Norway-Japan Seafood Seminar 2025

The seminar will provide the Japanese and Norwegian seafood industry a unique opportunity to gain insight into the latest developments and trends within the industry. 

Through inspiring presentations, networking and discussions, participants will be able to exchange knowledge and experience that can help strengthen cooperation between Japan and Norway. 

Join us in exploring new opportunities in the seafood sector! 

Hotel Gajoen in Tokyo serves as the venue for both the Norwegian Seafood Council's seminar and Innovation Norway's seminars. The evening concludes with a joint reception the same venue.

In Japan, Norway is widely known for three things: salmon, mackerel, and its breathtaking nature.

PROGRAM NORWAY AQUACULTURE SEMINAR 

Time: 13:00 - 14:30
Open seminar with a brief update from Norwegian aquaculture companies.  

Hosts – Ms. Kathrine Tveiterås, Director of Business Support and Mr. Børge Lotre, Director Market Insight & Market access, Norwegian Seafood Council

• 13:05 – 13:20 Overview of Norwegian aquaculture production, Mr. Børge Lotre, Director Market Insight & Market access, NSC  

• 13:20 – 13:35 Salmon production, Mr. Sverre Søraa, CEO, Coast Seafood AS 

• 13:35 – 13:50 Fjord Trout production, Mr. Koki Yotsui, Director Japan, Lerøy  

• 13:50 – 14:05 Snow Cod, production, Mr. Ola Kvalheim, CEO, Ode

• 14:05 – 14:15 Q&A with all speakers  

   

PROGRAM NORWAY SEAFOOD SEMINAR 

Time: 15:00 – 18:00 

Norway Seafood Seminar: Securing tasty and healthy seafood   
Overview: In a world with increased trade barriers, seafood consumption is on the decline world-wide. How will international trends impact the trade with seafood between Japan and Norway  

• 15:00 – 15:05 Welcome by Ms. Kathrine Tveiterås, Director of Business support, NSC

• 15:05 – 15:30 Opening remarks  

  • Address 1. Ministry of Trade & Industry, Ms. Ranghild Sjoner Syrstad, State Secretary  

  • Address 2. Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Hidenori Nakahira, Director, Fisheries Processing Industries and Marketing Division, Fisheries Agency of JAPAN 

15:30 – 16:15 World-Trade on seafood – trends and threats 

• Presentation “An overview of world-trade on seafood”, Mr Jan Eirik Johnsen, NSC 
• Panel discussions: 
  • Moderator; Mr. Børge Lotre, Director Market Insight and Market Access, NSC
  • Pelagia CSO, Rolf Kristian Våge
  • Ocean Supreme Sales Manager Japan & SE Asia, Elisabeth Haugen
  • KYOKUYO CO., LTD. Manager Marine Products Business Section 2,  
    Taiki Sawada
  • Shokuryu Co., Ltd. Manager Overseas Trade Development Department, Sec 3, Bunsaku Nishina  

16:15 – 16:30     Q&A 

16:30 – 17:00 Coffee break 

17:00 – 17:45: Seafood consumption trends world-wide and in Japan

• Seafood consumption trends
  Mr. Paul Tsai, Market Advisor, Fishery Section, Norwegian Embassy, Tokyo
• Panel discussion:
  Moderator:
  Mr. Johan Kvalheim, Counsellor, Fishery Section Norwegian Embassy, Tokyo
• Panelists:
  • Moderator; Norwegian Embassy, Counsellor, Johan Kvalheim
  • Past Norwegian Trade Council, Project Japan, Market Researcher, Bjørn Eirik Olsen
  • Ode, CEO, Ola Kvalheim
  • Japanese Consumers’ Co-operative Union, Sustainability Strategy Dept. Brand Strategy Div., Satoshi Matsumoto
  • Seven & I Holdings Co., Ltd., Merchandiser, Group Merchandise Strategy & Planning Division, Seven Premium Development Strategy & Planning Department, Yuto Mabuchi 
  • Kura Sushi, Inc., Director & General Manager Public Relations, Advertising & IR Division, Hiroyuki Okamoto 

17:45 – 17:55  Q&A 

NORWEGIAN SEAFOOD RECEPTION

Time: 18:30 - 21:00

Hosted by The Norwegian Embassy, Innovation Norway and the Norwegian Seafood Council.