First Japanese hailing from Ginowan City crowned best gelato-maker in the world

First Japanese hailing from Ginowan City crowned best gelato-maker in the world

Winner Taizo Shibano at the Gelato World Cup (right) and Katsuya Yonemori who was knighted, taken on October 26 at La Vous in Kakazu, Ginowan City.


 

October 27, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

On September 28, Taizo Shibano, a 42-year-old executive of La Vous, a gelato shop in Ginowan City that uses locally-sourced Okinawan ingredients, was awarded first place in the Gelato World Cup held in Italy. Now that Taizo is the first Japanese to win top prize among 45 other competitors he sets his sights on the next goal stating, “Becoming the best in the world is just a checkpoint in my desire for gelato to take root in Japanese culture.”

 

The Sherbeth Festival was held in Palermo, Italy from September 28 to October 1. After passing an initial screening, 45 individuals took part in the competition through a display of their gelato-making abilities and presented their creations in Italian. Gelato shop manager Katsuya Yonemori, 22, was knighted by the Italian Gelato Association with an awarding ceremony scheduled to be held later in January, 2018.

Winner Taizo Shibano at the Gelato World Cup (right) and Katsuya Yonemori who was knighted, taken on October 26 at La Vous in Kakazu, Ginowan City.

 

Just prior Shibano participated in another competition winning fourth place for his creation “Pineapple, apple, celery.” Its focus was built on three pillars: health, being able to cleanse and freshen one’s palate, and creativity. Although the ingredient of celery aids digestion and makes a fine palate cleanser during consumption it is not a taste found enjoyable in Italy. Shibano had to adjust the proportion ratio to pursue a more favorable balance for the audience. It proved successful as he received first place from the popular vote and praise from the judges who said his creation was the “tongue of God” and that “your theory proved to be correct.”

 

As a second-generation dairy farmer hailing from Ishikawa Prefecture, Shibano began with a hope stating, “I want to bring out the good qualities of locally-sourced ingredients and create products that will become economic drivers.”

 

Shibano’s focus, however, remains local and refuses to expand into the Tokyo market explaining, “Okinawa is abundant with enticing ingredients, such as guava, acerola, etc. and I wish to bring out their natural flavor in my gelato creations.”

 

The operating company of La Vous has signed into a consulting contract with a Hong Kong businessman and is preparing to open its own Okinawan-styled gelato shop in April, 2018.

 

(English translation by T&CT and Norbert Bartczak)

 

Go to Japanese


　


Previous Article:
Next Article:

[Similar Articles]