On May 5 (Tuesday, national holiday), Anniversaire Minatomirai Yokohama held "First French 2026," a special event designed to let children take center stage at the dining table. The event, which first launched in 2023 as part of the company's ESG initiatives, was held for the fourth consecutive year, welcoming 20 families and 69 attendees in total. Children between the ages of 4 and 9 enjoyed a full French course meal, table manner lessons, a unique Antarctica-themed program, and hands-on chef and pastry chef experiences. A post-event survey recorded 100% participant satisfaction.
Special Talk by a "South Pole Chef"
One of the highlights of this year's event was a special talk by Anniversaire chef Taka Taga, who had spent approximately 15 months serving as a cook for the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition and returned to Japan at the end of February. He shared stories of life in the extreme polar environment and brought back actual Antarctic ice for participants to experience up close. The children listened in rapt attention as thousands-of-years-old air was released from the melting ice, sparking their curiosity about the natural world.
Aiming to Become a "French Master"
Dressed in original chef's hats, the children dove into the world of French dining. The event covered proper table manners — including how to use napkins and cutlery — in a practical and engaging format. As in previous years, the open kitchen was used for live cooking demonstrations by professional chefs and pastry chefs, with children watching up close as dishes were prepared right in front of them, experiencing the sights, sounds, and aromas first-hand.
Additional activities included plating sauce onto freshly prepared meat dishes, serving food to each table, and decorating cakes and desserts based on family requests. The full process of creating, serving, and eating was woven into the experience, offering children a meaningful introduction to food culture and the world of culinary professionals. At the close of the event, children handed their chefs a request card listing dishes they'd like to eat next time, and in return received an original "French Master" certificate in recognition of the day's efforts.
Event Highlights
Food and Ingredients Quiz — Families tackled questions about ingredients and cooking tools together, making it an interactive learning opportunity for parents and children alike.
Original Drinks — Children mixed their favorite syrups and juices and topped them off with decorations to create their own original beverages.
French Course Meal Experience — Using the same glassware and cutlery as adult guests, children experienced a proper French multi-course meal for the very first time.
Professional Live Demonstrations — Using the open kitchen, chefs performed live cooking demonstrations right in front of the children.
Chef Experience — Wearing cook's uniforms, children added the finishing sauce to freshly prepared meat dishes.
Pastry Chef Experience — Children decorated cakes and ice cream to fulfill their family members' requests.
Original French Manner Certificate — Children wrote their menu requests for next time and received a special certificate in return.
Voices from Participants
Attendees shared their impressions in a post-event survey:
"Every time I visit for a wedding anniversary or other special occasion, I remember that day all over again. The hospitality is always wonderful and moving."
"My child decorated a cake and said, 'I made it with love for you, Mama!' — that made me so happy."
"The chefs and pastry chefs performed right in front of us, so our child really threw themselves into saucing the meat and making sweets — completely absorbed in it."
"We've taught knife and fork etiquette at home before, but today our child used them better than I expected. It was a chance to see real growth — I was so proud."
