Support Fukushima's Reconstruction with the Power of Sweets! "Sweets Koshien Fukushima Tomioka Town Recipe Challenge" Seeking Idea Recipes Using Local Produce

Tomioka Town in Fukushima Prefecture and Sankei Shimbun are holding the "Sweets Koshien Fukushima Tomioka Town Recipe Challenge," a contest for students nationwide (high school, university, and vocational school students) to compete in creating sweets using Tomioka Town's specialty products, and are seeking idea recipes. The aim is to convey the deliciousness and appeal of Tomioka Town's specialty products and support the reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake and the accident at Tokyo Electric Power Company's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. This is the first spin-off contest, following the "Sweets Koshien No. 1 High School Pastry Chef Competition" which decides Japan's top high school pastry chef, and the "Sweets Koshien Fukushima Challenge Cup," a contest for making sweets using Fukushima's specialty products.

Tomioka Town, with the slogan "Blooming Flowers, A Town Full of Flowers and Greenery," is focusing on cultivating new specialty products such as passion fruit, Shine Muscat grapes, and onions, as well as working on wine production. The theme for the recipes is "Sweets Packed with the Charm of Tomioka Town." Two divisions will be established: the "Fresh Sweets Division" for items like parfaits and cakes, and the "Baked Sweets Division" for items suitable as souvenirs. Idea recipes using at least one of the specialty theme ingredients will be solicited. The top prize in each division will be decided by recipe review by renowned pastry chefs.

Two Divisions: "Fresh Sweets" and "Baked Sweets" - Using at least one theme ingredient.

Recipients of the top prize in each division will receive a prize of the right to jointly develop sweets using Tomioka Town's specialty products with the judging pastry chefs. The developed sweets will be sold at events held in Tokyo. Furthermore, the top prize winners in each division will be appointed "Fukushima Tomioka Town PR Ambassadors" and invited to a study tour of Fukushima Prefecture and events in Tokyo. They will engage in activities to convey the charm of Tomioka Town. Please support the reconstruction of Tomioka Town with the power of sweets packed with the charm of Tomioka Town, devised by all of you! The application deadline is September 4 (Fri) at 5:00 PM. For details on how to apply, please visit the website (http://fukushima-rc.com/).

Implementation Overview

◆ Name: Sweets Koshien Fukushima Tomioka Town Recipe Challenge

◆ Co-organized by: Tomioka Town, Sankei Shimbun

◆ Eligibility:

- Students enrolled in high schools (full-time, part-time, correspondence, technical colleges, vocational high school courses), universities/graduate schools, or vocational schools as of April 2026.

- Individuals or pairs of students enrolled in the same school.

- Must be able to act as a "Fukushima Tomioka Town PR Ambassador."

◆ Application Period: July 1, 2026 (Wed) - September 4, 2026 (Fri) 5:00 PM

◆ Judging and Announcement: Mid-September 2026

◆ Awards: One top prize winner (individual or group) for each of the "Fresh Sweets Division" and "Baked Sweets Division."

◆ Prizes: (1) Right to develop sweets using specialty products with judging pastry chefs (2) Appointment as Fukushima Tomioka Town PR Ambassador (3) Invitation to a study tour of Tomioka Town (4) Two invitations to events in Tokyo.

◆ Sweets Sales Event: "Fukushima Festival Full of Charm!" (December 4-6, 2026, Odaiba, Tokyo / February 19-23, 2027, Yoyogi Park, Tokyo)

Recipes Sought

◆ Theme

"Sweets Packed with the Charm of Tomioka Town"

◆ "Fresh Sweets Division"

Sweets sold in stores or from food trucks, such as parfaits, shortcakes, tarts, crepes, pancakes,プリンアラモード (purin a la mode), cream puffs, etc.

◆ "Baked Sweets Division"

Sweets sold at room temperature as souvenirs, such as madeleines, financiers, pound cakes, macarons, cookies, pies, Baumkuchen, etc.

* Applications are accepted for either division, or for both divisions.

◆ Theme Ingredients

Passion fruit, grapes (Shine Muscat, Pione, Queen Nina), onions, wine, rice, rice flour, sake, sake lees.

◆ Recipe Conditions

Unpublished original recipes using one or more of the above theme ingredients.

◆ Judging Criteria

Ideas that leverage the appeal of the theme ingredients / Visuals that convey the appeal of the theme ingredients / Ideas for combining theme ingredients, etc.

Judges

Tetsu Shimada, Owner Chef of PATISSIER SHIMA

Studied the fundamentals of French pastry at "A. Lecomte," Japan's first French confectionery specialty store. After studying in France at "Pierre Hermé" and "Hôtel Le Bristol" for about 5 years, he returned to Japan to become the owner chef of "Patissier Shima" in Kōjimachi, Tokyo. He is well-versed in French confectionery and food culture, serves as a director of the Japanese branch of the Académie Culinaire de France, the world's oldest chefs' association, and has also been active as the Executive Chef of Fuji Lake Hotel in Fujikawaguchiko Town, Yamanashi Prefecture since 2025.

Advisor

Yukiko Omori, French Pastry and Culinary Researcher

After training in pastry and cooking in France, she introduced French confectionery and its background to Japan through the media. She established and popularized the term "Pâtisserie" and the genre of French regional confectionery. She presides over French confectionery and cooking classes in Tokyo and Kyoto. Her latest book, "Sweets of Marie Antoinette" (published May 2025), introduces the life of Queen Marie Antoinette and the sweets that accompanied her, including recipes. She has been awarded the Chevalier de l'Ordre du Mérite Agricole by the French Republic.

Tomioka Town's Specialty Products

Tomioka Town, famous for its cherry blossom avenue in "Yonomori," has the slogan "Blooming Flowers, A Town Full of Flowers and Greenery." In addition to focusing on cultivating new specialty products such as passion fruit, Shine Muscat grapes, and onions, the town is also working on wine production.

Passion Fruit

Masahiro Takahashi, Chairman of Sun Clean, who was born and raised in Tomioka Town and runs a civil engineering and demolition business, began cultivation in 2020 with the aim of utilizing the warm climate to develop southern fruits as a local specialty and contribute to reconstruction. The passion fruits, carefully grown using organic methods with individual hand-pollination, offer a fresh aroma and a delightful balance of acidity and sweetness. Chairman Takahashi proudly states, "I am confident that our passion fruit is second to none."

Grapes (Shine Muscat, Pione, Queen Nina)

These are cultivated at facilities such as "Agri Park Tomioka," a disability welfare service business managed by the social welfare corporation Yūaikai. By adopting advanced cultivation techniques, they achieve labor saving, high quality, and early harvesting. Shine Muscat is characterized by its high sugar content, strong aroma, and beautiful appearance.

Onions

Following the Great East Japan Earthquake, efforts have been made to cultivate onions as a crop less susceptible to radioactive contamination. Mr. Tōna Watanabe of "Agri Watanabe," a farming family, says, "Challenging the cultivation of new crops has had its difficulties, but it is also rewarding. I want many people to eat them."

Wine

Aiming for new town development centered around wine since 2016, about 10 volunteer residents started cultivating wine grapes. In September 2025, "Tomioka Winery," which includes a wine brewery, storage cellar, restaurant, and shop, opened. Junichiro Hosokawa, the winery's winemaker, says, "The vineyards are located very close to the sea, exposed to the sea breeze, which grows grapes with a unique flavor. The wine pairs perfectly with local ingredients."

Tomioka Town Rice "Ten no Tsubu"

"Ten no Tsubu" is a brand of rice, an original variety from Fukushima Prefecture. It was named with the image of "the strength of rice plants that grow straight towards the sky when the ears emerge, and each grain that ripens abundantly with the blessings of heaven." It is characterized by its firm texture and rich sweetness, and is reputed to be delicious even when cold.

Junmai Ginjo Ten no Ki

Brewed using 100% "Ten no Tsubu" rice from Tomioka Town and Fukushima Prefecture's original yeast "Utsukushima Yume Kobo." It was named "Ten no Ki" (Hope of Heaven) with the hope for the future. It features a fruity aroma and a clear taste. Its crisp finish makes it enjoyable with a variety of meals.