29-04-2025
Tokyo woman wins at World Marmalade Festival with pear and yuzu preserve
A TOKYO woman has claimed the top prize with her entry into the Dalemain World Marmalade Awards in Cumbria with a pear and yuzu preserve.
The awards, which were celebrating the 20th anniversary of the festival, took place in Dalemain, near Penrith, attracting thousands of entries from around the world.
The Japanese native became the first international winner of the competition in its history.
2025 Homemade Double Gold Winner, Hitomi Wakamura (Image: Hermione McCosh) Director of the awards, Beatrice Hasell-McCosh said: 'It is a brilliant win for an overseas competitor in this competition which upholds the ideal in British standard marmalade making.
'It is a well deserved win for Hitomi Wakamura and special that it comes as we mark our 20th anniversary year and that she was able to travel all the way from Japan to be with us for the festival and to receive her prize in person.'
Hitomi Wakamura, the victor, said it was a "great honour" to be chosen as winner in the homemade category.
The winning marmalade will now go on sale at Fortnum & Mason in London, with a percentage of the proceeds going to the charity Hospice at Home.
More than 3200 jars were submitted for judging. (Image: Hermione McCosh)Ms Wakamura said: 'It's a great honour that my yuzu and pear marmalade was chosen in the Homemade Competition this year.
"I would like to thank all those involved for giving me this opportunity."
A yuzu is a yellow citrus fruit akin to a mandarin orange.
The awards saw more than 3,200 entries from around the globe, with places such as Argentina, Jordan, South Africa, Slovakia, Japan, Canada, Austria and beyond all represented.
Since the competition started in 2005, the festival has raised almost £350,000 for Hospice, whilst 100 per cent of the Homemade entry fee goes to charity.
This year's edition of the festival saw the record for most foreign visitors being broken, with visitors such as minister-counsellor for cultural and scientific affairs from the Spanish Embassy in London, Jose Robles, and the deputy high commissioner for Australia Elisabeth Bowes in attendance.
Deputy High Commissioner for Australia Elisabeth Bowes (Image: Hermione McCosh) This international intrigue culminated in the formation of a sister festival in 2019 in Yawatahama City, Japan - a prime citrus growing area.
The 2025 celebration also saw Karen Jankel, daughter of Paddington author Michael Bond, attend the festival.
