SINGAPORE (Kyodo) -- A trade show for Japanese food, beverages, and related technology kicked off in Singapore on Thursday, showcasing advanced processing technology in a bid to expand the market for Japanese companies in the city-state and its neighboring countries.

The annual event, one of the largest Japanese food shows held in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations region, featured 194 exhibitors from 37 prefectures in Japan, surpassing last year's total of 181 exhibitors from 30 prefectures.

At the opening ceremony of the event called Food Japan, Japanese Ambassador to Singapore Hiroshi Ishikawa said, "Japan is eager to expand its food exports, and Singapore is a key destination."

Masanao Nishida, director of OJ Events Pte Ltd., an organizer of the show, said the event this year highlighted food processing technology of the Japanese food and beverage industry.

One of the companies that showcased advanced technology was Tomin Sake Co., based in Toyama Prefecture. It sells frozen unpasteurized sake, boasting its rapid-freezing technology to retain the taste of sake freshly pressed at the brewery.

A tea manufacturer called Hishiwaen, based in Kanagawa Prefecture, is promoting freeze-dried tea cubes in various flavors that can be added to water to make tea.

At the fair, which also highlighted environmentally sustainable businesses, H.E Farm, based in the northern island prefecture of Hokkaido, displayed pumpkins grown at a farm where solar panels were installed above the plants to generate electricity.

Hiroyasu Ishizaki, a section chief at the farm, said the pumpkin, which promotes the company's decarbonization efforts, is already being sold in Taiwan and Hong Kong. He expressed hope of expanding its market in Singapore.

The three-day event, held at the Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre until Saturday, is supported by the Japanese Embassy in Singapore, the Japan Council of Local Authorities for International Relations, and the Japan External Trade Organization, among other organizations.