Inaugural 'CL-1 Grand Prix' Crowns Japan's Top Reliable Chef

Sharedine Inc. (HQ: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Hikari Iida) announced that the first 'CL-1 Grand Prix,' a practical culinary contest hosted by their chef career platform 'CHEFLINK,' concluded on June 11, 2026, with the crowning of its inaugural champion.

The CL-1 Grand Prix is a new type of contest that evaluates comprehensive practical skills required in a commercial kitchen, such as cooking efficiency, adaptability in unfamiliar environments, hygiene awareness, and reproducibility, rather than just the taste or visual appeal of the dishes. Eight chefs selected from across Japan competed in the final round.

The inaugural Grand Prix winner is Chef Jun Shirakawa, based in Saitama Prefecture, while Chef Kosuke Suzuki, based in Tokyo, took the runner-up spot.

Judging Committee Chair Mitsutsugu Sakamoto praised the event, stating, 'This contest truly tested the skills of a chef as an immediate asset, including organization, workflow, and cleanup capabilities.'

Amid chronic labor shortages in the food service industry, a major issue has been that a chef's value is often judged by their previous employers or titles. The CL-1 Grand Prix aims to visualize this 'field capability' and create a society where chefs are evaluated fairly based on their actual abilities.