“Kumamoto Chinese Cuisine Election 2026” to Air on June 3, Ranking Kumamoto’s Most Popular Chinese Restaurants

Kumamoto Asahi Broadcasting Co., Ltd. will air “Kumamoto Chinese Cuisine Election 2026” on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, from 6:55 p.m., to determine the most popular Chinese restaurant in Kumamoto. Votes were accepted through KAB’s official website, drawing nominations for a wide range of restaurants, from local neighborhood Chinese eateries to long-established favorites. The program will announce the top 10 restaurants and also collect real-time viewer comments on X using the hashtag #熊本中華総選挙. The show will be hosted by Akira Kawashima of the comedy duo Kirin. After tasting signature dishes from the ranked restaurants, he said he was surprised by Kumamoto’s exceptionally high level of Chinese cuisine. Studio guests include Ide Rakkyō, Maako Nakagami, and Ayaka Fuchigami, familiar faces from the broader “Election” program series. Ide Rakkyō, who has visited every ranked restaurant, will offer commentary as something of an expert on Kumamoto’s Chinese food scene. Special reporters Hiroshi Tamura of Kirin and Akane Sakanoue will also appear. Tamura praised the restaurants, saying they were “good enough to seriously make me consider moving to Kumamoto” and “the kind of places I’d want near my home.” Sakanoue, who is from Kumamoto, said of the two restaurants she reported on: “I didn’t know about these places, but they made me realize there are still so many great spots here.” Kawashima commented that the quality of Kumamoto’s Chinese cuisine exceeded his expectations and made him love Kumamoto even more. Ide Rakkyō said Kumamoto’s Chinese food might be the best in Japan and encouraged viewers to share their favorite restaurants. Nakagami, whose favorite food is gyoza, said this edition made her want to visit every restaurant more than any previous election program. Fuchigami recommended watching “with a bowl of white rice in hand,” saying the footage is so appetizing that viewers can almost imagine the aroma and flavor from the sound alone. Program title: Kumamoto Chinese Cuisine Election 2026 Broadcast date: Wednesday, June 3, from 6:55 p.m. Broadcast area: Kumamoto local broadcast Cast: Akira Kawashima (Kirin), Ide Rakkyō, Maako Nakagami, Ayaka Fuchigami, Hiroshi Tamura (Kirin), Akane Sakanoue Narrator: Hōchū Ōtsuka Catch-up streaming will be available on TVer after the broadcast.