Japan Representative for 'WORLD PAELLA DAY CUP 2026' Announced!

The Paella Tapas Festival Executive Committee and Japan Paella Association are pleased to announce that the official selection for the Japanese representative to the World Paella Day Cup 2026, one of the world's largest international paella competitions held in Valencia, Spain, was conducted at the 'World Paella Day Cup 2026 Japan Preliminary' on Friday, June 5 at Hibiya Park in Tokyo, and the Japanese representative has been decided.

The 'WORLD PAELLA DAY CUP' is an international paella competition held in Valencia, Spain, the birthplace of paella. Representative chefs from around the world gather to showcase paella infused with their skills and sensibilities, competing for the world's top spot.

The selected Japanese representative is Keisuke Miuraguchi of Mediterranean bar 'el jardin'. In the domestic preliminaries, he was highly evaluated for his combination of ingredients, rice cooking quality, umami expression, overall paella perfection, and a unique style befitting a Japanese representative to challenge the world, earning him the title of Japan representative.

*Held within the 11th Paella Tapas Festival 2026, Japan's largest Spanish cuisine event.

Japan Representative: Keisuke Miuraguchi (Mediterranean bar 'el jardin')

Comment from the Japan Representative:

"I am truly grateful to receive this wonderful award. I sincerely thank the event organizers, the judges, and all the participants who pushed each other. I also owe this victory to my staff, family, and customers who support me daily. From the moment I won, my challenge to the world began. This is just the start. I will continue to strive to bring the appeal of Japanese paella and Spanish cuisine to the world with gratitude. Thank you very much."

Signature Dish: Rich Shrimp Soup Golden Paella

Growing up in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, shrimp is a taste rooted in my memory. Inspired by the rich seafood paella I encountered in Barcelona, I concentrated the umami of shrimp shells and seafood to the extreme. The crispy socarrat leaves an aftertaste reminiscent of Nagoya's shrimp crackers. I create a 'Golden Paella' that layers local memories and inspiration.

Participating Chefs: Keisuke Miuraguchi (Mediterranean bar 'el jardin') Carlos Gonzalo Alvarez (El Asador) Takuya Ihara (Bidoro Ginza) Fumitaka Ooki (VIDRIO Ikebukuro) Naoya Watanabe (El Chateo Ginza) Takuya Yuri (Spanish Restaurant Pablo) Kazuo Moriyama (plancha morimori) Shinichiro Matsuki (Unagi Restaurant Kinmi) *From left

Judges: Iñigo de Palacio España, Ambassador of Spain to Japan Enrique Ruiz de Lera, Tourism Counselor, Embassy of Spain Carlos García-de-la-Santa, Head of Studies, Instituto Cervantes Tokyo Kohei Hatashita, Winner of World Paella Day Cup 2023 (estilo h) *From left

About WORLD PAELLA DAY CUP: The 'WORLD PAELLA DAY CUP' is a paella competition held in Valencia, Spain, on September 20, coinciding with 'World Paella Day'. Representative chefs from around the world gather in Valencia, the birthplace of paella, to present paella utilizing their countries' food cultures and culinary skills. It goes beyond a mere cooking contest and is gaining attention as an international stage for cultural exchange through paella.

About the Paella Tapas Festival: The 'Paella Tapas Festival' is Japan's largest Spanish cuisine event, promoting the appeal of Spanish food culture in Japan. The venue offers a variety of content including paella and tapas, Spanish wine, beer, ingredients, and stage performances, allowing visitors to experience Spanish food and culture. Each stall offers creative menus, from authentic flavors to casual dishes, allowing visitors to enjoy diverse Spanish cuisine.

During the period, the venue was bustling with about 80,000 visitors, creating a lively atmosphere as an event to experience Spanish culture through food. Many guests, including the Spanish Ambassador to Japan and the mayor of Chiyoda Ward, attended.

The 'Paella Tapas Festival' will continue to bring the charm of Spanish cuisine to more people and work towards further popularization and development of Spanish food culture in Japan.

Message from the Executive Committee Chair:

"The 'Paella Tapas Festival' started in 2014 and has reached its 11th edition this year. This event began with the desire to spread authentic paella culture from Valencia, Spain, to Japan, and with the support of many, it was held successfully again this year. I express my heartfelt gratitude to all visitors and related parties.

Furthermore, the first 'World Paella Day Cup Japan Preliminary' was impressive as participating chefs approached the competition with sincere skills and passion, and it was an opportunity to feel great potential for the further development of paella culture.

We will continue to widely disseminate the appeal of Spanish cuisine and food culture, including paella, and aim for further popularization and development in Japan. We kindly ask for your continued support and cooperation."

[Event Overview] Name: 11th Paella Tapas Festival 2026 Organizer: Paella Tapas Festival Executive Committee Date: June 5 (Fri), 6 (Sat), 7 (Sun), 2026 Time: 10:00–21:00 (Last day: 10:00–18:00) Venue: Hibiya Park (Chiyoda, Tokyo) Total Stalls: 22 Visitors: Approx. 80,000 Admission: Free (food and drink charged separately) Official Website: https://ptfes.info Inquiries for participation and press: Paella Tapas Festival Executive Committee Secretariat TEL: 03-6811-1135 MAIL: info@ptfes.info

Sponsors: I LOVE Farm Odaka, Kino Bussan Co., Ltd., Kimura Co., Ltd., Kyocera Corporation, Kuse Co., Ltd., San'uemon, Sanyo Shokuhin Kogyo Co., Ltd., Sanrei Foods Co., Ltd., Shida Canned Foods Co., Ltd., Shinano-ya, SharkNinja, Segura Viudas, SoftBank, Sorande Cabras, Chikyu no Arukikata Co., Ltd., Bellara Clinic Ginza, Japan Tobacco Inc., Fukumaru Foods Co., Ltd., Maou, Euro Trading Limited, Union Liquors

Support: Embassy of Spain in Japan, Tourism Office of Spain, Instituto Cervantes Tokyo, Spain Club, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Chiyoda City

Special Cooperation: Japan Paella Association, Japan Serrano Ham Association, Japan Ajillo Association, Japan BBQ Association

Cooperation: Adguild Japan Inc., El Dragon, Dank Soft Inc., DDS, Warappa Co., Ltd.