Abstract
Is it possible to train Mushroom Meisters. with comprehensive professional qualifications regarding mushrooms as a way to promote the mushroom industry and mushroom consumption? This paper looks back on the 13 years of practical experience stemming from this proposition, and clarifies its characteristics and future prospects.
Why do we need Mushroom Meisters? It is essential to improve the balance between the increase in domestic edible mushroom production and the demand, and to support the spread of mushroom consumption that is commensurate with the amount of supply.
In addition, the number of people suffering from lifestyle-related diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease, which pose serious challenges, is increasing, and as a consequence, people are faced with increasing medical bills. Mycophagists believe that mushrooms can help resolve these problems.
Over the past 13 years, a total of 953 qualified people have been certified nationwide, including 716 basic Mushroom Meisters. They play a major role in popularizing mushroom consumption in daily diets. This is because there are Mushroom Meisters in various fields, such as production, eating and drinking, processing, logistics, research, entertainment (e.g., celebrities and comedians), and civil servants.
To follow the activities of Mushroom Meisters, there is a comprehensive magazine on mushrooms called “Quarterly Kinoko”, and the mycophagist issue of the magazine also plays a role in mushroom dissemination activities.
In the future, I hope that Mushroom Meisters nationwide will demonstrate their qualified social significance and take the lead in the well-balanced spread of mushroom production and consumption. It is also hoped that society will recognize this qualification and increase the number of qualified personnel.
