A Brazilian chef won the World Sushi Cup last week, bursting into tears of joy after his knife skills and artful preparation of salmon roe, tuna and shrimp delicacies wowed Japanese judges.

With the country's UNESCO-recognized cuisine enjoying an explosion of global popularity, the competition - sponsored by Japan's agricultural ministry - aims to improve sushi standards overseas.

Dressed in white coats and hats, 27 chefs from countries including France, Brazil, the US and Pakistan, nervously prepared fish and made traditional "Edo" style sushi, in tightly timed rounds.