KITAKYUSHU -- The government of this southwestern Japan city with a vibrant fish-eating culture will establish a "sushi capital city division" on April 1 as part of its organizational reform to boost tourism.

The Kitakyushu Municipal Government aims to attract tourists including foreign visitors by strengthening the branding of "a gourmet food city" with Kitakyushu's sushi culture at its core.

Surrounded by rich fishing grounds like the Hibiki-nada Sea and Suo-nada Sea, Kitakyushu boasts a thriving fish-eating culture, with a variety of fish species being landed and with the highest household expenditure on sashimi assortments nationwide, according to statistics by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. The local public and private sectors have been working together to enhance the recognition of sushi culture and increase visitor numbers, forming the "sushi capital city Kitakyushu council" in August 2024 comprising the city government, sushi restaurants and tourism businesses.

The city has allocated 17 million yen (about $111,000) in its initial budget bill for fiscal 2025. The sushi capital city division will be set up within the urban brand creation bureau's tourism promotion department, starting with a team of three. It will develop travel products combining accommodation and sushi and offer sushi-making experiences at tourist sites such as Kokura Castle.

Mayor Kazuhisa Takeuchi stated, "Sushi is a globally recognized item. It will be a powerful tool to attract many visitors to Kitakyushu."

(Japanese original by Chie Yamashita, Kyushu News Department)