Department <Top Tier> Again at the Los Angeles Olive Oil Competition! The Peak of the Delicate Division is Claimed by an Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Okayama, Featuring an Understated Yet Gorgeous Bouquet and Gentle Sweetness
Nippon Olive Co., Ltd.'s 'Extra Virgin Olive Oil Ushimado' won the 'Best of Division (International Delicate Best of Show)' at the 27th Los Angeles International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition, proving its world-class quality.
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- 📰 Published: April 4, 2026 at 00:00
We are pleased to announce that 'Extra Virgin Olive Oil Ushimado', produced at our own farm in Ushimado, Okayama Prefecture by Nippon Olive Co., Ltd., has won the 'Best of Division' in the International Delicate category for sensory evaluation, as well as the Silver Award in Art & Illustration for packaging design at the 'Los Angeles International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition'.
[About the 'Los Angeles International Competition']
Boasting a long history that began as a dairy product competition in 1922, it currently holds competitions for wine, spirits, olive oil, and dairy products. The olive oil section is held as the 'Los Angeles International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition', which celebrated its 27th anniversary this year. In 2026, there were 588 entries from 209 producers across 22 countries. Awards granted included 2 Best of Show awards, 6 Best of Division awards, 33 Best of Class awards, 133 Gold medals, 141 Silver medals, and 99 Bronze medals.
Contest official page here:
https://fairplex.com/competitions/olive-oil-competition/
Nippon Olive Co., Ltd.'s 'Extra Virgin Olive Oil Ushimado' received the 'Best of Division', a special award. This is a highly prestigious award given to the grand prize winner in each of the six divisions.
[Award Titles]
Sensory Evaluation: International Delicate Best of Show (2nd time, following 2024)
*Also received Gold Award and Best of Class Award
Design: Art & Illustration Silver Award (4th consecutive year)
[Image: Extra Virgin Olive Oil Ushimado]
[Product Overview]
Product Name: Extra Virgin Olive Oil Ushimado
Volume: 180g
Release Date: Wednesday, December 19, 2025 *Unfortunately, this item is sold out.
Sales Channels: Direct sales store within Ushimado Olive Garden 'Olive Shop', Phone: 0869-34-2370
Mail Order:
https://www.nippon-olive.co.jp/fs/ushimado/gr15/100102
Release at the time of launch here:
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000144.000015480.html
Encouraged by this award, Nippon Olive Co., Ltd. will continue to innovate technology to fully reap the natural blessings of our own farm, and deliver products that contribute to enriching people's lives.
[Information on Ushimado Olive Garden]
In 1942, the founder Waichiro Hattori (the great-grandfather of the current president) cleared Mt. Amida and opened the olive garden to preserve the landscape of Ushimado for the next century, believing that 'olives can be used for medicine, food, and light'. Currently, while cultivating on a scale of about 2,000 trees across approximately 10 hectares, it has become one of the leading tourist spots in southern Okayama Prefecture. Admission is free, open year-round.
[Image: Twice a year, there is an 'Olive Garden Day' where all employees pitch in to tend to the bases of the olive trees]
[Image: In early April, cherry blossoms are in full bloom within the Ushimado Olive Garden, which can be enjoyed along with the scenery of the Seto Inland Sea]
[Corporate Information]
During World War II, Waichiro Hattori, the 11th head of a prominent merchant family in Okayama Prefecture, was requested by the military to 'turn the mountains into potato fields to secure food'. He thought, 'If we turn them into potato fields, the wonderful scenery of the Seto Inland Sea will be ruined. Olives can be used for medicine, food, and light'. On April 19, 1942, he planted olives, the symbol of peace, in the cleared Mt. Amida. (2026 marks the 84th anniversary of its opening)
On June 1, 1949, simultaneously with the establishment of Nippon Olive Co., Ltd., the first product 'Olive Manon Virgin Oil' (100% pure olive cosmetic oil) was released.
To respond to the increasing demand for olive oil in Japan, a company-owned olive garden was established in Tortosa, Spain, the world's largest olive-producing country, in 1992. Currently, as a producer, the company cultivates, harvests, and processes approximately 2,000 trees across 10 hectares at the Ushimado Olive Garden and about 3,100 trees across 45 hectares at the Tortosa Olive Garden. Alongside this, the company conducts basic research on not only olive oil but also fruit juice and leaf extracts, and develops and sells quasi-drugs and cosmetics. (2026 marks the 34th anniversary of its opening)
[Company Overview]
Company Name: Nippon Olive Co., Ltd.
President & CEO: Yoshiro Hattori
Address: 3911-10 Ushimado, Ushimado-cho, Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture
[About the 'Los Angeles International Competition']
Boasting a long history that began as a dairy product competition in 1922, it currently holds competitions for wine, spirits, olive oil, and dairy products. The olive oil section is held as the 'Los Angeles International Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition', which celebrated its 27th anniversary this year. In 2026, there were 588 entries from 209 producers across 22 countries. Awards granted included 2 Best of Show awards, 6 Best of Division awards, 33 Best of Class awards, 133 Gold medals, 141 Silver medals, and 99 Bronze medals.
Contest official page here:
https://fairplex.com/competitions/olive-oil-competition/
Nippon Olive Co., Ltd.'s 'Extra Virgin Olive Oil Ushimado' received the 'Best of Division', a special award. This is a highly prestigious award given to the grand prize winner in each of the six divisions.
[Award Titles]
Sensory Evaluation: International Delicate Best of Show (2nd time, following 2024)
*Also received Gold Award and Best of Class Award
Design: Art & Illustration Silver Award (4th consecutive year)
[Image: Extra Virgin Olive Oil Ushimado]
[Product Overview]
Product Name: Extra Virgin Olive Oil Ushimado
Volume: 180g
Release Date: Wednesday, December 19, 2025 *Unfortunately, this item is sold out.
Sales Channels: Direct sales store within Ushimado Olive Garden 'Olive Shop', Phone: 0869-34-2370
Mail Order:
https://www.nippon-olive.co.jp/fs/ushimado/gr15/100102
Release at the time of launch here:
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000144.000015480.html
Encouraged by this award, Nippon Olive Co., Ltd. will continue to innovate technology to fully reap the natural blessings of our own farm, and deliver products that contribute to enriching people's lives.
[Information on Ushimado Olive Garden]
In 1942, the founder Waichiro Hattori (the great-grandfather of the current president) cleared Mt. Amida and opened the olive garden to preserve the landscape of Ushimado for the next century, believing that 'olives can be used for medicine, food, and light'. Currently, while cultivating on a scale of about 2,000 trees across approximately 10 hectares, it has become one of the leading tourist spots in southern Okayama Prefecture. Admission is free, open year-round.
[Image: Twice a year, there is an 'Olive Garden Day' where all employees pitch in to tend to the bases of the olive trees]
[Image: In early April, cherry blossoms are in full bloom within the Ushimado Olive Garden, which can be enjoyed along with the scenery of the Seto Inland Sea]
[Corporate Information]
During World War II, Waichiro Hattori, the 11th head of a prominent merchant family in Okayama Prefecture, was requested by the military to 'turn the mountains into potato fields to secure food'. He thought, 'If we turn them into potato fields, the wonderful scenery of the Seto Inland Sea will be ruined. Olives can be used for medicine, food, and light'. On April 19, 1942, he planted olives, the symbol of peace, in the cleared Mt. Amida. (2026 marks the 84th anniversary of its opening)
On June 1, 1949, simultaneously with the establishment of Nippon Olive Co., Ltd., the first product 'Olive Manon Virgin Oil' (100% pure olive cosmetic oil) was released.
To respond to the increasing demand for olive oil in Japan, a company-owned olive garden was established in Tortosa, Spain, the world's largest olive-producing country, in 1992. Currently, as a producer, the company cultivates, harvests, and processes approximately 2,000 trees across 10 hectares at the Ushimado Olive Garden and about 3,100 trees across 45 hectares at the Tortosa Olive Garden. Alongside this, the company conducts basic research on not only olive oil but also fruit juice and leaf extracts, and develops and sells quasi-drugs and cosmetics. (2026 marks the 34th anniversary of its opening)
[Company Overview]
Company Name: Nippon Olive Co., Ltd.
President & CEO: Yoshiro Hattori
Address: 3911-10 Ushimado, Ushimado-cho, Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture
FAQ
What award was won at the Los Angeles International Competition?
Nippon Olive's 'Ushimado' won the Best of Division (International Delicate), among others.
Where is the awarded olive oil cultivated?
It is cultivated at the company's Ushimado Olive Garden in Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture.
Where can I buy the product?
It is currently sold out, but typically available at direct sales stores and online.