{"id":647,"date":"2026-02-24T05:00:04","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T05:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ichibanboshi.pref.wakayama.lg.jp\/?post_type=news&p=647"},"modified":"2026-03-16T09:44:47","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T09:44:47","slug":"0224","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/ichibanboshi.pref.wakayama.lg.jp\/en\/news\/0224\/","title":{"rendered":"Grand Prize Winner Announced for the 1st (FY2025) Wakayama Ichibanboshi Award"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wakayama Prefecture held an event on <\/span>February 20, 2026, to promote the first group of certified products of the <\/span>Wakayama Ichibanboshi Award. At the event, exhibition booths for <\/span>20 certified products were presented, and the <\/span>Grand Prize and <\/span>Runner-up Prize were selected from among <\/span>five products that had received the Special Jury Award.<\/span><\/p>\n

Based on votes from event attendees and members of the Wakayama Prefecture Recommended Local Products Review Committee, the <\/span>Grand Prize and Runner-up Prize winners<\/b> were determined as follows.
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Grand Prize<\/b><\/h4>\n

Iwatani Co., Ltd. \u2014 \u201cKishu Ume Madai Ume\u201d<\/b>\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cKishu Ume Madai Ume<\/strong>\u201d features flaked <\/span>Kishu-grown sea bream seasoned with sweet vinegar miso, wrapped inside a <\/span>Kishu Nanko Plum. The balanced acidity of the plum and the refined flavor of the sea bream create a rich and harmonious taste that pairs perfectly with rice, ochazuke (rice with tea broth), or as an accompaniment to sake.<\/span><\/p>\n

This delicacy brings together the flavors of <\/span>Wakayama\u2019s sea and mountains in a single bite, making it a highly regarded product that is also popular as a gift item.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u3007 Comment from the Jury Chair<\/b><\/p>\n

The judges appreciated the element of surprise and playfulness in finding sea bream inside a Wakayama specialty plum. The product luxuriously combines the bounty of both the sea and the mountains of Wakayama. Additionally, the clever wordplay of the name\u2014\u201cUmedetai\u201d (a pun combining \u201cume\u201d plum and \u201cmedetai,\u201d meaning auspicious)\u2014makes it an excellent gift item.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u3007 Comment from the Award Winner<\/b><\/p>\n

We are deeply honored to receive such a prestigious award. We developed this product with the hope that more people would discover the appeal of Kishu Ume Madai. We are delighted to share this joy with the local community members who contributed to its production. Encouraged by this recognition, we will continue to promote the wonderful ingredients of Wakayama\u2019s sea and mountains, as well as the charm of the region, from Kushimoto Town, the southernmost town of Japan\u2019s main island.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Runner-up Prize<\/b><\/h4>\n

Suzuya Co., Ltd. \u2014 \u201cDeluxe Cake\u201d<\/b>
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\u201cDeluxe Cake<\/strong>\u201d produced by Suzuya in <\/span>Tanabe, Wakayama, has been loved for nearly <\/span>100 years. The confection consists of a moist, dense castella sponge cake layered with <\/span>homemade white bean jam and coated in <\/span>white chocolate.<\/span><\/p>\n

This long-standing sweet quietly carries the history of the region and the memories of its people. Unwrapping the silver foil reveals a moment of understated yet refined indulgence.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u3007 Comment from the Jury Chair<\/b><\/p>\n

The concept of <\/span>Japanese-Western fusion<\/b> remains fresh even across generations. The charming package design, unchanged since the company\u2019s founding and reminiscent of the Showa era, also has strong appeal for sharing on social media. Although the product is extremely well-known within the prefecture, it is still relatively unknown outside Wakayama, giving it great potential for growth.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Special Jury Awards<\/b><\/h4>\n