The 16th Common Ground International Conference on Food Studies aas held in Japan for the First Time!

～240 Participants from 39 Countries Came to Osaka!～

Dates：October 10–12, 2026

Venue：Osaka University, Toyonaka Campus

Organizers：Japan Food Studies College; Graduate School of Humanities, Osaka University

With the belief that we are partners who work closely with organizers to co-create inspiring experiences, the Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau provides a range of support to help attract MICE events and ensure their successful delivery. Osaka has established a collaborative framework in which the Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau, Osaka Prefecture, Osaka City, and the business community work together to support MICE.

From October 10 to 12, 2026, the 16th International Conference on Food Studies was held jointly by Japan Food Studies College and the Graduate School of Humanities at Osaka University. Through experiential programs that introduced participants to Osaka’s culture, the conference created an opportunity for food-related knowledge from around the world to come together, bringing 240 scholars and researchers from 39 countries to Osaka. Alongside in-person sessions, online presentations also took place, prompting lively discussions that crossed national and disciplinary boundaries. Osaka, the first city in Japan to host this conference, became not only a city where visitors can enjoy food culture, but also an international meeting place for exploring society and the future through food.

The conference welcomed a keynote speaker from the United States, representatives of research networks from South Africa and Mexico, and early-career researchers affiliated with institutions in Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, India, and other countries. Early-career researchers also participated online from institutions in Ethiopia, Australia, Chile, Nigeria, Spain, Argentina, Canada, and elsewhere, demonstrating the breadth of academic exchange connecting diverse regions.

In addition to research presentations, the conference placed importance on networking and cultural experiences. The official program included a networking dinner at Ganko Ishibashi-en in Ikeda City, a performance at Yamamoto Noh Theater, the opportunity to dress in Noh costumes, and hands-on Noh workshops. By experiencing local history, aesthetics, and everyday life through food and traditional performing arts, participants also had an opportunity to discover and share Osaka’s appeal with the world.

■ What are Food Studies?

Food Studies is an interdisciplinary field that explores the connections between people, society, nature, and the environment through food. It asks not only “What do we eat?” but also who produces food, where and how it is produced, transported, and prepared, and with whom it is shared. It also considers the effects that food has on people’s lives and the global environment.

Starting with something as familiar as food, Food Studies draws across disciplines such as history, anthropology, sociology, economics, environmental studies, and nutrition, connecting research with everyday practice. Our food choices are linked to broader social challenges, including mass production and mass consumption, environmental impacts, and inequalities in access to food. Food Studies helps us understand these connections and learn how to create a better future for food.

■ What is the Common Ground International Conference?

Common Ground Research Networks is an international academic network that connects researchers and practitioners across countries and disciplines. It began in 1984 with educational publishing activities in Sydney, Australia, and is now a nonprofit organization registered in Illinois, United States. It promotes knowledge-sharing through academic conferences, journals, and book publishing. Its work spans a wide range of fields, including food, education, the humanities, the arts, and the environment. One of its networks, the Food Studies Research Network, was established in 2011 and has held international conferences in collaboration with universities and research institutions around the world. A distinctive feature is the dialogue it encourages not only among researchers, but also among producers, educators, policymakers, and food practitioners. Osaka hosted the network’s 16th international conference.

For more information about the 16th Common Ground International Conference on Food Studies, please see below.

• The 16th Common Ground International Conference on Food Studies

For more information about the support provided by the Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau, please see below.

• Meeting & Event Support for Organizers