There is a philosophy that runs through every great blade made in Japan: that true excellence is not declared, but earned — through hours of practice, disciplined repetition, and an unwavering commitment to craft. It is a philosophy we recognise deeply at Kai Shun. And it is precisely the same philosophy that drives Team New Zealand at the Bocuse d'Or.

We are proud to announce that Kai Shun NZ is the Official Knife Sponsor of Bocuse d'Or New Zealand for the 2026 APAC and the 2027 World Finals campaign. This partnership brings together two teams united by a shared belief: that at the highest level of performance, the tools in your hands matter as much as talent.

The world's most demanding culinary stage

Known as the gastronomic Olympics, the Bocuse d'Or is a biennial world chef championship founded in 1987 by the legendary Paul Bocuse. Every two years, nations compete across national and continental selections, with the Grand Finale held at SIRHA Lyon — the heartbeat of the global food industry. Teams cook live on stage in front of thousands of spectators, judges, and the world's most influential chefs. Every second counts. Every cut is visible. Every dish must be flawless.

New Zealand's journey at this level is young but already historic. In 2023, Team New Zealand made its first-ever appearance at the World Finals in Lyon, securing the Social Commitment Award — the highest debut recognition in the competition's history. In 2024, the team earned Bronze at the Asia-Pacific Selections. Now, for the 2026 cycle, the team is building on that foundation with greater ambition than ever before.

Why Shun knives belong on this stage

For the 2026 campaign, Kai Shun NZ will supply Team New Zealand with a curated selection of professional Japanese knives and accessories from the renowned Shun Classic range. These will form an essential part of the team's working kit throughout training, official events, and the international campaign itself.

Handcrafted in Seki City, Japan — the historic centre of Japanese blade-making — Shun Classic knives are trusted in some of the world's finest kitchens for good reason. Each blade is hand-sharpened to a 16-degree edge on each side, delivering extraordinary sharpness from the first cut. The VG-MAX cutting core, clad in 68 layers of Damascus steel, provides edge retention that can endure the relentless demands of competitive-level cooking. The D-shaped Pakkawood handle, subtly contoured to deliver the balance and grip that matter most when precision and speed are critical.

At the Bocuse d'Or, there is no room for tools that fall short. The team will rely on their Shun knives for every stage of preparation — from the initial butchery and portioning of competition proteins, to the fine detail work on garnishes where a single stroke can be the difference between a perfect presentation and a flawed one.

More than tools — a shared philosophy

Japanese knife-making is one of the world's oldest and most demanding crafts. The master bladesmiths at Kai's Seki City forge have spent decades — in some cases, entire careers — refining the art of making a knife that performs at the highest possible level. Every layer of Damascus steel, every degree of edge angle, every curve of the handle is a deliberate choice made in service of one goal: that the knife should be an extension of the chef's intent, not an obstacle to it.

The Bocuse d'Or demands exactly the same standard of its competitors. Candidates dedicate years of training — often 20 or more hours per week alongside full-time kitchen roles — to master every technique, every timing, every presentation element required to compete on the world stage. The competition celebrates the kind of excellence that can only be achieved through patience, repetition, and an almost obsessive attention to detail.

These are not incidental similarities. Craftsmanship and competition are two expressions of the same underlying discipline. That is why this partnership feels so natural, and why we are genuinely proud to place Shun knives in the hands of Team New Zealand.

Support the team — and carry a piece of the journey

Looking ahead to 2027

The road to the Bocuse d'Or Grand Finale in Lyon is long and demanding. First, Team New Zealand must qualify through the Asia-Pacific Selections, competing against powerhouse culinary nations including Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Australia. The APAC field is fierce and finishing in the top five is what earns the right to cook in Lyon.

Throughout this campaign, Kai Shun will be with the team every step of the way. Our knives will be in their hands during every training session, every trial, every official event. We will be following and sharing their journey as they prepare to carry New Zealand's culinary identity to one of the world's most watched professional stages.

We are incredibly grateful to Bocuse d'Or New Zealand for welcoming us as their Official Knife Sponsor, and we look forward to showcasing this partnership in everything we do throughout the 2026 campaign. Aotearoa belongs on the world stage, and we are here to help put it there.