Ibaraki Prefecture launches 2026 gourmet competition

Ibaraki Prefecture has launched the kickoff event for the ‘Shin Ibaraki Meshi Sosenkyo 2026’, a culinary competition aimed at establishing new regional food brands to boost tourism and local economies. A total of 82 gourmet entries from all 44 municipalities in the prefecture have been submitted, marking a record high. The competition is divided into two categories: general cuisine and sweets.

Governor Kazuhiko Oikawa emphasized that while Ibaraki produces leading quantities of crops like lotus root, chestnuts, and melons, the prefecture lacks widely recognized signature dishes. The competition seeks to bridge this gap by identifying dishes with high market value and potential as tourism resources.

The selection process involves preliminary voting via the official website and X (formerly Twitter), followed by a final event in Mito City from October 10 to 12. A panel of seven judges, led by former dancyu editor Hiroo Ueno, will select the grand prix winners based on taste, appearance, novelty, and regional development potential. The comedy trio Sanji no Heroine is serving as special judges for the event.