The CJPF Awards 2024 was created to promote the Cool Japan strategy to increase the number of Japan fans worldwide by sharing the countries culture with people around the world. Inbound tourism to Japan has bounced back following the COVID-19 pandemic, and interest in visiting the country is at an all-time high. The award in the project category is given to an initiative that helps develop the attractiveness of Japan as a story that can be shared by foreigners and is aimed at overseas development and inbound tourism.

From Left:
Kenichi Watanabe (Director, Cool Japan Public/Private Partnership Platform)
Sebastian Masuda (Artist)
Sanae Takaichi (Minister of State for Special Affairs, Cool Japan Strategy, Cabinet Office)
Takeshi Natsuno (Co-Chairman of Cool Japan Public/Private Partnership Platform, Head of Jury)

 ■ About SUSHIDELIC NY

SUSHIDELIC NY opened in June 2023 in the SoHo district of New York City, an area known to be artistic and unique. The shop was formed as a sushi restaurant with a completely new perspective under the creative direction of Sebastian Masuda, an artist who creates works with bold colors.

Chef Hiroki Abe and Sebastian Masuda collaborated to create an unforgettable menu, fully supported by AUTEC. After moving to the United States in 2001, Abe worked as an executive chef at EN Japanese Brasserie in NYC. He now works as a private chef at corporate events and parties around the U.S. On the technical side, AUTEC, which boasts the number one share of the automatic sushi machine market in North America, is backing up the venture. Though the food itself is delectable, the real joy is being able to touch Sebastian Masuda’s sense of ‘kawaii.’

Following the restaurant’s opening, it was dubbed a “new-generation sushi restaurant” by local media outlets The New York Post and EATER NY. It also appeared in Reuters and was shared with 71 countries around the world. The restaurant has attracted so much attention that reservations were sold out immediately after opening–at one point, the wait list was up to 2,000 people.

SUSHIDELIC NY will continue to update its menu and experiences to match the local season and events in order to introduce Japanese culture with original flare to the world.

The company is also looking for partnerships with corporations interested in collaborating with Japanese pop culture content and opening multiple stores in Japan and overseas, particularly in North America.

[Comments from Project Category Jury]
Chairman of the Jury: Tsuyoshi Natsuno (Co-Chairman, Cool Japan Public-Private Partnership Platform / Distinguished Visiting Professor, Director of the Institute of Informatics, Kinki University)
“By combining sushi with the concept of ‘kawaii,’ we’re creating a new form of Cool Japan, offering the now ubiquitous sushi, popular around the world, with a new twist. We highly commend this year’s Grand Prix as an incredibly worthy attempt.”