Iberian ham in Japan

The Triumph of Ibérico Ham in the Japanese Market

The International Ham Institute (Interham), together with Jamón Lovers, celebrated the first edition of the Interham Awards 2025 in Madrid, an event already dubbed the Oscars of Ham. It was created with the mission to recognize excellence, business trajectory, scientific contribution, and young talent within the ham sector. These awards highlighted the importance of Spanish ham as a product that fuses agriculture and industry, science and craftsmanship, and that possesses solid potential for growth and international projection.

The Interham – Jamón Lovers Young Talent Award was granted to Saki Yokogawa, a Japanese slicer who has established herself as a genuine living bridge between Japanese gastronomic culture and the Spanish product. Her story is a clear example of the impact and admiration that Ibérico Ham inspires in Japan.

After studying Spanish and living for a time in Zaragoza, Yokogawa discovered Spanish ham, both Serrano and Ibérico, and transformed this experience into a vocation: the dissemination of its culture in her native country. Her work goes beyond professional slicing; she has been a champion in various slicing competitions, is an accredited expert, and co-founder of a Spanish bar in Japan where knife-cut ham is the star.

The dedication of Saki Yokogawa has been fundamental in bringing thousands of Japanese people closer to the traditional way of understanding and consuming ham in Spain. Through seminars, events, and major gastronomic gatherings, she has demonstrated profound respect for Spanish tradition, becoming a symbol of the international expansion of ham. The award not only recognizes her skill but also her role as an ambassador who facilitates the penetration and appreciation of Ibérico Ham in Japan, a very demanding and highly relevant gourmet market.

Recognition of Ibérico Excellence

The importance of Ibérico Ham was also reflected in the Business Trajectory Award for Ibérico Ham Producers, which went to Sánchez Romero Carvajal Jabugo, parent company of the iconic brand Cinco Jotas. Founded in