One of Japan's most popular hot-spring resorts is helping a city in New Zealand to harness steam from its hot springs to cook food.
Beppu, Oita Prefecture, is renowned for its "jigokumushi" (hell steaming) cuisine. It is sharing that know-how with Rotorua, a sister city in New Zealand that likewise has hot springs.
"It is our first foray overseas and we are proud of it," said an official in the Beppu Municipal Government. "We hope exchanges between Japan and New Zealand will also flourish."