Following three days of intense competition in front of an exacting jury and admiring crowds, the Japanese team was crowned the triumphant winner of the 2012 Coupe du Monde de la Boulangerie in March.

The Coupe du Monde de la Boulangerie brought together 12 teams of three candidates, each one dedicated to a category: Baguettes and World Breads, Viennese Pastries and Artistic Piece.

Japan was announced as the world champion team “to much applause and an ecstatic reception from the Japanese supporters in the crowd”, according to event organisers.

Minister Advisor at the Japanese embassy Fumio Shimizu said he was extremely proud.

A year ago, our country was devastated by a number of earthquakes and a tsunami. Our victory here today will give a boost to all our citizens and to the victims of these catastrophes,” Mr Shimizu said.

The US achieved second place, while 2008 winner’s Taiwan came third.

Australia’s Southern Cross Baking Group president Brett Noy was one of seven judges at the event. He said it was an intense experience but also the most prestigious event he had ever been invovled with.

It was certainly the highlight of my baking career thus far, to be given the opportunity and invitation to go and judge and be around not only competitiors of that calibre, but also six other international judges, many of which who had judged at that event a number of times before. It was an incredible depth of knowledge and experience, so to be able to around that was incredible,” he said.

Brett said he was impressed by the level of integrity in the judging process.

“You are required to justify your marks, explain what you saw, what was good, what wasn’t so good, because all the teams have to be given jury feedback. So if you don’t know what you are talking about you will get found out very quickly,” he said

The next Coupe du Monde de la Boulangerie will be held in 2016.