First 'Chocolate Package Award 2026' Held | Felissimo Chocolate Museum, Housing Approx. 30,000 Items, Honors Supreme Designs with Enthusiasts
The Felissimo Chocolate Museum held the first 'Chocolate Package Award' ceremony on April 24, 2026, awarding the Grand Prize to Mary Chocolate. The award recognizes the cultural value of chocolate packaging design.
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- 📰 Published: April 25, 2026 at 02:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 24, 2026 at 17:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 24, 2026 at 23:04 (5h 32m after Collected)
The 'Felissimo Chocolate Museum', operated by Felissimo, held the award ceremony for the 'Chocolate Package Award 2026' on April 24, 2026.
At the award ceremony, certificates were presented to the winning companies, and the grand prize winner, Mary Chocolate Co., Ltd., received a trophy made from an object created by modern art master Robert Rauschenberg as an extra prize. After the ceremony, a talk session was held featuring Ayumi Ichikawa, a chocolate journalist who served as a judge, and Minako Mihara, a package designer and board member of the Japan Package Design Association. Under the theme 'Why does this package move our hearts?', they discussed the charm and future of chocolate packaging, as well as the winning packages.
From front left: Mr. Aosaka / LITTLE MOTHERHOUSE, Mr. Matsumura / Mary Chocolate Co., Ltd., Kazuhiko Yazaki / President and CEO of Felissimo Corporation, Mr. Komatsuzaki / Mary Chocolate Co., Ltd., Mr. Oyama / Bean to Bar Chocolate kiitos. From back left: Judges / Mr. Shigeo Goto, Ms. Miho Inada, Ms. Ayumi Ichikawa, Ms. Minako Mihara.
◆ Winners' Comments
'It is a great honor to win the grand prize in this memorable first edition. The catalyst was a customer's voice saying they would be happy to hand over a single rose with their feelings. We want people to enjoy it along with the taste in important scenes.'
(Mr. Komatsuzaki, Mary Chocolate Co., Ltd.)
'The trigger was that we planned this to make time spent at home during the COVID-19 pandemic more colorful. Please feel the linkage between the taste and the four seasons of Japan.'
(Mr. Aosaka, LITTLE MOTHERHOUSE)
'The package is designed so that when you actually eat it, you can recall the scenery of Costa Rica and the taste of the chocolate. KIITOS means 'thank you' in Finnish. Thank you for evaluating us, KIITOS!'
(Mr. Oyama, Bean to Bar Chocolate kiitos)
◆ Comment from Kazuhiko Yazaki, Chair of the Judging Committee
'The attention to detail in chocolate package design in Japan is something special. It is perfect for gifting occasions, and I think it leads the chocolate scene globally, considering not just the taste but the overall package. I want to make this an award that broadcasts the charm of packaging to the world.'
◆ 'Chocolate Package Award 2026' Implementation Overview
- Judges: Ayumi Ichikawa (Chocolate Journalist), Miho Inada (Sweets & Bread Writer), Shigeo Goto (Editor / Art Producer), Minako Mihara (Package Designer), Kazuhiko Yazaki (Director of Felissimo Chocolate Museum)
*For detailed profiles of each judge, please see here.
>> https://note.com/felissimo_choco/n/n4ad13a784be2
At the Felissimo Chocolate Museum, the 6 winning works will be exhibited together with the nominated works submitted by everyone. Viewers can not only touch upon the charm of the packaging but also enjoy thinking, 'Why was this package nominated or why did it win?', while applicants can feel the joy of seeing the work they chose exposed to viewers in the exhibition room. Through the exhibition, this is a special exhibition where you can feel the depth of the world of chocolate packaging.
◆ 'Chocolate Package Award' Planning Intent
Chocolate packaging is often seen as a supporting role to highlight the chocolate, but it is an 'outfit' for chocolate where designers and chocolatiers have exerted their creativity, so to speak, a 'work of art' condensing designs that reflect the passion of the creators and the era.
The Felissimo Chocolate Museum has collected an extensive collection of over 27,000 packages from around the world and has been communicating their charm and depth through exhibitions. The 'Chocolate Package Award' is an initiative based on the desire to share the value of package design that colors chocolate, and the love for it, with everyone who loves chocolate.
In order to unearth the value of packaging once again and preserve its beautiful designs and culture for future generations, this award accepts applications and recommendations for excellent commercial chocolate packages, sold currently or in the past, not only from chocolatiers and manufacturers but also from general consumers who love chocolate. By making it an award (commendation) where everyone who loves chocolate, including the beauty of the package, can participate, rather than a conventional contest (competition) centered around manufacturers and designers, we aim to evaluate the cultural value of packaging from multiple angles.
◆ 'Chocolate Packa...
At the award ceremony, certificates were presented to the winning companies, and the grand prize winner, Mary Chocolate Co., Ltd., received a trophy made from an object created by modern art master Robert Rauschenberg as an extra prize. After the ceremony, a talk session was held featuring Ayumi Ichikawa, a chocolate journalist who served as a judge, and Minako Mihara, a package designer and board member of the Japan Package Design Association. Under the theme 'Why does this package move our hearts?', they discussed the charm and future of chocolate packaging, as well as the winning packages.
From front left: Mr. Aosaka / LITTLE MOTHERHOUSE, Mr. Matsumura / Mary Chocolate Co., Ltd., Kazuhiko Yazaki / President and CEO of Felissimo Corporation, Mr. Komatsuzaki / Mary Chocolate Co., Ltd., Mr. Oyama / Bean to Bar Chocolate kiitos. From back left: Judges / Mr. Shigeo Goto, Ms. Miho Inada, Ms. Ayumi Ichikawa, Ms. Minako Mihara.
◆ Winners' Comments
'It is a great honor to win the grand prize in this memorable first edition. The catalyst was a customer's voice saying they would be happy to hand over a single rose with their feelings. We want people to enjoy it along with the taste in important scenes.'
(Mr. Komatsuzaki, Mary Chocolate Co., Ltd.)
'The trigger was that we planned this to make time spent at home during the COVID-19 pandemic more colorful. Please feel the linkage between the taste and the four seasons of Japan.'
(Mr. Aosaka, LITTLE MOTHERHOUSE)
'The package is designed so that when you actually eat it, you can recall the scenery of Costa Rica and the taste of the chocolate. KIITOS means 'thank you' in Finnish. Thank you for evaluating us, KIITOS!'
(Mr. Oyama, Bean to Bar Chocolate kiitos)
◆ Comment from Kazuhiko Yazaki, Chair of the Judging Committee
'The attention to detail in chocolate package design in Japan is something special. It is perfect for gifting occasions, and I think it leads the chocolate scene globally, considering not just the taste but the overall package. I want to make this an award that broadcasts the charm of packaging to the world.'
◆ 'Chocolate Package Award 2026' Implementation Overview
- Judges: Ayumi Ichikawa (Chocolate Journalist), Miho Inada (Sweets & Bread Writer), Shigeo Goto (Editor / Art Producer), Minako Mihara (Package Designer), Kazuhiko Yazaki (Director of Felissimo Chocolate Museum)
*For detailed profiles of each judge, please see here.
>> https://note.com/felissimo_choco/n/n4ad13a784be2
At the Felissimo Chocolate Museum, the 6 winning works will be exhibited together with the nominated works submitted by everyone. Viewers can not only touch upon the charm of the packaging but also enjoy thinking, 'Why was this package nominated or why did it win?', while applicants can feel the joy of seeing the work they chose exposed to viewers in the exhibition room. Through the exhibition, this is a special exhibition where you can feel the depth of the world of chocolate packaging.
◆ 'Chocolate Package Award' Planning Intent
Chocolate packaging is often seen as a supporting role to highlight the chocolate, but it is an 'outfit' for chocolate where designers and chocolatiers have exerted their creativity, so to speak, a 'work of art' condensing designs that reflect the passion of the creators and the era.
The Felissimo Chocolate Museum has collected an extensive collection of over 27,000 packages from around the world and has been communicating their charm and depth through exhibitions. The 'Chocolate Package Award' is an initiative based on the desire to share the value of package design that colors chocolate, and the love for it, with everyone who loves chocolate.
In order to unearth the value of packaging once again and preserve its beautiful designs and culture for future generations, this award accepts applications and recommendations for excellent commercial chocolate packages, sold currently or in the past, not only from chocolatiers and manufacturers but also from general consumers who love chocolate. By making it an award (commendation) where everyone who loves chocolate, including the beauty of the package, can participate, rather than a conventional contest (competition) centered around manufacturers and designers, we aim to evaluate the cultural value of packaging from multiple angles.
◆ 'Chocolate Packa...