Hironobu Tsujiguchi and Sadaharu Aoki were among the recipients of the highest awards at the Salon du Chocolat global chocolate fair in Paris, the world's largest event of its kind.
Tokyo-based Tsujiguchi, 46, and Paris-based Aoki, 45, were among 12 chocolatiers Thursday to win the highest rating of five chocolate bars plus a star. Aoki won the same prize two years ago.
Tsujiguchi, owner of Le Chocolat de H in Shibuya Ward, runs several other stores in Tokyo and operates a confectionery school in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture.
Susumu Koyama, 49, who last year won the prize for the second straight time, missed out this year.
The awards are given every year. The 12 recipients are chosen from 20 who receive ratings of five chocolate bars at a fair organized every June by a French critics' organization, which publishes ratings of about 150 chocolate artisans in and outside France.