Matsuya, a chain of restaurants that serves rare dishes from around the world, will be serving Lithuanian-themed dishes from the 22nd. The ambassador to Japan will be the manager for one day. ■The ambassador is "delighted" after hearing the customers' impressions A car arrived in Roppongi, Tokyo. Alighting was Aurelius Zykas, the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the Lithuanian Embassy in Japan. The ambassador had a special "mission" - to be the manager for one day at Matsuya, a major chain of restaurants. This time, Matsuya collaborated with Lithuanian cuisine to develop a menu. It was released nationwide, and the ambassador will be the manager for one day. The collaborative menu is "Lithuanian-style white sauce hamburger." It features a white sauce packed with the aroma of mushrooms and the delicious flavor of bacon. Ambassador Zikas: "How does it taste?" A customer who tried the collaboration menu: "It really goes well with rice. The flavor is packed in, with the aroma of garlic. It's a taste that captures the hearts of Japanese people." Ambassador Zikas: "That's great, I'm happy." ■ Decision made based on the ambassador's wife's cooking Lithuania is one of the three Baltic states. It has a population of approximately 2.82 million (as of 2022). It is known for its beautiful nature and agriculture is thriving. It is also known as the "Land of Forests," and it is said that as many as 200 types of mushrooms grow wild in southern Lithuania. Why did Matsuya decide to sell Lithuanian cuisine? Matsuya Foods Sales Promotion Planning Department, Kumagai Yuki: "In the year leading up to the Tokyo Olympics, we wanted the people of Japan to try various cuisines from all over the world." The first product to be commercialized in 2019 was the Georgian dish "Shkmeruli." One person immediately responded to this. It was Georgian Ambassador to Japan, Rejava. The "Shkmeruli Hotpot Set Meal" became a big topic of conversation after the ambassador, who has over 300,000 followers, posted on social media. Lithuanian Ambassador Zikas also took action after learning about this. From Zikas Ambassador's X (February) "Please introduce Lithuanian cuisine as well!" Matsuya approached the Lithuanian Embassy in February, hoping to make a collaboration menu a reality! Matsuya received this "offer", and when a representative visited the Lithuanian Embassy, ​​Ambassador Zikas' wife, Christina, treated them to Lithuanian cuisine. The dish is a hamburger steak topped with a mushroom white sauce, a "mother's taste" that Zikas has often eaten since childhood. The collaboration menu is an adaptation of this dish. It seems that they tried and tested it to get closer to the Lithuanian taste. Christina tasted it four times and gave her advice. Ambassador Zikas' wife, Christina, "(Q. What advice did you give?) I told her to put in lots of mushrooms." And the most important point when developing the product was... Isozaki: "If it doesn't go well with rice, it won't sell as a set meal. I add a little soy sauce, so that it goes well with rice." If the herbs and spices that characterize the dish are too strong, they won't go well with rice, so it was difficult to find the right balance. ■What are the thoughts behind the collaboration menu? There are people who look forward to each collaboration menu that is completed in this way. A customer who tried the collaboration menu said, "Starting with shkmeruli and cachatora. I've actually never been abroad, so I think this is a great opportunity to experience foreign cultures. I'd like to go to many places in the future." "I didn't know much about Lithuania, but after eating this today, I'm interested." And Georgia's ambassador to Japan, a senior collaborator at Matsuya, also suddenly came to the restaurant. Ambassador Rejava: "Itadakimasu. (Eat...) It's delicious." "We call it MATO, which is a play on NATO. I hope that the number of 'member countries' will increase and that this will lead to peace." What are Ambassador Zikas' thoughts on the collaboration menu? Ambassador Zikas: "Unfortunately, Lithuania is not yet that well known in Japan. I think that through its food, the country's name recognition will increase." And he says that he has a further goal. Ambassador Zikas: "Lithuania exports a lot of different ingredients to Japan, including chicken. I would like them to use Lithuanian ingredients next time. I hope that it will also lead to the economy." ■ What are the effects and reactions of food diplomacy? Matsuya has had various menus for food diplomacy in the past. In January 2020, the Georgian "Shkmeruli Hotpot Set Meal" was released after a trial sale. It is a local dish of chick