For years, the Olive Japan International Olive Oil Competition has been the largest olive oil contest in Asia and Oceania. Now, for its 2025-26 edition, Olive Japan is introducing Asia’s first international table olive contest, plus new early bird discounts. Of course, Olive Japan is continuing its extra virgin olive oil and flavored olive oil competitions.
Why is the first international table olive contest in Asia being introduced as part of Olive Japan this year? Competition organizer Toshiya Tada told Greek Liquid Gold, “I believe we have large potential” to market table olives in Japan. “Now is the time to promote this tasty, healthy product in the country,” he says, alongside olive oil. This is a noteworthy step, since Tada believes there are only a few truly international table olive competitions worldwide.
For registration of table olives or olive oil at Olive Japan before the end of November 2025, early bird discount rates will apply. (The regular entry deadline is May 15, 2026.) In addition, the popular “Buy 4 & Get 1 Free” offer will continue this year: with every 4 products entered, another product may be entered free. (This applies to 5 items from the same company that are entered on the same entry form.) To enter Olive Japan, click here.
Reaching the Japanese market through olive oil competitions and an international table olive contest
Tada encourages olive and olive oil producers and packagers to enter Olive Japan’s competitions, because “the market of Japan is so attractive, with good potential.” The country is the fourth largest importer of olive oil worldwide (based on a seven-year average). As Olive Japan publications and events have been emphasizing, Japan is already an important, growing market for olive oil.
Olive Japan helps increase this growth in several ways. Yearly online publications for Japanese consumers feature descriptions of award-winning olive oils. The annual Olive Japan Show in Tokyo facilitates connections between Japanese consumers and buyers on the one hand, and olive oil producers from around the globe, on the other. The show also includes informative events for Japanese consumers, and introduces them to winners’ products.
Since the competition began in 2012, Tada explains, Olive Japan has focused on providing accurate, consistent information about olive oil quality for consumers, based on uniform judging criteria and clear standards for awards. To help share this information with consumers, as well as introducing award-winning table olives, they are planning the next Olive Japan Show market event and awards ceremony on Saturday and Sunday, June 27-28, 2026. Medal winners from the international table olive contest and olive oil competitions are invited to showcase their products to thousands of visitors. Both professional buyers and the general public will be welcome at the show.
Respected judges for careful evaluation
Olive Japan attracted esteemed judges from 11 nations to evaluate more than 750 extra virgin olive oils and flavored olive oils from producers in 28 countries last year. This year’s competition will include judges nominated by a certified panel leader of a table olive panel recognized by the International Olive Council (IOC). Olive Japan’s new table olive competition jury will follow similar rules to the olive oil competition jury, for example tasting no more than 35 samples per day, and tasting only in the morning. According to Tada, “the table olive judging protocol will comply with the sensory analysis method indicated by the IOC, but the profile sheet will be prepared by us.”
“The oldest and most prestigious” olive oil competition in the country, according to Spanish judge Agusti Romero, Olive Japan is organized by Toshiya Tada and the Olive Oil Sommelier Association of Japan (OSAJ), Japan’s only professional organization for training and certifying olive oil experts. OSAJ is independent from all olive and olive oil companies.
This is a sponsored post: Olive Japan is a major sponsor of greekliquidgold.com.
Thanks to Toshiya Tada for the photos that appear with the article.
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