Achievement! Colombin's 'National Strawberry Championship' Crowned 'Amarin®' as Five-Time Champion!

Colombin Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Jiro Abe; hereinafter 'Colombin'; URL: https://www.colombin.co.jp/), a manufacturer and retailer of Western confectionery, held the award ceremony for the '5th Customer-Voted National Strawberry Championship' on Tuesday, June 16 at the Meiji Memorial Hall in Tokyo. It was announced that 'Amarin®', cultivated by Takane Farm in Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture, has achieved a historic five-time consecutive victory.

'Amarin®' stood out among carefully grown strawberries from across Japan to claim the highest honor. At the ceremony, Mr. Hiroaki Takano, President of TAKANO Co., Ltd., which operates Takane Farm, took the stage to express gratitude for the support that helped overcome past hardships. He shared his strong commitment to sustainable agriculture—emphasizing cultivation without chemical pesticides and using locally sourced organic materials for compost—while relentlessly pursuing quality and flavor.

(From left) Toshifumi Ozawa, Chairman of Colombin; Mr. Hiroaki Takano of Takane Farm; and Ms. Namiko Takano

Commemorative photo

Results of the 5th Customer-Voted National Strawberry Championship

1st Place: Amarin® (Takane Farm, Saitama Prefecture)

2nd Place: Ookimi (Ono Farm, Miyazaki Prefecture)

3rd Place: Kinoka (Maeda Farm, Wakayama Prefecture)

Waffles featuring eight strawberry varieties

About the Customer-Voted National Strawberry Championship

This special initiative was part of 'Waffle Palette - Waffle Palette-', a temporary fruit waffle specialty store that opened for 12 days from February 4 to February 15, 2026, at Keio Department Store Shinjuku. Colombin sourced over 20 strawberry varieties from across Japan, carefully selecting eight based on variety, origin, and size to craft into premium waffles. The final rankings were determined by total sales volume during the event, with the top three announced at the ceremony.

Waffle Palette - Waffle Palette- store

At the ceremony, luxurious new desserts featuring the winning strawberries—'Amarin®', 'Ookimi', and 'Kinoka'—were unveiled for the first time. These special sweets will be available for a limited time starting January 2027 at Colombin's Harajuku Salon and select直营 stores.

Colombin's Technical Producer Ono introduces the desserts

Unveiled Special Sweets

5th Customer-Voted National Strawberry Championship Special Sweets

An exquisite collection crafted using the champion and top-three strawberries—'Amarin®', 'Ookimi', and 'Kinoka'—from the 5th Customer-Voted National Strawberry Championship. Available from late January 2027 at Colombin salons and shops.

Afternoon Tea Amarin® SP Set <Exclusive to Colombin Harajuku Salon>

[Top Tier] Sweets featuring Amarin®

- Amarin® Shortcake

- Amarin® Romanoff

- Amarin® Macaron

- Amarin® Tart

- Whole Wheat Scone

[Middle Tier] Savories featuring Ookimi and Kinoka

- Roast Duck with Ookimi and Honey Red Wine Vinegar

- Kinoka and Ricotta Cheese Salad

- Vegetable Quiche

[Bottom Tier] Savories featuring Ookimi and Kinoka

- Ookimi Bruschetta

- Kinoka and Salmon Carpaccio

- Onion Soup (featuring onions harvested from Colombin's own farm)

[SP Dessert]

- Three-Strawberry Parfait

(A special and rare parfait made with Amarin®, Ookimi, and Kinoka)

* The 'two-tier' set includes [Top Tier], [Middle Tier], and [SP Dessert].

Sales Location: Colombin Harajuku Salon

Sales Period: Late January 2027 – March 15 (Monday)

Premium Queen Shortcake & Premium Queen Roll Cake

Premium Queen Shortcake

This shortcake uses a round dome (zuccotto style), combining Amarin® strawberries, 40% milk-fat whipped cream, and Colombin's traditional soft, flavorful sponge cake to create a light, melt-in-the-mouth dessert.

Zuccotto is a traditional Italian dessert from Florence, originating in the Renaissance period. It is a semi-frozen cake, and its name comes from the hat worn by clergy.

Premium Queen Roll Cake

A soft sponge roll generously filled with whipped cream and wrapped with whole Amarin® strawberries. Decorated with a chocolate tiara and gold leaf, finished with lapis gold to create a luxurious premium roll cake.

Planned Sales Locations: Harajuku Sweets and other直营 stores

Sales Period: Late January 2027 – March 15 (Monday)

Colombin Co., Ltd.

Founded in 1924 by Kuniki Kadokura, a former member of the Imperial Household Agency's Board of Ceremonies, Colombin is Japan's first confectionery company to offer authentic French pastries. It pioneered the modern shortcake and introduced open-air terrace cafes and confectionery demonstration stores to Japan. In 2024, Colombin celebrated its 100th anniversary. Upholding its legacy and tradition, the company continues to innovate and deliver感动 to customers.

Colombin Harajuku Salon