Italy Sushi Cup: the first edition

26/02/2025

For the first time in our country, Italy Sushi Cup is on its way – a competition that will crown the best Italian sushiman and select Italy’s representative for the World Sushi Cup 2025 in Tokyo, the global finale of the contest featuring the world’s most skilled non-Japanese chefs.

Organized by AIRG – the Italian Association of Japanese Restaurateurs, the first Italian edition of the contest will take place on the 28 of May 2025, in Vercelli, the European Rice Capital. The city serves as the perfect bridge between Japanese and Italian cultures, united by the rice tradition. Mundi Riso, a Vercelli-based company that promotes its territory on an international level, is honored to collaborate on the event with its sushi rice brand New Kenji as the Main Partner.

Supported by MAFF – the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, AJSA – All Japan Sushi Association and WSSI – World Sushi Skill Institute, the only training institute recognized by the Japanese government, the Sushi Cup will feature a day of competition. During this day, participants – all professional chefs – will face three main challenges that assess their skills in ingredient preparation, the harmonious composition of dishes and personal creativity.

Presented during a press conference with interventions by WSSI Director Hirotoshi Ogawa, Vercelli Province President Davide Gilardino and Vercelli Mayor Roberto Scheda, the first Italy Sushi Cup boasts an exceptional jury composed of sushiman Gentaro Yamazaki, Italian sushi pioneer Minoru Hirazawa, and chefs Alon Than, Junko Kawada and Julian Costantin. The contest – which will be held in the professional kitchen of Ciosf in Vercelli – will also be preceded by two days of intensive training on sushi techniques and values, on the 26th and 27th of May, led by master Yamazaki.

With the Patronage of the Consulate General of Japan in Milan, the Piedmont Region, the Province of Vercelli and the City of Vercelli, the competition invites all professionals in the art of sushi who wish to put their skills to the test.

For more information, please consult the official website: https://www.italysushicup.it/