Google Maps reviews: mochi mentions up 168% in Tokyo, matcha booming worldwide
Google analysed Maps reviews, ratings and directions requests to publish food trends and its 2026 Fan-Favorite Dining List for ten cities. In Tokyo, reviews mentioning mochi rose 168% year on year, which Google links partly to record inbound tourism. Matcha grew by double digits in almost every city, and hojicha mentions in London jumped 114%.
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In an SPinno survey of 224 people aged 23-65, 65.2% said they had seen in-store POP, posters or menus they thought were made with generative AI. Of those, 37.7% said their impression of the store improved and 21.9% said it worsened; 69.0% of people in their 20s reacted positively, while 29.9% of women reacted negatively. Top requests were disclosing AI use and checking for odd text, images and gaps from the real product.
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According to JETRO, Thailand's FDA says a new notification on packaged-food labelling will soon be published in the Royal Gazette and take effect the next day. It adds sesame to the allergen list and names specific tree nuts, drops the country-of-manufacture requirement for export-only food, and sets conditions for optional digital labels. Products labelled under the current Notification No. 450 may be sold for two years after it takes effect.
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Tribeck has published a guide to the legal changes companies in Japan need to prepare for in the second half of 2026, including measures against customer harassment, sexual harassment of job applicants, revisions to the Whistleblower Protection Act and a major overhaul of the Labour Standards Act, with expected timing and which teams are affected. Customer-facing shops, restaurants and salons are directly concerned.
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JETRO reports that Central Market, an upscale Texas supermarket, held its supplier showcase in Dallas on October 8, where four Japanese food makers presented seasonings, yuzu drinks, persimmons, prepared foods and more to buyers. Participants reported positive reactions, including concrete price talks. A buyer said they want products with a story, rarity and premium appeal rather than Japanese foods found everywhere.
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The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries instructed Tsurihachi Co., Ltd. to correct its labelling after it listed only “UK” as the origin of mackerel in a salted mackerel product for business use, when the fish came from Norway and the UK. The company must also find the cause and prevent a recurrence.
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