“Washoku World Challenge” is a Japanese cuisine competition organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan for non-Japanese chefs who are deeply interested in Japanese cuisine and who are eager to improve their knowledge and skills.

This year marks the 11th competition of the Washoku World Challenge. Approaching the 10th anniversary of the registration of “WASHOKU” as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List, this year’s competition will be a new challenge for Japanese cuisine to make a further leap forward.

This time, three Regional Competitions (Europe, America, and Asia) will be held for the chefs who have passed the document screening: to determine the winners of each region. The European competition will be held in London, the American in New York, and the Asian in Singapore. Each regional competition is open to six competitors.

This year’s theme is “Your Perspective on Japanese”. Using “UMAMI,” the unifying theme of the competition, as the basis for the key elements, please cook with your ideas for Japanese cuisine using Japanese ingredients that are available in the region and environment in which you live. We are looking forward to your application for this great opportunity to show off your Japanese cooking skills.

As Japanese food spreads throughout the world, the values of Japanese cuisine chefs and what is expected of Japanese cuisine chefs are becoming increasingly diverse. Some may offer traditional Japanese cuisine as if they were in a Japanese ryotei restaurant, while others may offer Japanese cuisine that is fused with the local climate and culture. We have chosen this theme in the hope that you will freely express “Your Perspective on Japanese Cuisine”.  It is essential for Japanese cuisine to have Japanese ingredients nurtured in the four seasons of Japan. We look forward to seeing “Your Perspective on Japanese Cuisine” using Japanese ingredients available in your town and making the most of the ingredients’ attractiveness.

Competitions Schedule