Taste th e Influence: The Spread of Gastro-Diplomacy in Asia.

Diverse efforts not only by the private enterprises but also by the national gov-ernments clearly prove the growing significance of soft power. This paper spe-cifically zooms into food as a potential means to strengthen national image, crucial to soft power. Focusing on the development of gastro-diplomacy poli-cies in Thailand, Japan, and Republic of Korea, this analysis argues that food can serve as an effective method of increasing soft power. This point is proved through the measurements of Country Branding Index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]