FOODPICT is a Sponsor of the Osaka-Kansai Expo

FOODPICT Inc. (Head office: Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture; CEO: Nobutaka Kikuchi) will be a participating supplier at the Osaka-Kansai Expo, which opens in April this year, and will provide food pictograms, which visually communicate the ingredients contained in dishes and foods, to food and beverage facilities within the venue. In addition, our team, which is made up of doctors, registered dietitians, chefs, designers, etc., will provide support as needed, helping to provide a safe and comfortable dining experience for visitors from all over the world.

©️ FOODPICT & NDC Graphics

It is expected that 28 million people will visit the Osaka-Kansai Expo, and preparations are underway to ensure that a wide variety of food and drink options will be available at the site. In addition, 3.5 million visitors are expected from overseas, and with roughly one in three people in the world having food they "cannot eat" due to allergies, vegetarianism, or religious reasons, the Expo site will also need to cater to a variety of food cultures and eating habits.

Therefore, in cooperation with exhibitors providing food and drink at the venue, we are working to display FOODPICTS that allow visitors from Japan and abroad to understand the ingredients used at a glance, and to create an environment where anyone can confidently choose a meal that suits them. This initiative will prevent misunderstandings and miscommunication due to language and cultural differences, provide peace of mind to visitors, and help reduce the burden on employees.

Photo: Example of a display at the food court inside the venue (taken during a test run on April 5, 2025)

What are FOODPICTS?

FOODPICTS are pictograms for food ingredients that were developed based on an international survey of 1,500 people around the world regarding comprehension, visibility, and necessity, in accordance with the guidelines of ISO (International Organization for Standardization), JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards), and CUD (Color Universal Design).

It has been adopted by over 1,600 hotels, restaurants, and food packaging from 100 companies across Japan, including at Narita, Haneda and Kansai airports, which are Japan's gateways. It has also been used at the Japanese government's welcoming party at the Milan Expo, and at international conferences such as the G20 Osaka Summit and the G7 Hiroshima Summit. FOODPICT has also received awards such as the Nikkei MJ Award for Excellence in the 2019 Nikkei Excellent Product and Service Awards from Nikkei Inc. and the Kansai Inbound Grand Prix Special Award from the METI-Kinki Bureau of Economy, Trade, and Industry.

Comment from Nobutaka Kikuchi, CEO of FOODPICT Inc.

We are extremely honored to be a participating supplier in the operation of the Osaka Kansai Expo and to be able to help provide hospitality to visitors from Japan and abroad. We will work hard in cooperation with the food and beverage vendors who will be exhibiting at the Expo to create an environment where all visitors to the Expo can enjoy their meals worry-free.

Furthermore, we will use our efforts at the Expo site as an opportunity to further develop this initiative in cooperation with many companies and organizations, so that we can create an environment in which Japan's food and beverage industry can more easily respond to diverse dietary needs.

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The theme of the Osaka-Kansai Expo is "Designing Future Society for Our Lives." Toward the realization of this grand vision, FOODPICT will contribute by starting with food, which is familiar to everyone. For interviews regarding this initiative, please contact the following:

FOODPICT Inc.

Established: January 23, 2017

Representative: CEO Nobutaka Kikuchi

Head office: 3-4 Suidosuji, Nada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 657-0831

Details: https://www.foodpict.com

Contact: hello@foodpict.com