The 19th Sweets Koshien Championship: A Quest for Japan's Best Young Pastry Chefs

The highly anticipated 19th Sweets Koshien Championship is about to commence, taking place nationwide with the preliminary rounds set to kick off on August 6, 2023. This renowned contest, hosted by Sankei Shimbun and supported by KAI Corporation, aims to identify Japan's finest young pastry chefs from high schools across the country.

A total of 24 teams successfully passed initial evaluations and will compete in two geographical blocks: West Japan and East Japan, each featuring 12 teams. The theme for this year's competition is "Birthday Cakes," allowing participants to showcase their creativity and technical skills in pastry making.

Each block’s competition will conduct cooking trials, where the aspiring pastry chefs will be evaluated by a panel of distinguished judges, ultimately selecting six teams from each region to advance to the national finals.

This year's event promises to be riveting, offering insights into the dedication and passion of these young talents who are chasing their dreams of becoming professional pastry chefs. Spectators can witness the action through official highlights streamed later on the event's YouTube channel.

Competition Schedule and Teams

West Japan Block

Date: August 6, 2023
Venue: Tokyo Bell Époque Pastry and Cooking School

Competing Teams:

- Fukuchiyama Shukutoku High School (Kyoto) - Suzuran
- Le Cordon Bleu High School Osaka (Osaka) - Espoir
- Nara Women's High School (Nara) - Trefle
- Ikusei Cooking School (Hyogo) - Notre Scène
- Okayama Sanyo High School (Okayama) - Lumiere
- Hiroshima Prefectural Technical High School (Hiroshima) - Se wo Hayami
- Iizuka High School (Fukuoka) - Zero
- Daito Seiran High School (Fukuoka) - Yumeiro Daito
- Koyo High School (Nagasaki) - Reliance
- Keisei High School (Kumamoto) - Bonheur
- Kamikura Gakuen High School (Kagoshima) - Ailes Bonheur
- Kamikura Gakuen High School (Kagoshima) - Étoile

East Japan Block

Date: August 10, 2023
Venue: Tokyo Bell Époque Pastry and Cooking School

Competing Teams:

- Mikasa High School (Hokkaido) - Les Étoiles
- Mikasa High School (Hokkaido) - Teruya-san
- Noda Kamata Gakuen Technical School (Chiba) - Avenir
- Kokusaikyoritsu High School (Tokyo) - Trois Lumières
- Kokusai Seika Technical School (Tokyo) - Fleurir
- Tokyo Agricultural High School (Tokyo) - Jasmine
- Noda Kamata Gakuen Suginami Technical School (Tokyo) - Fearless
- Noda Kamata Gakuen Suginami Technical School (Tokyo) - My Way
- Noda Kamata Gakuen Yokohama Technical School (Kanagawa) - Entraide
- Noda Kamata Gakuen Yokohama Technical School (Kanagawa) - Gypsophila
- Jonan Technical School (Gifu) - Élan
- Jonan Technical School (Gifu) - Encoré

About the Sweets Koshien Championship

The Sweets Koshien Championship serves as a platform for high school students to form teams of three and compete in pastry creations, fostering both culinary skills and cultural understanding through sweets. Established in 2008, this competition not only provides a venue for self-fulfillment but also cultivates future pastry chefs in Japan.

Awards and Recognition

The champion team will receive an exciting trip to Tahiti as part of their prize, marking a significant achievement in their young careers.

The event is supported by notable corporate sponsors, including Tully's Coffee Japan, the Dover Liquor Foundation, Nakazawa Dairy Co., Nippon Flour Mills Co., Fujiya Co., and Sumitomo Mont Blanc Co. and is backed by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology. The championship serves as a testament to the future of the pastry industry, as young chefs showcase their skills and creativity on a national stage.