Japanese wins pizza contest -- in Italy

NAPLES, Italy, May 30 (UPI) -- Organizers say the winner of the international competition in Naples, Italy, for making the best Neapolitan pizza was won by a man from -- Japan.

Akinari Makishima, 33, who works in Nagoya at an Italian restaurant, became the first Japanese to win the contest, which has been held for the last nine years, the Kyodo News reported Sunday.

Makishima underwent some additional training at pizza-making on the outskirts of Naples before entering a field of 150 competitors from countries including Spain, France, the United States and, of course (home field advantage) Italy.