Clearspring’s founder and chairman Christopher Dawson recently received the Award for Overseas Promotion of Japanese Food 2007 from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan, for his distinguished contribution to the promotion of Japanese organic food across Europe.

Christopher was presented with his award at the ceremony held in Tokyo on 25 May. A total of five individuals around the world were recognized for their work in promotion of Japanese cuisine overseas, with Christopher being the only non-Japanese recipient. Among the other recipients was Nobuyuki Matsuhisa, founder of the world famous chain of Nobu restaurants.

Junichiro Koizumi, well known throughout the world as a longstanding Prime Minister of Japan has been the driver behind this programme to promote Japanese foodstuffs abroad.

Subsequently, on 18 June the Japanese Embassy in the UK and JETRO (the Japan External Trade Organization) organized a follow up event here in London where Christopher gave a lecture on his activities promoting traditional Japanese foods since 1977.