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Art of tuna grading
400 years of knife making
Sushi art
Mission
At Provenance Japan, we are dedicated to bringing exceptional produce from Japanese artisans to the world. Our mission is to celebrate and preserve the rich heritage of Japanese food culture by connecting global customers with the finest and most authentic Japanese food products. We take pride in curating a diverse range of premium items that embody the essence of Japan's culinary traditions.
COMMITMENT
Provenance Japan is committed to fostering direct relationships with local producers and suppliers in Japan. By prioritizing provenance and sustainability, we strive to ensure that our customers receive products of the highest quality while supporting the livelihoods of Japanese artisans and farmers. Our dedication to ethical sourcing and fair trade practices underscores our passion for promoting the legacy of Japanese food craftsmanship.
DISCOVER ARTISANAL JAPAN
Provenance Japan is embarking on a journey to explore the rich tapestry of Japanese food heritage. We aim to showcase the expertise and artistry of skilled Japanese fishers, farmers and producers offering an authentic taste of Japan's diverse culinary landscape. From traditional delicacies to innovative creations, each product has a story of time-honored techniques and uncompromising dedication to quality we aim to convey.
Alistair Douglas
Founder
My introduction to Japan started in 1984 in high school where I began learning Japanese from Mr. Hiroshi Haga - a tall, fit, fierce looking Japanese man whom, with a three dan black belt in karate, used to slam the desk with his knuckles if students were misbehaving! Haga sensei taught us not just his language, but also the reason to study his language - the beauty of his culture, the food and the nature of Japan. I decided in his classes that I would visit his homeland one day.
That day came in 1993, when I took a gap year to take up a working holiday position in a factory near Kyoto welding sports car exhausts. Within a week I was at Suzuka in the pits with our company's GTR and two Porsches in races. Soon I was playing rugby for three different teams, volunteering in English classes at the local Community Centre, and could often be found wondering through the amazing temples, gardens, stores and markets of Kyoto. I was hooked.
Upon returning to Australia to continue my marine biology studies I enrolled in a dual degree adding Japanese language, which led to an eventual scholarship to study in Hokkaido - the north island of Japan known as dai shizen (big nature). The island is the food bowl of the nation possessing a rich and diverse seafood industry. This is where my fascination with tuna began to blossom.
Although I was already interested in tuna from a biological and fisheries management perspective, I was getting more hooked by this icon of Japan's sushi industry the deeper I went. To the point of embarking upon post graduate studies into the sashimi grade qualities of tuna in Australia's new Southern bluefin ranching industry culminating in a PhD at the world famous Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo.
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After graduating I set up a company in Japan to import and sell tuna at auctions around the country, to eventually exporting Japanese seafood and wagyu to a joint venture in Singapore and a company in the UK.
I am as passionate about Japan as I am about the power of storytelling to help bring about responsible and equitable food production. I have founded Provenance Japan to share that passion with others.
