County Hall Arts (CHA) is delighted to announce its latest musical concours — a culinary-themed songwriting competition inspired by Okonomi-Yaki. A prize of £50,000 is on offer.

Okonomi-Yaki is a popular Japanese street food originating from the west of the country. A delicious savoury pancake “grilled as you like it" on a teppan and adorned with a choice of protein and an endless range of tasty condiments and toppings, chefs prepare the food in full view of the customer.

CHA is seeking a song which celebrates this unique and tasty dish which is increasingly popular globally thanks to the boom in street food and the spectacle of Okonomi-Yaki cooks' skilled manoeuvres.

#Songwriters (professional, amateur and hobbyists alike) are invited to enter their original "cross culture" creations.

While the first appearance of the word "okonomiyaki” dates back to 1930s Japan, the dish’s popularity began to soar in the aftermath of World War II. Food was scarce, so the Japanese population had to feed their families with whatever they had to hand. Soon, household equipment and ingredients for the dish became commercially available. Consequently, women and mothers in particular were the pioneers of okonomi-yaki cooking, not only as home-makers, but as chefs and as cafe owners. That maternal presence remains important to this day.

The Competition is open to composers of all nationalities and ages. There is no entry fee.

If You have any questions about how to enter or in connection with the Competition, please email Us at [email protected] with "Okonomi-Yaki Competition" in the subject line.