Yokohama Vanilla Co., Ltd. Appoints Kiyoshi Kurihara as Executive Officer and Chief Pastry Officer (CPO)
Yokohama Vanilla Co., Ltd., operator of the 'Yokohama Vanilla' gift sweets brand, has announced the appointment of pastry chef Kiyoshi Kurihara as its first Executive Officer and CPO. Kurihara has led product development since the company's founding and brings extensive experience from renowned patisseries like Pierre Hermé Paris. This appointment aims to internalize product development and further strengthen the brand's identity.
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- 📰 Published: May 27, 2026 at 12:36
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(From left) Kiyoshi Kurihara, Executive Officer and CPO of Yokohama Vanilla, and Yuto Takahashi, President and CEO of Yokohama Vanilla.
Yokohama Vanilla Co., Ltd. (based in Yokohama, Kanagawa; President and CEO: Yuto Takahashi), which operates the Yokohama-originated gift sweets brand 'Yokohama Vanilla,' is pleased to announce the appointment of pastry chef Kiyoshi Kurihara as its first Executive Officer and Chief Pastry Officer (CPO).
*CPO (Chief Pastry Officer): Head of the product development division.
### Background of the Appointment
Since the company's inception, Mr. Kurihara has led the development of all products, including the flagship 'Salt Vanilla Financier.' He has contributed significantly to establishing the brand by designing its worldview and flavor profiles.
His background includes honing his skills at famous patisseries such as Pierre Hermé Paris, Potager, and La Terre (Ferme La Terre Biei). He has extensive experience and expertise, having developed gift sweets for approximately 20 brands, including department store brands and major domestic airlines.
Yokohama Vanilla has long believed that 'intrinsic product power' is the fundamental prerequisite for a brand to be loved by customers. Consequently, the company has positioned the internalization of pastry chefs as a key management issue. Through several projects with Mr. Kurihara, the company became convinced that his creativity and industry knowledge could elevate not just product development but the brand itself. This led to his appointment as the company's first Executive Officer.
With Mr. Kurihara as CPO, Yokohama Vanilla enters a phase of internalizing product development and establishing itself as a brand with unique product power. Leveraging his 20+ years of industry experience, Mr. Kurihara will lead product development with top-tier expertise, aiming to make Yokohama Vanilla a leading brand for gift sweets from Yokohama.
### What is a CPO (Chief Pastry Officer)?
At Yokohama Vanilla, the CPO is the head of the product development department. This role involves overseeing everything from product concept planning and quality control to determining the direction of the brand's overall flavor profiles from a management perspective.
### Profile: Kiyoshi Kurihara
Kiyoshi Kurihara started his career at a design firm. After seeing the joy sweets brought to children, he was drawn to the craft and moved into the pastry world. He has served as executive pastry chef at various locations, including bridal venues, restaurants, Pierre Hermé Paris, the vegetable-themed sweets shop Potager, and La Terre (Ferme La Terre Biei). He later served as Creative Director for product development at Mic Brain Center Co., Ltd. before becoming independent.
### Major Product Development Achievements
- 'Terra Saison' at Gransta Tokyo Station
- 'Mel's Caramel Works' at Shibuya Scramble Square
- 'Reicacao' at Shibuya Tokyu Foodshow
- Butter Cheese Sand and Milk Sand for La Terre Pâtisserie/Ferme La Terre Biei, among others.
### Comments from CPO Kurihara and CEO Takahashi
**Kiyoshi Kurihara, Executive Officer and CPO**
'I have always focused on creating sweets based on the theme of "nature-oriented sweets" that bring joy to everyone who tastes them. I have a special attachment to the "Salt Vanilla Financier," the first product we launched. It features a deep butter aroma from open-flame browning, a handcrafted finish with hand-sprinkled salt, and the rich fragrance of carefully selected natural Bourbon vanilla. I am sincerely grateful that it remains a popular premium gift today.
My initial impression of Yokohama Vanilla was that it was an energetic company led by CEO Takahashi. Now, the company is building a solid organizational foundation and moving to the next phase, attracting professionals who share its philosophy. At this timing, I decided to join the company, inspired by CEO Takahashi's passion and consistent vision for the brand. I look forward to creating products filled with excitement that make people feel "Delicious! Fun! Happy!"'
**Yuto Takahashi, President and CEO**
'Mr. Kurihara has joined us as our first Executive Officer! As a pastry chef, he has been responsible for developing all the products Yokohama Vanilla has released to date. From now on, he will apply his expertise in product development and the gift sweets industry to our management.'
Yokohama Vanilla Co., Ltd. (based in Yokohama, Kanagawa; President and CEO: Yuto Takahashi), which operates the Yokohama-originated gift sweets brand 'Yokohama Vanilla,' is pleased to announce the appointment of pastry chef Kiyoshi Kurihara as its first Executive Officer and Chief Pastry Officer (CPO).
*CPO (Chief Pastry Officer): Head of the product development division.
### Background of the Appointment
Since the company's inception, Mr. Kurihara has led the development of all products, including the flagship 'Salt Vanilla Financier.' He has contributed significantly to establishing the brand by designing its worldview and flavor profiles.
His background includes honing his skills at famous patisseries such as Pierre Hermé Paris, Potager, and La Terre (Ferme La Terre Biei). He has extensive experience and expertise, having developed gift sweets for approximately 20 brands, including department store brands and major domestic airlines.
Yokohama Vanilla has long believed that 'intrinsic product power' is the fundamental prerequisite for a brand to be loved by customers. Consequently, the company has positioned the internalization of pastry chefs as a key management issue. Through several projects with Mr. Kurihara, the company became convinced that his creativity and industry knowledge could elevate not just product development but the brand itself. This led to his appointment as the company's first Executive Officer.
With Mr. Kurihara as CPO, Yokohama Vanilla enters a phase of internalizing product development and establishing itself as a brand with unique product power. Leveraging his 20+ years of industry experience, Mr. Kurihara will lead product development with top-tier expertise, aiming to make Yokohama Vanilla a leading brand for gift sweets from Yokohama.
### What is a CPO (Chief Pastry Officer)?
At Yokohama Vanilla, the CPO is the head of the product development department. This role involves overseeing everything from product concept planning and quality control to determining the direction of the brand's overall flavor profiles from a management perspective.
### Profile: Kiyoshi Kurihara
Kiyoshi Kurihara started his career at a design firm. After seeing the joy sweets brought to children, he was drawn to the craft and moved into the pastry world. He has served as executive pastry chef at various locations, including bridal venues, restaurants, Pierre Hermé Paris, the vegetable-themed sweets shop Potager, and La Terre (Ferme La Terre Biei). He later served as Creative Director for product development at Mic Brain Center Co., Ltd. before becoming independent.
### Major Product Development Achievements
- 'Terra Saison' at Gransta Tokyo Station
- 'Mel's Caramel Works' at Shibuya Scramble Square
- 'Reicacao' at Shibuya Tokyu Foodshow
- Butter Cheese Sand and Milk Sand for La Terre Pâtisserie/Ferme La Terre Biei, among others.
### Comments from CPO Kurihara and CEO Takahashi
**Kiyoshi Kurihara, Executive Officer and CPO**
'I have always focused on creating sweets based on the theme of "nature-oriented sweets" that bring joy to everyone who tastes them. I have a special attachment to the "Salt Vanilla Financier," the first product we launched. It features a deep butter aroma from open-flame browning, a handcrafted finish with hand-sprinkled salt, and the rich fragrance of carefully selected natural Bourbon vanilla. I am sincerely grateful that it remains a popular premium gift today.
My initial impression of Yokohama Vanilla was that it was an energetic company led by CEO Takahashi. Now, the company is building a solid organizational foundation and moving to the next phase, attracting professionals who share its philosophy. At this timing, I decided to join the company, inspired by CEO Takahashi's passion and consistent vision for the brand. I look forward to creating products filled with excitement that make people feel "Delicious! Fun! Happy!"'
**Yuto Takahashi, President and CEO**
'Mr. Kurihara has joined us as our first Executive Officer! As a pastry chef, he has been responsible for developing all the products Yokohama Vanilla has released to date. From now on, he will apply his expertise in product development and the gift sweets industry to our management.'
FAQ
栗原清氏の横浜バニラでの新しい役職は何ですか？
同社初の執行役員およびCPO（Chief Pastry Officer/商品開発部門責任者）に就任しました。
横浜バニラのフラッグシップ商品は何ですか？
「塩バニラフィナンシェ」が同ブランドの主力商品です。
栗原清氏の過去の経歴にはどのようなものがありますか？
「ピエール・エルメ・パリ」や「ポタジエ」などの有名店での経験に加え、約20ブランドのギフトスイーツ開発を手がけてきました。
横浜バニラがCPOを設置した目的は何ですか？
商品開発を内製化し、ブランドの本質的なプロダクト力を強化することで、唯一無二の商品力を持つブランドを確立するためです。
CPO（Chief Pastry Officer）の具体的な役割は何ですか？
経営的視点を持ちながら、商品コンセプトの立案から品質管理、ブランド全体の味わいの方向性策定までを統括する役割です。