Akiko Iwasa

Akiko Iwasa steps down as director of Vegan Society

On July 16, Akiko Iwasa confirmed that she has stood down as a director of Vegan Society. Akiko has chosen to focus her energies on her Annual Vegetarian Festival in Kyoto, partly funded by the Japanese Vegetarian Society of she is a director, and bringing up her young child.

She is thanked for the good work she put in helping to establish the society.

Though vegetarianism and animal rights activism is still very much in its infancy in Japan, Akiko-san, a petite but passionate ex-veterinarian, opened one of the first Japanese organic, vegetarian restaurants in modern times (2002). Café Peace, as it was called, grew to have an international reputation as one of the best vegan restaurants in the world. It was known not just for its food and ambience, but its commitment to providing information about animals rights, veganism and environmentalism.

Akiko-san stopped being a vet because ultimately she thought vets were for the owners and not for theirs supporting the pet shop industry and its ‘artificial’ dogs.” She became a vegetarian in 2000, facing opposition both personal and professional, but hoped to spread the word on animal abuse believing vegetarianism is the best remedy for humans, animals and the earth.

In 2002, she founded the Vegetarian Festival in Kyoto, actually a vegan festival, and was joined by other small businesses pooling their resources to spread the word on vegetarianism and animal rights. The event was such a success, became an annual event, and Cafe Peace changed from being vegetarian to vegan. An aspiring vegan livefooder, she broadcasted on animal rights/vegetarianism issues on 79.7FM.

She was reported as saying, “Don’t do it for the money. Don’t do it because you think it will catch on. Don’t do it to become famous. Enthusiasm, passion and desire are important. Take it there no matter what”.