Hironobu Tsujiguchi grew up in a family that ran a confectionery shop in Ishikawa Prefecture on the Sea of Japan, but it was the scrumptious cake he tasted at a friend's birthday party in third grade that determined his destiny — to become a world-class patissier.
In realizing his dream, Tsujiguchi moved to Tokyo at age 18 as an apprentice to become a pastry chef, and at 23 became the youngest-ever winner of the all-Japan patisserie artisan contest. Over the years, he has accumulated more than 30 awards.
"I have won all the titles that I have desired," the 46-year-old Tsujiguchi said, his latest achievement coming last month when he received the top award at the Salon du Chocolat global chocolate fair in Paris.