It’s so exciting, the judging has begun at the very first #MarmaladeFestivalJapan @yawatahama_marmalade_festival, a celebration of the craft and beauty both of Japan’s citrus agriculture in Ehime prefecture, and of the decades of preserving talent that has accrued since the legendary Toichiro Nakashima, founder of the Aohata Corporation, first introduced the British style of marmalade to Japan widely in the 1930s, much like the way the Keillor family popularised marmalade from Dundee in the 19th century.
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Fast forward almost 100 years and, after an idea proposed three years by Koji Tsuruoka – the Japanese Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary to the UK – to Jane Hasell-McCosh – founder of the World Marmalade Awards @marmaladeawards at @dalemainmansion in Cumbria – the idea was hatched to create #MarmaladeFestivalJapan @yawatahama_marmalade_festival that put a light on the hard work and dedication of these family farms on the beautiful terraced hills surrounding Yawatahama City and #EhimePrefecture, beautiful hills covered with citrus trees encompassing hundreds of rare and unusual varieties.
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We are in Yawatahama to help encourage and support the work already done, promote the talent already here, show our deep respect, and as a result feel very honoured to play even a small part in Yawatahama City’s work and celebration. The winning homemade entry will be made commercially in Japan and sold at @Fortnums, and will help raise money to help the farmers devastated by last year’s Typhoon Jebi which destroyed many homes and long-standing farms. Charity, education and community is at the heart of the World @MarmaladeAwards and we are pleased that this belief continues in Japan
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The judging team is immensely talented, and headed by the renowned culinary trio #IronChef #ChenKenichi, chef #TsutomuOchiai, and top patisserie chef Toshi Yoroizuka, together with Takemitsu Hatakeyama (former head chef to the Ambassador’s Residence, the British Embassy Tokyo), Katsuhuro Utsunomiya from #Aohata, silver @cmpatisserie #CMP2019 winner Fumiaki Ito @maisondouce0801, respected pastry journalist RIo Hiraiwa, and citrus expert Wakako Morihira.