Itonamisha Celebrates Award-Winning Harvest on Setouchi

Japanese company Itonamisha has won two awards at the 2024 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition, the world's most prestigious olive oil quality contest.

We are very proud of this result... are pursuing the combination of olive oil and washoku (Japanese cuisine). We would like to continue to spread the Japanese-style olive culture.

Ryohei Mineo, CEO

Situated on the southern coast of the main island, the producer earned a Gold Award for its Etajima Blend Strong brand, a delicate blend, and a Silver Award for a medium-intensity Lucca.

"We are very proud of this result. It is such an honor for us," said chief executive Ryohei Mineo. "The Gold Award gives us the feeling that we're going in the right direction."

"This result gives us even more encouragement," he added. "We are pursuing a combination of olive oil and washoku (Japanese cuisine). We would like to continue to spread the Japanese-style olive culture."

Mineo said the 2023/24 crop year came with the usual challenges and hard work associated with a traditional harvest.

"We grow olives in Etajima, Hiroshima, Japan. The climate of Setouchi (Seto Island) is suitable for olive cultivation," he said. "We carefully hand-pick each olive. Harvesting is fun but hard work. We are trying agritourism, where we turn the harvest work into an event and enjoy it together with tourists."

The NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition is the world's preeminent olive oil quality contest. Its annual list of award winners is the authoritative guide to the world's best olive oils and the dedicated producers who craft them.

The complete list of winners can be viewed in the Official Guide to the World's Best Olive Oils.