Vlad Tănasie, a chef from Cluj-Napoca, became world champion in sushi after participating in an international competition held in Tokyo. At the age of 33, he defeated competitors from 20 countries and was named the best sushi chef outside Japan.

During the competition, Tănasie had 40 minutes to prepare an Edomae platter using the oldest traditional method from Tokyo, which included at least 35 pieces. He emphasized that it was the most beautiful moment of his life and a validation that he can bring authentic Japanese sushi to Romania.

Tănasie began his career in the field 12 years ago when, as a student needing money, he started working at a Japanese restaurant. Although sushi was not well-known in Romania at the time, he observed an underpopulated market and decided to become a specialist in this field. He worked with a chef from Japan from whom he learned the traditional technique. Today he owns his own restaurant and passes his knowledge of Japanese cuisine to his colleagues.