Through cooking, Mr. Harada wants to deliver an appreciation for nature and the excitement of food.

He was born in 1995 in Ibaraki. One cook he saw on TV became the catalyst for a significant change in his life. He decided to pursue a career in Japanese cuisine out of a desire to enrich people's hearts and minds through Japanese food. After graduating from a vocational school, he honed his culinary sensibility at a ryotei restaurant in Kyoto. Then, he worked at a kappo restaurant in Tokyo, where he served as sous chef for six months at a branch in Shanghai. Currently, as the head chef of the inn run by his family, he provides personalized cuisine to ensure that each guest is truly satisfied.

He succeeded his family business as he found in Tokyo that working at a kitchen counter was fun and made him happy.

Born in 1975 in Hiroshima Prefecture. His grandmother is the founder of [Hakutaka]. As the restaurant was a part of his daily life since he was small, naturally he decided to be a chef. He went up to Tokyo after graduating from high school and had training at [Tsuyama], a kappo (traditional Japanese) restaurant in Akasaka for about 5 years, then worked as an opening staff at a Japanese restaurant in Roppongi. In Tokyo, he learned cooking techniques and realized that it was fun working as a chef at a kitchen counter. He went back to his hometown and worked at [Hakutaka] run by his family, and became the 3rd generation at the age of 28.

Mr. Sawada continues to lead a life as a chef filled with enthusiasm and hard work.

He was born in Fukushima. At 18, he chose the culinary world in order to develop his skills. At Asakusa Kusatsutei, a renowned restaurant in Asakusa, he trained and honed his techniques while experiencing the depth of the cuisine. In April 2023, Asakusa Kusatsutei Ariake Branch was opened in Ariake. He has now moved to this new career stage and displays his shrewdness.

His international experience in Paris was a turning point in his life that encouraged him to master the art of yakitori (grilled chicken).

Born in Nagasaki prefecture in 1950, Chef Inomata trained at a number of yakitori restaurants, beginning with Torinaga in Roppongi. Later, he worked at a yakitori restaurant in Paris. Yakitori is a part of Japanese culture and Inomata was one of the first to spread the word about it to the rest of the world. In 1994, he returned to Japan and opened Toriyoshi in Nakameguro. He later opened branches in Nishi-azabu and Ginza. Inomata is now the owner of four restaurants. He can often be found standing at the grill in Corridor Machi's Miyashin.

Mr. Sato is a unique sushi chef who combines the blessings of the island country with local mountain food.

He was born in 1969 in Niigata. He is the second generation of Ryuzushi, which has lasted for more than 50 years in Minami-uonuma. After graduating high school, he moved to Tokyo and trained there, then in Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture. He took over the restaurant at 28 and built a fish purchase route that does not pass through the market, aiming to provide "the world's most cost-effective sushi." On the occasion of the restaurant renovation in July 2021, it became a counter sushi restaurant. His sushi, which uses wild vegetables and local produce of Minami-uonuma, attracts the attention of food connoisseurs from all over the country.

From part-time work during high school, Mr. Kadono chose the path of living on his own skills.

He was born in 1973 in Hyogo. He gained experience in the food and beverage industry through a part-time job during high school. Despite working as a salaried employee at a major corporation, he aspired to work independently with his skills, leading to his decision to leave the company. He was fortunate to have good colleagues and trained in Western cuisine, Japanese cuisine, French cuisine, and handmade soba noodles. Through this journey, he came across the owner of Fujino, and has been serving as the head chef since 2014. With a desire to expand his culinary expertise, he learned handmade soba, and he makes sure to create menus that utilize his many experiences.

Mr. Ichiki continues to tirelessly pursue the most delicious food from his childhood to the present.

He was born in 1984 in Aichi. His love of eating delicious food and cooking led him to become a chef in his teens. At age 15, he entered the world of food and beverage. After 4 years of kaiseki cooking and 16 years of sushi, he works at Tamahagane. His life as a chef began with a longing for food. Even now, he continues to tirelessly pursue delicious food. 

Inheriting a tradition at a young age, he keeps the passion of this institution burning bright.

Born in Fukuoka in 1986. He was born as 4th generation of [Iroha], a restaurant renowned for its mizutaki (chicken hotpot). He has kept his palate pure, and he has only known the taste of his own family's mizutaki. After graduating from high school, he learned his knife skills at a fishmonger, later joining the company as an apprentice. He took over as head chef at his family business at a young age due to his father taking ill. Through trials and tribulations, he has maintained the flavors that brought popularity to his family.

Making the best use of the rich bounty of Shinshu, Mr. Takahashi presents dishes full of wild flavor.

He was born in 1979 in Nagano. After graduating from Oda Cooking College, he joined Nadaman Co., Ltd. He worked for 13 years at "Kaiseki Ichukyo" in Ome-shi, Tokyo, where he served as sous chef. Then, he worked as a head chef at Kona Besso in Izunagaoka Hot Springs, Izunokuni-shi, Shizuoka for 5 years, and then joined Tobira Holdings Co., Ltd. He currently works at Hikariya Higashi as the general chef of Japanese cuisine.

Mr. Kakida wants to bring the happiness of dining at a high-class restaurant without worrying about the price.

He was born in 1990 in Hiroshima. While working as the president of an employment agency, his hobbies of fishing and making seafood bowls for his employees led him to become a Sushi chef. In 2022, he opened Yurakucho Kakida as a restaurant where people can experience "the pleasure of eating and drinking as much as they want without worrying about the price" that he enjoyed when he became president. As a restaurant where customers can enjoy "free refills" of high-end sushi items that Mr. Kakida himself purchases at the Toyosu market, it has become a popular spot with reservations filled up to six months in advance. Has made many media appearances.

Offering global dishes that transcend the boundaries of Japanese cuisine, welcoming guests from around the world.

Mr. Hasegawa pursued his culinary career while experiencing diverse international cultures and further enhanced his skills and knowledge by visiting Michelin's three-star restaurants in Japan. After moving to Kagoshima to the potential of local cuisine, he became independent in 2023. Currently, he handles everything from sourcing ingredients and preparation to cooking and serving customers. He visits producers across Japan to deepen his understanding of local flavors and ingredients, breathing new life into his dishes. He values his relationship with the community and passionately seeks to refine his culinary skills daily.

He converted his inn into a restaurant specializing in unagi (eel) to carry on his hometown’s tradition of unagi cuisine.

He was born in 1959 and raised in Mie Prefecture. After he graduated from college, he took a job at Hotel Taiike, which used to be in Toba, since he was going to eventually take over his parents' traditional Japanese inn that they were running at the time. During his time working at the hotel, he worked in the kitchen as well as the front desk, so he built experience with customer service in addition to cooking. After three years, he came back home to handle reception, cooking, and management at Kawaume. When his father passed away in 2008, he took over Kawaume as the 4th generation inheritor, and converted it from an inn into a restaurant specializing in unagi cuisine. Nowadays, he works hard to preserve the local traditions of unagi cuisine and has worked up a reputation for his original donburi (rice bowl) recipe.

An education major who discovered a passion for cooking has earned a Michelin star.

Mr. Sasai was born in 1966 in Kyoto. He initially aimed to become an elementary school teacher and was enrolled in the education faculty at the university. However, while working part-time in eateries like cafes, he discovered a passion for the food industry. To learn Japanese cuisine in his hometown of Kyoto, the heart of Japanese culinary art, he joined Gion Ryori Toriimoto for training. His authentic and refined Kyoto cuisine, rooted in the techniques of a traditional ryotei, has gained many admirers. Since its inclusion in the Michelin Guide for Kyoto and Osaka in 2010, the restaurant has maintained a one-star rating.

He began his career as a chef by helping out at home

Born in Okinawa on November 15th, 1972, he has been helping out in Hama no Ie, the restaurant that his parents established, since he was a child. He decided to become a chef because he always wanted to make the food with which he was most familiar with. While working in the restaurant, he developed a solid foundation in cooking. He is particularly skilled at cooking all kinds of fish dish. He is a known authority on ikezukuri (preparing sashimi made from live seafood).

Mr. Takahashi utilizes the skills and experience he has gained over the years in his daily culinary pursuits.

He was born in 1995 in Tokyo. He began his culinary journey inspired by a part-time job in the food service industry. Having honed his skills at an Italian restaurant, a yakitori restaurant, and a monjayaki restaurant, he has gained experience in a wide range of genres. He was invited to join the Tonkotsu Monja Konamamire Asakusa Branch by one from whom he learned a great deal about his current work, and he has been involved since its opening on December 16, 2023.

He went from observing his father who was farming eel, to entering the cooking field.

He was born in 1972 in Aichi prefecture. Observing his father who was an eel farmer, he was fascinated with eels and eel cuisine. Though he worked once as a foreman in the construction industry, he left the industry to start training as a chef in 2003 at [Sumiyaki Unafuji] in Nagoya. After working as its master chef and manager, he went independent and finally opened [Unagi-ka Shibafuku-ya]. 

Mr. Yamaguchi is the head chef who established his own unique style of Kushiage preparation with Japanese soup stock.

He was born in 1943 in Kyoto. With strong encouragement from his aunt, he decided to become a chef. Entered the long-established Kushiage restaurant Shiruhisa, established in 1946, and began his full-fledged culinary training. Later, in 1982, he was involved in the launch of Rokuhara and became the manager and head chef. He has established an original style in which carefully selected ingredients are not skewered as they are but with a few extra touches. For more than 40 years, he has been at the forefront of preserving the taste of Rokuhara.

 

Mr. Iwasaki was born on January 1, 1984 in Ishikawa. After graduating from high school, he started his life as a chef at Yamashiro Onsen Ryokan in Kaga, Ishikawa. Then, he worked at the Japanese restaurant "Shibazakura" in Prince Hotel Park Tower Tokyo. During his time there, he won first place twice in the Japanese cuisine category of a cooking competition in which chefs from Prince Hotels nationwide competed for the best chefs. After working at several Japanese restaurants, he opened Kappo Ichika in July 2015. He is pursuing dishes that will surprise and impress his guests.

Ms. Yamada is always ready to entertain guests with a smile so that they can enjoy their meals even more deliciously.

Ms. Yamada is always ready to entertain guests with a smile so that they can enjoy their meals even more deliciously. As a floor staff supporting the 2nd branch of Katsudon Daijyu, which attracts many guests with its popular "Katsudon without binding with eggs," she is improving her skills every day. Her motto is to be flexible and attentive to guests' requests. In order to create a comfortable space, she works hard to make the restaurant even better.