JFTD Hana Cupid 2026 Flower Design Contest in Ishikawa Concludes: Kazuki Kubota of Shizuoka Wins "Japan Cup" for Best Florist in Japan / Akihiro Hisaka of Hyogo Wins "Grand Champion Championship"
JFTD Hana Cupid held the "2026 Flower Design Contest in Ishikawa" on April 22nd and 23rd, 2026. Kazuki Kubota won the "Japan Cup" for the best florist in Japan, and Akihiro Hisaka won the "Grand Champion Championship." The event showcased the skills of florists nationwide and promoted the charm of flowers and the Hokuriku region.
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The Japan Florists' Telecommunication Delivery Association (JFTD), located in Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, with Chairman Minoru Horikiri, hosted the "JFTD Hana Cupid 2026 Flower Design Contest in Ishikawa" for two days, from Wednesday, April 22nd to Thursday, April 23rd, 2026, at Ishikawa Industrial Exhibition Hall No. 4 (Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture), under the theme "To the World, the Charm of Flowers." The "2026 Japan Cup," where 80 florists who advanced from across Japan competed directly, and the "Grand Champion Championship," featuring the top 10 florists who achieved excellent results in past Japan Cups, were held, and their respective winners were decided.
The venue also featured an exhibition of works from the "Hana Cupid Junior Cup" by elementary school students and the "High School Ikebana Battle," where high school students competed in impromptu flower arrangement in 5 minutes. Furthermore, an ikebana exhibition and a product fair promoting the charms of Hokuriku were also held, making it a two-day event that showcased the appeal of flowers and the Hokuriku region.
"2026 Japan Cup": Kazuki Kubota, a florist with 6 years of experience, wins his first championship.
The "Japan Cup" flower design competition aims to expand opportunities for giving and decorating with flowers, and to compete for the highest technical skills possessed by specialized flower retailers, as a competition to determine the true best florist in Japan.
The first competition was held in 1982, and from the third competition (1984), the winner has been awarded the "Prime Minister's Award."
Exhibition Competition: The theme was "Flower Story Lighting Up the Light."
An exhibition competition was held with 80 participants, including block representatives from across the country and recommendations from flower-related organizations.
The "Exhibition Competition" is a contest where all participating florists simultaneously create and install display works according to a given theme within a specified exhibition space and time limit.
Kazuki Kubota's table display work.
The Final: "Movable Table Display."
Following the judging results of the exhibition competition, the top 10 advanced to "The Final." The final battle was held in a surprise format on stage, starting at 9:30 AM on Thursday, April 23rd. The theme announced at the start was "Movable Table Display." Participants had 60 minutes to create works using common tables, floral materials, and supplies. Floral materials such as Forsythia, Iris ensata, and Ishikawa's original freesia variety "Airy Flora," along with round tables and silver or metallic vessels, were used to create works that highlighted the individuality of each of the 10 participants.
Kazuki Kubota is the winner! The rise of a young florist with 6 years of experience.
The final ranking was determined by the total scores from the "Exhibition Competition" and "The Final." After two days of competition, Kazuki Kubota (Florant, Mishima City, Shizuoka Prefecture) won the 2026 Japan Cup. Despite being a young florist with only 6 years of experience, he shone at the top with outstanding sense and skill.
Second place went to Tokuko Kubota (Parabosse, Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture), and third place to Kota Ogawa (Ogawaya Engei, Nishi-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture).
"Grand Champion Championship": Akihiro Hisaka, 8-time Japan Cup winner.
This is the highest-level competition in Japan, open only to the top 10 participants who achieved excellent results in the past five Japan Cups. It is held with the aim of selecting Japanese representatives to be dispatched to international competitions. The competition was decided by the total scores of three events.
Akihiro Hisaka creating his work for "Designer's Choice."
First Event: "Designer's Choice." The theme was "Kazahana (Wind Flowers) ~Melody of Blooming Spring~."
Participants created works in a designated space within the venue using fresh flowers and materials they prepared themselves, according to a theme announced in advance.
Second Event: "Hand-tied Bouquet." The theme was "Flower Impulse (The Moment the Heart is Moved by Flowers)."
"Hand-tied Bouquet" is a competition where participants select and prepare floral materials and supplies in advance, then create a bouquet within a time limit in front of an audience.
Akihiro Hisaka's "Designer's Choice" and "Hand-tied Bouquet" works.
Foreground: Akihiro Hisaka's display work.
Third Event: "Surprise Display." The theme was "Display Using Kimono."
"Surprise Display" is a public competition where large-scale works are created on stage within a time limit in front of an audience. The theme and materials to be used are not revealed to the participants in advance but are announced at the start of the competition. Common floral materials for all participants included double-flowered cherry blossoms, witch hazel, hydrangeas, and Ishikawa's original freesia variety "Airy Flora." Materials included kimonos, fences, and white bamboo. Within 80 minutes, 10 participants completed works created with different worldviews.
Akihiro Hisaka, 8-time Japan Cup winner, takes the championship!
And with the total scores from the first to third events, Akihiro Hisaka (Blossom, Kakogawa City, Hyogo Prefecture) became the winner. The moment Hisaka's name was called, he was filled with emotion.
Keywords: Flower, Design, Contest, Japan Cup, Grand Champion, Florist, Ishikawa, JFTD, Hana Cupid, Kazuki Kubota, Akihiro Hisaka
The venue also featured an exhibition of works from the "Hana Cupid Junior Cup" by elementary school students and the "High School Ikebana Battle," where high school students competed in impromptu flower arrangement in 5 minutes. Furthermore, an ikebana exhibition and a product fair promoting the charms of Hokuriku were also held, making it a two-day event that showcased the appeal of flowers and the Hokuriku region.
"2026 Japan Cup": Kazuki Kubota, a florist with 6 years of experience, wins his first championship.
The "Japan Cup" flower design competition aims to expand opportunities for giving and decorating with flowers, and to compete for the highest technical skills possessed by specialized flower retailers, as a competition to determine the true best florist in Japan.
The first competition was held in 1982, and from the third competition (1984), the winner has been awarded the "Prime Minister's Award."
Exhibition Competition: The theme was "Flower Story Lighting Up the Light."
An exhibition competition was held with 80 participants, including block representatives from across the country and recommendations from flower-related organizations.
The "Exhibition Competition" is a contest where all participating florists simultaneously create and install display works according to a given theme within a specified exhibition space and time limit.
Kazuki Kubota's table display work.
The Final: "Movable Table Display."
Following the judging results of the exhibition competition, the top 10 advanced to "The Final." The final battle was held in a surprise format on stage, starting at 9:30 AM on Thursday, April 23rd. The theme announced at the start was "Movable Table Display." Participants had 60 minutes to create works using common tables, floral materials, and supplies. Floral materials such as Forsythia, Iris ensata, and Ishikawa's original freesia variety "Airy Flora," along with round tables and silver or metallic vessels, were used to create works that highlighted the individuality of each of the 10 participants.
Kazuki Kubota is the winner! The rise of a young florist with 6 years of experience.
The final ranking was determined by the total scores from the "Exhibition Competition" and "The Final." After two days of competition, Kazuki Kubota (Florant, Mishima City, Shizuoka Prefecture) won the 2026 Japan Cup. Despite being a young florist with only 6 years of experience, he shone at the top with outstanding sense and skill.
Second place went to Tokuko Kubota (Parabosse, Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture), and third place to Kota Ogawa (Ogawaya Engei, Nishi-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture).
"Grand Champion Championship": Akihiro Hisaka, 8-time Japan Cup winner.
This is the highest-level competition in Japan, open only to the top 10 participants who achieved excellent results in the past five Japan Cups. It is held with the aim of selecting Japanese representatives to be dispatched to international competitions. The competition was decided by the total scores of three events.
Akihiro Hisaka creating his work for "Designer's Choice."
First Event: "Designer's Choice." The theme was "Kazahana (Wind Flowers) ~Melody of Blooming Spring~."
Participants created works in a designated space within the venue using fresh flowers and materials they prepared themselves, according to a theme announced in advance.
Second Event: "Hand-tied Bouquet." The theme was "Flower Impulse (The Moment the Heart is Moved by Flowers)."
"Hand-tied Bouquet" is a competition where participants select and prepare floral materials and supplies in advance, then create a bouquet within a time limit in front of an audience.
Akihiro Hisaka's "Designer's Choice" and "Hand-tied Bouquet" works.
Foreground: Akihiro Hisaka's display work.
Third Event: "Surprise Display." The theme was "Display Using Kimono."
"Surprise Display" is a public competition where large-scale works are created on stage within a time limit in front of an audience. The theme and materials to be used are not revealed to the participants in advance but are announced at the start of the competition. Common floral materials for all participants included double-flowered cherry blossoms, witch hazel, hydrangeas, and Ishikawa's original freesia variety "Airy Flora." Materials included kimonos, fences, and white bamboo. Within 80 minutes, 10 participants completed works created with different worldviews.
Akihiro Hisaka, 8-time Japan Cup winner, takes the championship!
And with the total scores from the first to third events, Akihiro Hisaka (Blossom, Kakogawa City, Hyogo Prefecture) became the winner. The moment Hisaka's name was called, he was filled with emotion.
Keywords: Flower, Design, Contest, Japan Cup, Grand Champion, Florist, Ishikawa, JFTD, Hana Cupid, Kazuki Kubota, Akihiro Hisaka