Exciting Collaboration of Renowned Chefs and High School Students at Fukushima Sweets Festival in Tokyo

Fukushima Sweets Festival 2026

From February 20 to 23, 2026, the Fukushima Sweets Festival will be held at Yoyogi Park in Shibuya, Tokyo. This unique event is co-sponsored by the towns of Okuma, Tomioka, Naraha, and Hirono, alongside the Sankei Shimbun, and aims to promote recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake and the subsequent nuclear disaster. The festival will feature a variety of sweet treats made from local Fukushima specialties.

In 2022, the festival began with a contest called the Fukushima Challenge Cup, where high school students showcased their creativity by creating desserts using local ingredients. Four talented high school teams, each winning awards from their respective towns, will collaborate with four renowned chefs to offer four exclusive sweets, each available in limited quantities of 1,000 units, priced at 1,000 yen each.

Featured Sweets

Okuma Town's Kiwi Parfait

Awarded the Okuma Prize, the first creation comes from Shota Kurosaki from the International TBC Culinary and Pastry School. This delightful parfait layers gold kiwi sauce, milk panna cotta, kiwi sorbet, and milk soft serve, topped with a kiwi marshmallow.

Tomioka Town's Parfait Passion Noix de Coco

Under the direction of Chef Tetsu Shimada from Patissier Shima, this dessert created by Hiroki Kawahara from Okayama Sanyo High School combines pistachio ganache, passion fruit cream, sponge, and coconut blancmange. This sophisticated treat is crowned with a ginger and passion fruit gel, enhancing its depth of flavor.

Naraha Town's Tea-Flavored Sweet Potato Parfait

This sweet creation, awarded the Naraha Prize, comes from the duo Aoi Wakita and Mimika Kida of Nambu High School. Created in collaboration with Chef Daisuke Mori of En Vedette, the parfait features a delicious blend of sweet potato, cream cheese, and citrus kalamansi jelly, resulting in a refreshing taste.

Hirono Town's Lumiére

The Hirono Prize winning entry combines sautéed banana with banana mousse, caramel sauce, and crisp crumble, presented elegantly by students Hinata Setoguchi and Hinaka Mizumoto from Kamimura Gakuen High School, and chocolatier Miki Kobayashi from Palace Hotel Tokyo. This dessert is a luxurious treat fit for any occasion.

Special Snack Booths

In addition to delightful sweets, the festival will feature booths selling regional snacks using local ingredients. These include:

- Shikaku Kiwi: A delightful kiwi pastry priced at 1,934 yen per six-pack, bringing a blend of sweetness and tartness.
- Tomioka Passion Fruit Chocolates: Bi-polar chocolate with a core of passion fruit caramel offered at 1,836 yen per ten-piece box.
- Naraha Baked Sweet Potato: Available for 490 yen, this delicious bite-sized treat cleverly uses byproducts from sweet potato processing.
- Banana Bano: Priced at 200 yen for a pack of five, incorporating freeze-dried banana into its dough for a delightful flavor.

This festival not only showcases the rich flavors of Fukushima's specialties but also highlights the collaboration between youth and renowned culinary professionals, fostering creativity and community spirit. Attendees can indulge in the mouthwatering dishes while supporting the revitalization of Fukushima.

A Wider Celebration

The Fukushima Sweets Festival coincides with Japan's largest seafood gourmet festival, SAKANA & JAPAN FESTIVAL, emphasizing the importance of local cuisine and seafood culture. Additionally, the Discovery! Fukushima Fish Festival will feature fresh catches from Fukushima's waters, ensuring an exciting gastronomic experience for all visitors.

Be part of this joyful celebration from February 20 to 23, 2026, at Yoyogi Park, Tokyo, where sweetness meets social responsibility, and indulge in the creativity born from the spirit of Fukushima's youth.

Join us as we support Fukushima through delicious sweetness!

Event Details:

- When: February 20 (Fri) - 23 (Mon, national holiday), 2026
- Where: Yoyogi Park, Shibuya, Tokyo
- Sponsors: Okuma Town, Tomioka Town, Naraha Town, Hirono Town, Sankei Shimbun

For further details, follow the official updates and get ready for a sweet adventure!