a cute and practical package!
At the end of the event, every participant received a gift bag filled with samples — a tasty souvenir of this immersive and interactive day. The first products will hit store shelves starting in September!
