THE PRACTICES OF JAPAN’S GASTRODIPLOMACY IN INDONESIA THROUGH JAPAN HALAL FOOD PROJECT (2013-2015)

Abstract

Cool Japan has been used as one of the Japan gastrodiplomacy strategies in attracting foreign tourism especially to promote Japanese food. However, Indonesian Muslims' concern about the halalness of Japanese food has made Japan government address this issue by conducting the Japan Halal Food Project. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the implementation of Japan's gastrodiplomacy practice in Indonesia through a program presented by Japan, namely the Japan Halal Food Project held from 2013 to 2015 explained under the framework of public diplomacy and gastrodiplomacy theories. This study uses a qualitative methodology through descriptive research in order to correlate the Japan Halal Food Project’s influence with the growth of the Japanese tourism sector. Overall, this study finds that the Japan Halal Food Project has increased the number of Indonesian tourists visiting Japan since its establishment in 2013. This study also finds that the Japan Halal Food Project is attractive for Indonesian Muslims because it goes in line with their halal concept.