STORY OF DISCOVERY
Mission
Bringing the vibrant flavors of Japanese cuisine to Switzerland, we aim to celebrate, share, and unite through a delicious journey of culinary discovery at the Japan Food Fest.
Vision
We envision a community in Switzerland connected by the joy of Japanese cuisine, fostering culinary discovery and lasting memories through the Japan Food Fest.
Origin
Pia Henzelmann, the founder and organizer of Japan Food Fest, who has a deep passion for Japanese food and culture, attended the Swiss Kansaijin Kai’s New Year Party in January 2020 at Burgbach-Saal, Zug. Her experience at this event along with her longing for discovering more Japanese food within the limited selection at cultural events in Switzerland, inspired her to create an event dedicated entirely to Japanese food.
With her extensive experience in event management and the initial support of UniCon (a verein), she launched the pilot of her passion project, Japan Food Fest, in July 2022 at Burgbach-Saal, Zug.
To this date, Japan Food Fest is solely organized by Pia but it would not have been possible without the enthusiastic volunteers, the support from friends and family, and the invaluable trust and advice from the Swiss-Japanese community.
Learn more about the journey of Japan Food Fest and get to know Pia below!
2025
● 11,000 attendees
● Over 30 stands with authentic Japanese food and products
● First time in Zürich and at a professional venue
● First time as a 3-day event and over Easter weekend with a full day program
● Several repeat visitors enjoying multiple days to try all the food offerings
2024
● 4,000 attendees
● Over 20 stands with authentic Japanese food and products – maximum capacity of the venue
● Held in Spring for the first time
● Launch of contests and karaoke on stage to engage the audience
● Social media influencers visited and shared their experience online
2023
● Over 1,000 attendees
● 18 stands – 2x increase in participation
● Improvement in waste reduction
● Highlight vegan and vegetarian food options
● Launch of a stage program featuring live traditional music, a Taiko show, and informative talks about Japanese cuisine
● Improved overall guest experience
2022
● Over 1,500 attendees
● 9 stands – 6 food, 2 drinks, 1 non-food
● Most of the food stands sold out, highlighting the popularity of the offerings
● Multiple origami workshops for children
● This event was held in the first summer after COVID restrictions were fully lifted
● Supported by the verein UniCon
A PASSION PROJECT BY A JAPANESE FOOD LOVER
MEET THE ORGANIZER
Pia Henzelmann developed a love for Japanese food at a young age and has since actively sought out experiences and events to try Japanese food in Switzerland. Japan Food Fest is a passion project that she dedicates her free time and personal resources to.
As a full-time Project and Events Manager, Pia has over 10 years of event management experience. Her background includes working for Google and volunteering to various events such as the JapAniManga Night, HeroFest, Unicon, and the PMI Switzerland, among others.
In Summer 2025, Pia was in Japan for 2.5 months to learn Japanese (N5) and experience first hand how food festivals and events were celebration. Upcoming JFFs will reflect her learnings!
In her spare time, Pia enjoys spending time with her husband and cats, watching films, or taking social breaks to recharge from the busy life of an event manager.
Favorite Japanese food: Zaru soba, Unagi don, Okonomiyaki
Favorite Japanese drink: Calpis soda, Horoyoi Honeylemon
