The upcoming edition of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, which was due to take place in Saga Prefecture, Japan on 24 March 2020, has been to switched from an on-site gathering to an online awards ceremony due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns.
The organiser of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants and Saga Prefecture have decided to cancel this year’s on-site event programme in Japan. After consultation with The Governor of Saga Prefecture, 50 Best feels it has no alternative but to reformat the awards ceremony and related events on this occasion.
This decision has been taken in light of the ongoing spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19), which has led to severely restricted travel policies across large parts of Asia, and in response to the Japanese government’s advice to limit large-scale events.
The programme of events was scheduled to be hosted in the Saga Prefecture of Japan, in the southern island of Kyushu, from March 22nd-24th, and included #50BestTalks, as well as a series of gastronomic gatherings in the region, culminating in the annual awards evening. Instead, a live ‘virtual’ awards ceremony will be held on March 24th, full details of which will be communicated shortly.
The 50 Best team is in the process of planning a premium-level streamed awards ceremony, which all interested parties – chefs and restaurateurs, media, partners and other food-lovers – will be able to experience simultaneously online. Full details will be communicated as soon as possible. Special awards will continue to be announced in the weeks between now and the official unveiling of the annual ranking.
