“Amour du Chocolat” brings together approximately 150 notable brands from Japan and abroad. Among them are numerous chocolates crafted by chefs from the Tokai region and chocolates made using local ingredients.

Here, we focus on the “local” aspect, introducing signature chocolates from Tokai-region chefs and collaborative products with local farmers.

First, this legendary chef, a pride of the Tokai region.

(Chef Takeshi Shibata, chez Shibata)
“Since Amour du Chocolat is a global chocolate event, I hope everyone looks forward to it this year as well.”

Chef Takeshi Shibata, a native of Tajimi City, Gifu Prefecture, is a regular participant at Amour. Known for his expressive and strong-willed personality, Chef Shibata is a highly accomplished figure—the first Japanese person to establish his own cake brand overseas. He is also one of only three global ambassadors for the renowned French chocolate maker, Cémoi.

Amour du Chocolat

“Amour du Chocolat” is not a historic cultural site but rather a modern, high-end chocolate shop and café located in the city of Lyon, France. It was founded in 2005 by master chocolatier Philippe Bernachon, who continues a family legacy of chocolate-making excellence. The establishment is celebrated for its artisanal creations, luxurious atmosphere, and its role in Lyon’s contemporary reputation as a capital of French gastronomy.

Tokai region

The Tokai region is a central coastal area of Japan’s Honshu island, encompassing Aichi, Shizuoka, Mie, and southern Gifu prefectures. Historically, it was a vital transportation corridor known as the **Tōkaidō road**, linking the old capital of Kyoto with the political power center of Edo (modern Tokyo). The region is culturally significant as the home of the Tokugawa shogunate in Nagoya, major Shinto shrines like Ise Jingu, and as the heartland of Japan’s automotive and ceramics industries.

Tajimi City

Tajimi City, located in Gifu Prefecture, Japan, is historically celebrated as a major center for Mino ware (Mino-yaki), a traditional Japanese pottery with a legacy dating back over 1,300 years. The city’s identity is deeply intertwined with ceramics, hosting the renowned Tajimi Pottery Festival and being home to many kilns and artisans. Its modern ceramic industry evolved significantly from the Momoyama period (16th century), when tea ceremony culture boosted the production of its distinctive tea bowls and tableware.

Gifu Prefecture

Gifu Prefecture, located in central Japan, is a region rich in history and natural beauty, historically known as the Mino Province. It is famous for the historic village of Shirakawa-gō, a UNESCO World Heritage site with traditional gasshō-zukuri farmhouses, and the city of Gifu, which was a key base for the powerful warlord Oda Nobunaga in the 16th century during the Sengoku period. Today, the prefecture is also renowned for its traditional cormorant fishing (ukai) on the Nagara River and its role in producing high-quality Mino washi paper and Seki cutlery.

Cémoi

Cémoi is not a specific place or cultural site, but a major French chocolate and confectionery company founded in 1814 in Perpignan. It is historically significant as one of France’s oldest chocolate makers, known for transforming cocoa beans into finished products and popularizing chocolate consumption. Today, it operates as an international group with factories across Europe.