#Japan #Sweets Koshien #Fukushima #High School Students

Finalists for the Sweets Koshien Fukushima Challenge Cup

The highly anticipated finals of the Sweets Koshien Fukushima Challenge Cup have been announced, having received a staggering total of 547 entries. This contest celebrates sweet creations made with local Fukushima ingredients and is co-hosted by the towns of Okuma, Tomioka, Naraha, and Hirono, along with Sankei Shimbun.

After a rigorous selection process conducted by esteemed chefs, 12 finalists were chosen across 4 categories: Kiwi (Okuma), Passion Fruit (Tomioka), Sweet Potato (Naraha), and Banana (Hirono). Each category features three groups, who will showcase their dessert creations in the final event, scheduled for August 24th at J-Village, located in Naraha and Hirono.

The competition aims to highlight the deliciousness and appeal of Fukushima's local specialties and to support the region's recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake and the subsequent nuclear disaster, using sweets as a medium of expression. The event also aligns with the 18th installment of the Sweets Koshien: National High School Pastry Chef Championship.

Finalists by Category

Kiwi Category (Okuma)

• - Aimi Kuribayashi & Atsuya Mukai (Kagoshima: Kamimura Gakuen High School)
• - Elena Yamakawa (Kyoto: Rakuhoku High School)
• - Shota Kurozaki (Tochigi: International TBC Culinary and Pâtisserie School)

Passion Fruit Category (Tomioka)

• - Noa Yamanaka & Anri Mizutani (Mie: Ogaka High School)
• - Hiroki Kawahara (Okayama: Okayama Sanyo High School)
• - Manaha Takahashi (Tokyo: Le Cordon Bleu Tokyo High School)

Sweet Potato Category (Naraha)

• - Kokusei Kimura & Karin Iwamoto (Okayama: Okayama Sanyo High School)
• - Aoi Wakita & Mimasaka Kida (Wakayama: Nambu High School)
• - Saki Tanaka & Funo Harada (Miyagi: Miyagi Prefectural Izaka High School)

Banana Category (Hirono)

• - Haruka Setoguchi & Hinaka Mizumoto (Kagoshima: Kamimura Gakuen High School)
• - Yota Iwashita & Taki Nakajima (Aichi: Shubun Academy High School)
• - Yuka Nodate & Aiharu Suzuki (Fukushima: Fukushima Prefectural Iwaki First High School)

About the Competition

The Sweets Koshien Fukushima Challenge Cup not only provides a platform for high school students who have a passion for pastry making but also encourages creativity using local ingredients. It emphasizes collaboration between experienced chefs and young talents, allowing the finalists to further develop their recipes and skills.

Winners in each category receive the prestigious town awards—Okuma, Tomioka, Naraha, and Hirono—and an opportunity to collaborate with chefs to create special sweets using local produce, which will be sold at the “Fukushima Sweets Festival” held in February at Yoyogi Park, Tokyo. This initiative aims to utilize the power of sweets to support recovery and revitalization in the region.

A Message from the Advisor

Yukiko Ohmori, the competition advisor, expressed her excitement regarding the high quality of the entries this year, noting how each selected entry paid incredible respect to the ingredients used. She looks forward to witnessing the passionate competition among the finalists at the grand event.

Competition Details

• - Name: Sweets Koshien Fukushima Challenge Cup
• - Co-hosts: Okuma, Tomioka, Naraha, Hirono, Sankei Shimbun
• - Special Cooperation: J-Village
• - Affiliated Organizations: Various local clubs and businesses
• - Backers: Reconstruction Agency, Ministry of Education, Fukushima Prefecture
• - Awards: Each category winner will receive respective town awards.
• - Final Event: August 24, 2025, at J-Village
• - Broadcast: Special feature on BS Fuji scheduled for September
• - Official website: Sweets Challenge Cup