A chef based in Capbreton, in the Landes region, becomes the French sushi champion in 2026

France has its new sushi master! During the 9th edition of the French Sushi Championship, held at the Espace Encan in La Rochelle as part of the At the Table of Japan fair, chef Vincent Olivier triumphed over 15 candidates from all over France.

Thanks to the precision of his movements, the delicacy of his cuts, and a sensitive approach that blends Japanese tradition with French products, he succeeds Pierre-Maël Belaifa, the 2025 champion, and earns his ticket to the European Championship.

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Vincent Olivier, a chef between Japan and the land of Landes

At just 29 years old, Vincent Olivier represents a new generation of passionate chefs. Trained at the prestigious Tokyo Sushi Academy, this La Rochelle native is now settled in Landes, where he founded Kinkō Omakase in Capbreton.

©Studio Pichet 

His concept draws inspiration from the Japanese omakase, an experience where the customer completely entrusts their meal to the chef. Here, the coastal products of the Landes meet the precision of Japanese techniques, creating a cuisine that is precise, elegant, and intuitive. “It’s an extremely demanding competition that requires a lot of preparation and training. There is inevitably stress, but also a tremendous amount of passion,” he shares.

He adds: “This was my third participation, so winning this title today is an immense pride.”

4 challenges to determine the best 

Throughout the day, the candidates were evaluated on 4 major challenges: the preparation and cutting of the fish, the...

©Studio Pichet 

The jury brought together several well-known figures from Japanese gastronomy, including Yuko Perez, the jury president, Chihiro Masui, a culinary critic, and Wagner Spadacio, the 2017 French champion and 2018 vice-world champion. Vincent Olivier took first place, followed by Victor Roncaglione from Bistro Balnéaire in Soorts-Hossegor, Apiyada Sarivan from Sabaidee Sushi in Toulouges, and Minh Tou Nguyen from Kyoto Le Petit Japon in Aix-en-Provence, who finished in a tie.

A Showcase of Excellence for Japanese Gastronomy

Edition after edition, the French Sushi Championship stands out as a true talent revealer and a showcase of sushi expertise in France.

This 2026 edition also marked the successful launch of the fair À la table du Japon, a new gathering dedicated to the richness of Japanese gastronomy and culture. For Vincent Olivier, the adventure now continues on a European scale, with the ambition to elevate the colors of French-style Japanese cuisine even higher.