Japan's wine world is once again gearing up for the biggest event of the year: Foodex Japan 2001, the massive annual international food and drinks event to be held March 13-16 in the sprawling halls of the Nippon Convention Center (Makuhari Messe). The 26th Foodex Japan will be the most spectacular one to date, with more than 27,000 sq. meters of hall space devoted to exhibitions by 2,460 companies (1,800 from overseas and 660 domestic).

Many of the 68 countries participating will exhibit their wines. So pronounced has the emphasis on wine become at this extraordinary event that it could just as well be called Winex. Like the international passion for wine itself, Foodex Japan has grown remarkably each year since its inception in 1976, becoming the premier event of its kind in both Asia and the Pacific Rim.

Among the highlights of Foodex Japan 2001 will be a number of wine seminars, including the free-of-charge World Wine Seminar 2001 (given only in Japanese). This will focus on compatible marriages of food and wine, along with presentations of regional wines. I hope the seminar will depart from Japanese television's traditional obsession with pairing up wine only with such Western delicacies as foie gras, and will discuss which wines to drink with Japanese fare.