Gourmet Burger Japan's No. 1 Championship: Contestants Decided! ~ JAPAN BURGER CHAMPIONSHIP 2026 ~
The 'JAPAN BURGER CHAMPIONSHIP 2026,' a major gourmet burger event, will be held at Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse. Twelve finalists, who have triumphed through national qualifiers, will compete for the title of Japan's best, with the winner earning a spot in the World Food Championships. A new visitor-voted sales award will also be introduced, featuring popular burger shops from Japan and abroad.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 1, 2026 at 01:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 30, 2026 at 16:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 30, 2026 at 16:59 (27 min after Collected)
Over 170,000 attendees in the past 4 editions, the 'World's Largest' Gourmet Burger Festival
Food event "Bugachan 2026" where gourmet burgers from all over Japan gather.
The venue will host the 'National No. 1 Cooking Competition' and 'Gourmet Burger Sales'.
【Competition】 Gourmet Burger Japan's No. 1 Championship "Bugachan" Highlights
This year, 49 participants, who passed the document screening from 70 national entries, competed in the preliminaries. The 12 fierce competitors who emerged victorious will clash on the stage of Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse to claim the title of Japan's best.
The cooking battle, where taste, technique, and innovation are judged within a time limit, is truly a "food sport." You can witness the passionate and proud chefs engaging in a heated, serious competition live.
Furthermore, this year, pay attention to the "unique chefs"!
《Winner goes to the World Championship》
The winner will secure a spot in the hamburger category of the "World Food Championships," the world's largest food sport event, held in America in October. They will represent Japan and aim for world supremacy!
【Sales】 Record number of shops from Japan and overseas will gather at the venue! *Admission Free
《New 'Sales Department Award' decided by visitor votes》
Various gourmet burger shops from all over Japan will gather at the venue. Starting this year, a new "Sales Department Award" will be established, reflecting the real voices of visitors who can vote for the shops they found delicious! Which shop will win this inaugural award? Please look forward to it!
【Enjoy comparing burgers♪】
Responding to comments like "one burger fills me up," a "cut service" will be introduced for the first time. You can get 1/4 size cuts, allowing everyone to share and enjoy various burgers.
《Featured Shops》
① Chef who won the 2024 World Championship WFC (Burger category) visits Japan
Selling burgers by the Dubai chef who became the world's best hamburger chef.
② 2025 Bugachan winning shop "BRISK STAND" will participate
This popular burger shop has been expanding its stores domestically and internationally since its participation in last year's competition.
③ "Wolfgang's Steakhouse" will participate!
"Wolfgang's Steakhouse," immensely popular worldwide as an exquisite steakhouse, will be selling burgers.
Final Round Contestant List
1st in Preliminaries: Riku Sato (Tokyo) OVERWHELM hamburger & bar stand
Creating a new era with creativity, aiming for No. 1!
A chef from an American hamburger shop in Meguro Ward, Tokyo, officially recognized by the US Embassy in Japan, makes his first appearance. He took 1st place in the preliminaries on his first try! He's eyeing not only Japan's best but also the world's best!
His hand-chopped patties and creatively topped hamburgers are exceptionally delicious!
Moreover, he shows new-era style movements unlike a typical hamburger shop, meticulous in every aspect.
2nd in Preliminaries: Koki Tsuyuguchi (Osaka) RICH GARDEN
A trendsetter who creates the extraordinary.
"RICH GARDEN," a burger shop opened in Osaka in 2013.
With a concept of slightly luxurious extraordinary, they offer authentic American food including not only burgers but also sandwiches, waffle chicken, and milkshakes!
He placed 4th two years ago and unfortunately lost in the preliminaries last year. With a generational change of head chef, he vows to win in his first return to the final round in two years!
3rd in Preliminaries: Daisuke Sato (Gunma) Jupiter's Kitchen Shima Onsen
Bringing Gunma's pride to the world by passionately sandwiching local ingredients!
"Hamburgers are my life itself." This seasoned contestant, making his third consecutive appearance in the finals, challenges to surpass his own "origin" to become Japan's best.
This hamburger shop packs the charm of Gunma into one burger, creating a unique taste. They passionately sandwich Gunma's ingredients, such as "100% Joshu beef patties," "buns with local konjac," and homemade sauces. They aim for the top of Japan on their third attempt!
4th in Preliminaries: Soken Takada (Yamagata) T Team
A "現役救急医 (active emergency doctor)" challenging with culinary science knowledge.
A home cook whose main profession is an emergency doctor.
He studies culinary science and reads academic papers related to cooking from Japan and abroad, applying them to his dishes. His weapon is the ability to create unique buns by hand, using a commercial deck oven (bread maker) at home. He is a dark horse aiming to promote Yamagata's burger scene. Self-proclaimed as a "rare item manufacturer! A twisted precision machine."
5th in Preliminaries: Kimiyuki Furihata (Tokyo) BLACK ROCKS BURGER SHIBUYA
"Meat explorer with no compromise" - 28 years as a chef, no burger experience.
A rising star burger shop that just opened in November 2024. With 28 years of chef experience and knowledge unique to a yakiniku restaurant's burger shop, he creates exquisite 100% beef patties overflowing with juices.
Having watched Bugachan from the front row last year, he has strong aspirations and aims to win Japan's best title in his first appearance in the final round with overwhelming passion!
6th in Preliminaries: Daisuke Tajima (Tokyo)
Food event "Bugachan 2026" where gourmet burgers from all over Japan gather.
The venue will host the 'National No. 1 Cooking Competition' and 'Gourmet Burger Sales'.
【Competition】 Gourmet Burger Japan's No. 1 Championship "Bugachan" Highlights
This year, 49 participants, who passed the document screening from 70 national entries, competed in the preliminaries. The 12 fierce competitors who emerged victorious will clash on the stage of Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse to claim the title of Japan's best.
The cooking battle, where taste, technique, and innovation are judged within a time limit, is truly a "food sport." You can witness the passionate and proud chefs engaging in a heated, serious competition live.
Furthermore, this year, pay attention to the "unique chefs"!
《Winner goes to the World Championship》
The winner will secure a spot in the hamburger category of the "World Food Championships," the world's largest food sport event, held in America in October. They will represent Japan and aim for world supremacy!
【Sales】 Record number of shops from Japan and overseas will gather at the venue! *Admission Free
《New 'Sales Department Award' decided by visitor votes》
Various gourmet burger shops from all over Japan will gather at the venue. Starting this year, a new "Sales Department Award" will be established, reflecting the real voices of visitors who can vote for the shops they found delicious! Which shop will win this inaugural award? Please look forward to it!
【Enjoy comparing burgers♪】
Responding to comments like "one burger fills me up," a "cut service" will be introduced for the first time. You can get 1/4 size cuts, allowing everyone to share and enjoy various burgers.
《Featured Shops》
① Chef who won the 2024 World Championship WFC (Burger category) visits Japan
Selling burgers by the Dubai chef who became the world's best hamburger chef.
② 2025 Bugachan winning shop "BRISK STAND" will participate
This popular burger shop has been expanding its stores domestically and internationally since its participation in last year's competition.
③ "Wolfgang's Steakhouse" will participate!
"Wolfgang's Steakhouse," immensely popular worldwide as an exquisite steakhouse, will be selling burgers.
Final Round Contestant List
1st in Preliminaries: Riku Sato (Tokyo) OVERWHELM hamburger & bar stand
Creating a new era with creativity, aiming for No. 1!
A chef from an American hamburger shop in Meguro Ward, Tokyo, officially recognized by the US Embassy in Japan, makes his first appearance. He took 1st place in the preliminaries on his first try! He's eyeing not only Japan's best but also the world's best!
His hand-chopped patties and creatively topped hamburgers are exceptionally delicious!
Moreover, he shows new-era style movements unlike a typical hamburger shop, meticulous in every aspect.
2nd in Preliminaries: Koki Tsuyuguchi (Osaka) RICH GARDEN
A trendsetter who creates the extraordinary.
"RICH GARDEN," a burger shop opened in Osaka in 2013.
With a concept of slightly luxurious extraordinary, they offer authentic American food including not only burgers but also sandwiches, waffle chicken, and milkshakes!
He placed 4th two years ago and unfortunately lost in the preliminaries last year. With a generational change of head chef, he vows to win in his first return to the final round in two years!
3rd in Preliminaries: Daisuke Sato (Gunma) Jupiter's Kitchen Shima Onsen
Bringing Gunma's pride to the world by passionately sandwiching local ingredients!
"Hamburgers are my life itself." This seasoned contestant, making his third consecutive appearance in the finals, challenges to surpass his own "origin" to become Japan's best.
This hamburger shop packs the charm of Gunma into one burger, creating a unique taste. They passionately sandwich Gunma's ingredients, such as "100% Joshu beef patties," "buns with local konjac," and homemade sauces. They aim for the top of Japan on their third attempt!
4th in Preliminaries: Soken Takada (Yamagata) T Team
A "現役救急医 (active emergency doctor)" challenging with culinary science knowledge.
A home cook whose main profession is an emergency doctor.
He studies culinary science and reads academic papers related to cooking from Japan and abroad, applying them to his dishes. His weapon is the ability to create unique buns by hand, using a commercial deck oven (bread maker) at home. He is a dark horse aiming to promote Yamagata's burger scene. Self-proclaimed as a "rare item manufacturer! A twisted precision machine."
5th in Preliminaries: Kimiyuki Furihata (Tokyo) BLACK ROCKS BURGER SHIBUYA
"Meat explorer with no compromise" - 28 years as a chef, no burger experience.
A rising star burger shop that just opened in November 2024. With 28 years of chef experience and knowledge unique to a yakiniku restaurant's burger shop, he creates exquisite 100% beef patties overflowing with juices.
Having watched Bugachan from the front row last year, he has strong aspirations and aims to win Japan's best title in his first appearance in the final round with overwhelming passion!
6th in Preliminaries: Daisuke Tajima (Tokyo)