Culinary students from Kauaʻi, Kapiʻolani, and Leeward Community Colleges had the rare opportunity to earn an internationally recognized credential for cooking skills in Japanese cuisine.
Earlier this year, 41 students from Hawaiʻi earned the Bronze Certification of Cooking Skills for Japanese Cuisine in Foreign Countries. This marked the first time the program was offered in Hawaiʻi and only the second time it was available in the United States.
Backed by Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the certification program was established in 2016 to ensure the quality and authenticity of Japanese cuisine outside Japan. It is administered internationally by the Association of the Advancement of the Japanese Culinary Arts.
“Hopefully this is something that as they grow in their career and they travel, they have this proof (on their) resumes that they’re at this level already,” said Chef Matthew Egami, a Leeward Community College instructor. “So to me, this really opens up the possibilities for them of maybe working internationally, traveling, living elsewhere outside of Hawaiʻi as well if that’s what they want to do.”
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