2, 3 and 4 June 2022 | Bucharest
Romania Sushi Cup Jury
Hirotoshi Ogawa
President of Japan Sushi Association
and the World Sushi Skills Institute
A graduate of the famous Tsuji Culinary School in Osaka, he started his internship at the famous sushi restaurant in Tokyo. Since then, he has worked in many well-known sushi restaurants in Australia and Japan. In 2003, he founded his own restaurant, which he eventually sold, and became a member and instructor of the AISA Sushi Skills Institute. As part of his activity he has taught sushi art in over 50 countries such as USA, Portugal, Thailand, Czech Republic, India, Holland, Romania or Ukraine. He also launched the “Sushi, Sashimi – Skills Improvement Program” video course.
Alon Than
The World Champion Sushi
2015
A sushi master with over 20 years of experience gained in Japan where he led the kitchens of several restaurants in Tokyo. Currently living in Poland since 2003 where he owns the restaurant chain Izumi Sushi (6 restaurants) 2 restaurants Kago by Alon and Matcha Bistro & Bar with his wife Alicja. In August 2015 Alon won gold at the World Sushi Cup Japan, thus becoming the best sushi champion in the world
Junko Kawada
Vicecampion World Cup Sushi Japan
2013
Junko Kawada originally started working with chocolate, but she immediately changed focus to raw seafood after meeting Sushi Master Kazato-san in 2007. The switch was highly succesful and resulted in a silver medal in The World Sushi Cup in Japan in 2013. Kawada is particularly well known for her creative and unusual dishes. She normally runs KO’UZI Sushi & Fine Foods in Antwerpen.
Wagner Spadacio
Vicecampion World Cup Sushi Japan
2018
Originally from Brazil, he arrived in France at the age of 14 and began his Japanese culinary career in 2010 after obtaining the Pro Sushi Chef certificate in Paris. His passion for Japanese culture developed, and a few years later, he participated in the French Open Sushi Competition where he finished victorious, becoming the French sushi champion in 2017. He then trained in Japan at the famous Bazara restaurant in Tokyo, run by the chef 3 Michelin stars Hirohisa Koyama, becoming in 2018 vice-champion of the world at the World Sushi Cup in Tokyo.
Jorge Dionicio
Best Chef British GQ Food & Drink Awards
2017
Alex Craciun is a London based chef with experience over 17 years in Michelin Star Restaurants in modern and Classic French cooking. Alex has spent the last 5 years discovering and crafting his love for Japanese food. Executive Head Chef at Sosharu London Hiya Shanghai an restaurant opened in March 2016. Sosharu has been named London Restaurant of the Year at AA Hospitality Awards 2017-2018
Winning 3 start AA awards in the first year.
Jorge Dionicio
Sushi Chef
1999
Born in Lima, due to the unusual location of his hometown, Jorge, he was fascinated by the cuisine, especially the use of fish and seafood. He has been in contact with the Japanese cuisine for 20 years and for 15 years has worked the most recognized sushi restaurants in the world (New York, Austin, LA and Tokyo).
He worked with the best masters, including Morimoto, Azabu, Uchi, Hirohisa and Akashi, learning from them various techniques and values of Japanese cuisine.
Diego Vianello
3rd place France Sushi Cup
(2017-2018)
Born in Italy, Venice, has been working in the sushi environment for 12 years now and fulfilling his childhood dreams. Own an restaurant in the south of France he started to train the cooking staff and other personnel then worked as a sushi chef in the main Japanese restaurants in Monaco as well as luxury destinations at highend resorts.
Iulian Constantin
Honorary president of the jury
Co-owner of ZenSushi restaurant chain
He studied with master Okuda Yutaki in Japan where he participated in a training program with Masayoshi Kazato – president of the All Japan Sushi Association & World Sushi Skills Institute. In 2014, he participated in the World Sushi Cup in Tokyo, which allowed him to be in the top ten best sushi masters in the world. He invites world-famous sushi chefs to surprise guests with new solutions and concepts.
Iulian shares the experience and knowledge obtained from the best masters with great passion, building a new chapter in Romanian gastronomy.
Competition program
WELCOME
Hirotoshi Ogawa
Training session with the president of the Sushsi Association of Japan and the World Sushi Skills Institute
WELCOME
Hirotoshi Ogawa
Testing session hosted by the President of the Sushsi Association of Japan and the World Sushi Skills Institute
WELCOME
Romania Sushi Cup Competition
Place of competition
CULINARYON
Șoseaua Pipera 48, Hangar 5, Sector 2
Bucharest, Romania