Japan shines at global pizza awards with 5 restaurants named among world’s best

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Japan shines at global pizza awards with 5 restaurants named among world’s best

Japan shines at global pizza awards with 5 restaurants named among world’s best

The Best Pizza Awards are judged by an independent panel of 512 experts from 60 countries. (Supplied)

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26 Jun 2025 06:06:55 GMT9

Japan’s pizza scene took center stage at the Best Pizza Awards 2025, with five restaurants earning spots on the Top 100 list.

The strong showing highlights Japan’s growing influence in global pizza culture, blending traditional craftsmanship with innovation.

Among the standouts was The Pizza Bar on 38th in Tokyo, which not only ranked No. 6 globally but also won the Best Pizza Experience award. Tokyo restaurants dominated the Japanese entries, joined by Okinawa’s Bacar, reflecting the country’s geographical spread and culinary diversity.

Top-Ranked Japanese Restaurants:

No. 6 – The Pizza Bar on 38th, Tokyo – Chef Daniele Cason
No. 10 – Pizza Studio Tamaki, Tokyo – Chef Tsubasa Tamaki
No. 14 – Pizza Marumo, Tokyo – Chef Yuki Motokura
No. 49 – Bacar, Okinawa – Chef Daisuke Nakamura
No. 78 – Pizza Strada, Tokyo – Chef Takeru Jo

The accolades came during a high-profile ceremony in Milan at Spazio Antologico, East End Studios, attended by more than 500 guests, including over 300 leading pizzaiolos from around the world.

Martucci named world’s Best Pizza Chef

Topping this year’s list was Francesco Martucci of I Masanielli in Caserta, Italy, named Best Pizza Chef 2025 for his cutting-edge techniques and deep respect for Neapolitan tradition.

The top three were rounded out by:

#2 – Franco Pepe, Pepe in Grani (Caiazzo, Italy)
#3 – Gabriele Bonci, Pizzarium (Rome, Italy), who also received the Best Pizza Icon award

A host of other awards were presented, including:

Best Margherita Pizza – Ciro Tutino, Naples
Best Fried Pizza – Isabella De Cham, Naples
Best Street Pizza – Massimo Laveglia, New York
Best Pizza NextGen – Eloi Torrent, Spain

The Best Pizza Awards are judged by an independent panel of 512 experts from 60 countries and aim to spotlight both tradition and innovation in the craft.

“Japan’s performance this year proves the country is no longer just a pizza admirer — it’s a serious contender shaping the future of the craft,” said Cristian Gadau, CEO of The Best Pizza Awards.

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