TABLE FOR TWO Celebrates World Food Day 2018
– Change the World with Onigiri (Rice Ball) #OnigiriAction
This fall, TABLE FOR TWO USA (TFT) invites everyone to participate in their “Change the World with Onigiri #OnigiriAction” campaign from October 10th to November 20th. The campaign commemorates World Food Day, established in honor of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization by the UN in 1945. Onigiri Action aims to provide 1 million meals to children in need around the world. As an NPO with roots in Japan, the TABLE FOR TWO USA campaign highlights onigiri (or Japanese rice balls) made from rice, one of Japan’s major agricultural products. In Japan, rice balls are a simple comfort food made for others with love. During the campaign, every photo of a rice ball posted on the Onigiri Action website or social media with #OnigiriAction will provide 5 meals to children in need. Last year, over 108,815 rice ball photos were posted by people from all over the world, providing 975,000 warm school meals. Over 4,500 children were able to eat for an entire school year. The Onigiri Action campaign received the “Asia Marketing Excellence Awards for Marketing 3.0” from the Asia Marketing Federation as a socially responsible marketing program.
To participate, visit the Onigiri Action interactive website to post a photo, or post a photo on your social media with #OnigiriAction. For every onigiri photo posted, our sponsoring organizations (*) will donate 5 school meals to children in need. To participate, please visit: https://onigiri-action.com/en/ (launch on October 3rd). To learn more, visit the Onigiri Action 2017 page: http://jp.tablefor2.org/campaign/onigiri/en/.
As part of the campaign, TABLE FOR TWO will also be hosting onigiri -making workshops in New York City, Washington, DC, Boston, and California, where you can learn to make traditional Japanese rice balls, onigiri. Onigiri, while simple – just rice, savory fillings, and seaweed – form a cornerstone of Japanese cuisine. Event details to be announced soon!
“We are thrilled to launch our World Food Day campaign this fall in an effort to provide meals to children in need,” said Mayumi Uejima-Carr, Co-President of TABLE FOR TWO USA. “We hope as many people as possible take advantage of this opportunity to make a difference in the world while enjoying Japanese 
food.”
*The Onigiri Action 2018 campaign is generously supported by: J.C.C. Fund/Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of New York, JFC International/Nishiki, Japan Commerce Association of Washington D.C. Foundation, Zojirushi America, San-J, ITOCHU International, SMBC Global Foundation, Misuzu Corporation, MUFG Union Bank, N.A, Otafuku Foods, Just One Cookbook, BentOn, Onigilly
In addition, a portion of the proceeds from the products below will be donated towards providing school meals: Nishiki Rice (JFC International), Rice Cooker (Zojirushi America), Tamari Soy Sauce (San-J), Tamaki Quick Cook Brown Rice (ITOCHU International), Over 70 onigiri items (Tokyo Central’s online store), Inari (Misuzu Corporation), Okonomiyaki Pancake Mix (Otafuku Foods), Just One Cookbook eBook – Essential Japanese Recipes (Just One Cookbook), Brown Rice Plum Basil Hijiki Onigiri/Five Grains Konbu Onigiri (BentOn), Onigilly (Onigilly), Onigiri (Hana Japanese Market), Fresh Miso Soup from Miso Soup Dispenser (Marukome), Echigoya Koshihikari (Echigoya), Sushi Workshop for Good (Sushi Chef Institute), Orinigiri workshop (Orinigiri), Miso Onigiri and Shio koji salmon Onigiri (Aedan).
About TABLE FOR TWO USA:
TABLE FOR TWO USA (TFT) is a 501(C)(3) organization that addresses the joint issues of hunger and obesity. First established in Japan in 2007, the organization has expanded to 14 countries, including the United States. In the US, TABLE FOR TWO launched the “Wa-Shokuiku –Learn. Cook. Eat Japanese!- ” (www.wa-shokuiku.org) program to educate American schoolchildren about healthy eating practices, inspired by Japanese culture and cuisine. TABLE FOR TWO runs a unique “meal-sharing” program by partnering with companies, restaurants, and schools to serve healthy TFT-labeled meals. Every meal purchased provides a meal to a child in need. TABLE FOR TWO works to help correct the global food imbalance. For more information about TABLE FOR TWO, please visit: http://usa.tablefor2.org.
