[Kumamoto Representative Wins First-Ever Victory at Kyushu Sugar Craft Competition]
In May 2026, Ayaka Nagano, a pastry chef at L'oiseau Bleu in Tamana City, Kumamoto Prefecture, won the sugar craft category at the All-Kyushu Confectionery Skills Contest as the representative for Kumamoto Prefecture. The shop will exhibit the winning piece starting in June and begin selling seasonal "strawberry shaved ice."
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 26, 2026 at 15:30
- 🔍 Collected: May 26, 2026 at 07:01
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 26, 2026 at 07:02 (0 min after Collected)
Ayaka Nagano, a pastry chef at L'oiseau Bleu, has won the sugar craft category at the All-Kyushu Confectionery Skills Contest. The winning piece is scheduled for in-store display starting in June.
L'oiseau Bleu (located in Tamana City, Kumamoto; Representative: Akihiro Shimogami) announced that its pastry chef, Nagano, who participated as the Kumamoto Prefecture representative at the All-Kyushu Confectionery Skills Contest held at Marine Messe Fukuoka in May 2026, won the championship in the sugar craft category.
This marks the first time that a Kumamoto Prefecture representative has won in this category.
A Demanding Stage Faced Just 1.5 Months After Joining the Company
Nagano, who had only been with the shop for a month and a half, trained until late at night alongside her regular duties under the guidance of the owner couple, both of whom have won national competitions. The competition is demanding, testing both technique and speed as contestants must assemble a regulation-sized sugar craft within a limited time of two hours and 30 minutes, surrounded by gallery members and judges.
On the day of the event, she also served as the athlete representative for the pledge, a role decided at the last minute, and achieved results beyond her training in her work, technique, and overall performance, successfully winning the championship as the Kumamoto representative.
At L'oiseau Bleu, we place great importance on "nurturing artisans who can grow not only in technique but also as individuals." We believe this award is a result of Nagano's hard work, as well as the support of everyone who has encouraged her, our staff, and all our partners.
Special Exhibition of Sugar Craft Works Starting in June
The award-winning sugar craft will be exhibited for a limited time inside L'oiseau Bleu starting in June 2026. Please take this opportunity to view the delicate world of sugar craft, which is rarely seen up close.
Furthermore, we are starting sales of our popular seasonal "strawberry shaved ice." We flash-freeze strawberries harvested during their peak season from winter to spring and process them into homemade syrup and confiture, creating a dish where you can luxuriously enjoy the original flavor of the fruit. Please enjoy the taste of summer unique to L'oiseau Bleu alongside the exhibition of the winning work.
L'oiseau Bleu (located in Tamana City, Kumamoto; Representative: Akihiro Shimogami) announced that its pastry chef, Nagano, who participated as the Kumamoto Prefecture representative at the All-Kyushu Confectionery Skills Contest held at Marine Messe Fukuoka in May 2026, won the championship in the sugar craft category.
This marks the first time that a Kumamoto Prefecture representative has won in this category.
A Demanding Stage Faced Just 1.5 Months After Joining the Company
Nagano, who had only been with the shop for a month and a half, trained until late at night alongside her regular duties under the guidance of the owner couple, both of whom have won national competitions. The competition is demanding, testing both technique and speed as contestants must assemble a regulation-sized sugar craft within a limited time of two hours and 30 minutes, surrounded by gallery members and judges.
On the day of the event, she also served as the athlete representative for the pledge, a role decided at the last minute, and achieved results beyond her training in her work, technique, and overall performance, successfully winning the championship as the Kumamoto representative.
At L'oiseau Bleu, we place great importance on "nurturing artisans who can grow not only in technique but also as individuals." We believe this award is a result of Nagano's hard work, as well as the support of everyone who has encouraged her, our staff, and all our partners.
Special Exhibition of Sugar Craft Works Starting in June
The award-winning sugar craft will be exhibited for a limited time inside L'oiseau Bleu starting in June 2026. Please take this opportunity to view the delicate world of sugar craft, which is rarely seen up close.
Furthermore, we are starting sales of our popular seasonal "strawberry shaved ice." We flash-freeze strawberries harvested during their peak season from winter to spring and process them into homemade syrup and confiture, creating a dish where you can luxuriously enjoy the original flavor of the fruit. Please enjoy the taste of summer unique to L'oiseau Bleu alongside the exhibition of the winning work.
FAQ
全九州洋菓子実技コンテストの飴細工部門で優勝したのは誰ですか？
熊本県玉名市のパティスリー「L'oiseau Bleu」に所属するパティシエ、永野彩夏氏です。
この優勝の特筆すべき点は何ですか？
熊本県代表選手として同部門で優勝するのは今回が初となります。
優勝した永野彩夏氏はどのような状況で大会に挑みましたか？
入社からわずか1ヶ月半という環境の中で、オーナー夫婦の指導を受けながら練習を重ねて出場しました。
優勝作品はどこで見ることができますか？
2026年6月より、L'oiseau Bleu店内にて期間限定で展示される予定です。
L'oiseau Bleuで新しく販売される夏季限定メニューは何ですか？
瞬間冷凍した苺を贅沢に使用した自家製シロップ等の「いちごのかき氷」が販売されます。