Having experience with fish from a young age, he decided that "making delicious things will be my job"

Chef Nakasai was born in Gifu prefecture in 1975. Influenced by the sight of his grandfather, a fisherman's boss and a chef, at a young age he decided that making delicious cuisine would be his job This decision was the reason he became a chef. Honkaku Edomae Zushi Matsuki Sushi was opened by his grandfather and continued by his father. Training there since he was 18, in 2002 he became the 3rd generation proprietor. He has an established reputation for his capability in preparing seafood that he has cultivated since he was young.

The experienced chef, who was trained in an eel wholesaler, became the 6th owner of a well established restaurant at the age of 30.

Born in Tokyo in 1967. When he was a primary school pupil, he became conscious of succeeding the restaurant as the 6th generation owner. When he was a university student, the 5th generation owner passed away. He helped the family business, and entered the restaurant right after the graduation. Leaving the grilled dishes to other veteran cook, he worked every morning for an eel wholesaler while assisting the restaurant. In about 2 years of training, he acquired skills to select and dress eels. At the age of 30, he became in charge of grilled dishes. He is currently maintaining the traditional taste of the long-established restaurant as the 6th generation owner.

Mr. Kita sharpened his skills at a seaside restaurant frequented by knowledgeable fishermen.

Mr. Kita was born in 1982 in Kanazawa City. At age 19, after graduating high school, he got a part-time job at a sushi restaurant and began his career in the restaurant business. Since then, he has used the amazing ingredients of his hometown to create high-quality fare. While working at a seaside sushi restaurant frequented by fishermen, he picked up the habit of cooking foods with strong flavors using techniques such as nitsuke (boiling fish in soy sauce) and arayaki (frying fish fillets). In May 2020, he opened [Sushi Naoki]. There, he serves sushi that showcases the deliciousness of common fish, making their flavors shine with skilled techniques.

Mr. Hirayama is a culinary professional who conveys happiness through food.

He was born in 1991 in Saga. Since childhood, he has excelled at detailed work and has found happiness in seeing the joy on people's faces. He found himself naturally becoming a chef. He gained extensive experience as a chef in Kyoto and Tokyo, where he also worked as an executive chef. With this experience, he now opens Takanawa Shinzan. Presenting dishes with attention to detail, he attracts guests to visit in both quality and taste.

Attracted by the thoughts and skills of artisan chefs, Mr. Machida began walking the path of Japanese cuisine.

He is a native of Osaka. Interested in eating and making things more than others, he became especially fascinated by the delicate presentation of food and the knife skills of artisan chefs, leading him to pursue a career in Japanese cuisine. In 2007, he started his life as a chef at a kappo restaurant in Kitashinchi. Since then, he has worked in 20 restaurants, including not only Japanese but also Italian, Chinese, and others. He has also been involved in the launch of many restaurants. Currently, he works as a chef at the Kokuryu Ebisubashi Branch.

Putting his heart and soul into every detail, Mr. Aida is a master of Japanese cuisine who preserves tradition while drawing a new future.

He was born in 1977 in Ibaraki. From an early age, he grew up in an environment where he enjoyed and became familiar with cooking as an extension of play. He experienced part-time work at a kappo restaurant during high school and then went on to culinary school. After graduation, he joined Yamaguchi-rou, which boasts its history and prestige. Steadily gaining experience, he was appointed as head chef in 2010. His motto is to bring a new style to the restaurant while respecting its traditions. With his attention to detail and hospitality, his cuisine keeps the hearts of his customers.

To provide the ultimate taste, Mr. Tanaka challenges himself as a "meat master" devoting his life.

He was born in 1967 in Gifu. As the eldest son of a family where his grandfather was a cattleman and horse dealer, and his father ran a butcher shop, he has held a knife and handled meat since he was 10. Since a young age, he dreamed of opening a restaurant, and at 25, he opened a yakiniku (Japanese barbecue) restaurant. His unique menu composition and store design gained attention, leading him to expand his meat-focused restaurants to 18 locations in Tokyo, Nagoya, Gifu, and Shiga. In particular, his restaurant Nikuya Setsugekka in Nagoya was featured in the "Michelin Guide Aichi, Gifu, Mie 2019 Special Edition". The restaurant has also received consecutive awards from the Tabelog Awards and gained popularity.

Mr. Nishida is a master chef who conveys Japan's traditions, nature, and spirit through seasonal cuisine.

He was born in Fukuoka. The owner of Shirogane Nishida. After graduating from culinary school, he trained at the famous Kyoto cuisine restaurant Yugyoan Tankuma Kitamise, where he learned traditional techniques and tastes. After returning home, he gained experience at the legendary restaurant, Teshimatei, then worked at Hakata Mizutaki Toriden and Nakashima-cho Club. In 2014, he launched his own restaurant and became independent. The restaurant has grown to the Michelin-starred reputation it is now. Under the motto, "a chef is an interpreter of the seasons," he serves seasonal delicacies to guests from Japan and abroad.

Mr. Moji values the spirit of hospitality more than anything else and provides visitors a blissful moment.

He was born in 1976 in Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka. He grew up under the influence of his father, who was the president of the Japan Cooks Association, and his brother, a French chef. Although he had no intention of entering the culinary world, his promise to his mother led him to train at a sushi restaurant through his father for three years. He once left cooking but began to pursue it seriously when he met an excellent sushi chef at 22. After working at the highest-selling Sushi restaurant in Japan, he opened Sushi-dokoro Shinmon, which was renamed Sushi M ji three years ago.

Mr. Suzuki makes each piece of sushi with his passion for SHIOGAMAKOU - a sushi chef with a sense of humor.

He was born in 1982. He entered the world of sushi at the age of 16 and started his apprenticeship at 19 at KIYOTA, a famous sushi restaurant visited by many celebrities.  After his training period, he met Mr. Kamada, a tuna professional. He joined Kaisenzushi Shiogamakou because he was fascinated by how Mr. Kamada worked and his deep knowledge. He has made sushi for many people in Shiogama. In February 2024, he was appointed Oyakata (head chef) of SUSHI SHIOGAMAKOU GINZA KIWAMI. With his passion for SHIOGAMAKOU, he brings smiles to visitors' faces with the knowledge and wealth of experience he has cultivated.

 

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.

Mr. Honda pursues new possibilities for Japanese cuisine with his unique sensibilities and techniques.

He was born in 1982 in Chiba. He started his career as a chef, wanting to make people happy through food. Fascinated by Japanese cuisine's depth and seasonal ingredients' beauty, he continued his culinary training to acquire the skills to bring out the best of the ingredients.  In 2013, he opened honda Azabujuban.

Offering customers food with warmth and kindness.

Since Mr. Ito's family owned a fresh fish shop and deli, he spent a lot of time cooking from a young age, so he naturally decided to become a chef. After graduating from high school, he went to culinary school. Recommended by a friend, he began working at the Haute Cuisine Restaurant Kiku. Here, he met the master who would later become his mentor, and he learned the basics of cooking. He endeavors to serve "dishes with warmth and kindness" in terms of taste, aroma, and presentation.

Mr. Hayashi strives to meet the needs of his guests and aims to create a more satisfying experience for them.

He was born in 1999 in Fukuoka. After graduating from professional training college, he joined his current company and has been with Hakata Uokura ever since. He has delighted many guests with exceptional Japanese dishes, including fresh seafood. Now, as the head chef, Mr. Hayashi continues to uphold the flavors of Hakata Uokura. He is committed to meeting the diverse needs of his guests, such as halal options, aiming to create a more satisfying experience for all customers.

Mr. Watanabe is an expert Edomae Sushi chef who has been challenged for over 20 years in Hong Kong.

He was born in 1974 in Tochigi. Influenced by his father, who ran a sushi restaurant, he decided to pursue the same career. At the age of 23, after gaining experience in Ginza, he had an opportunity to go to Hong Kong. He started working at Japanese Restaurant Kenjo, a pioneering sushi restaurant. Eventually, he took on the responsibility of a branch store. As a result, he continued to serve the restaurant with excellent skills for 21 years. He returned to Japan in 2018. In January 2024, he started as the head chef at Sushi -HAN-.

Taking advantage of Mr. Doi's river fish market experience, he provides the absolute best in eel cuisine.

Mr. Doi's grandfather managed a river fish wholesale store in the central wholesale market in Kyoto, so he has been familiar with business since childhood. After graduating high school, he trained under his grandfather and inherited his business at 26 when his grandfather passed away. In March 2018, he changed industries from the fish store to open his own restaurant Doikatsuman, where he works as the owner and store manager. 

Mr. Takagi is dedicated to spreading the charm of Miyazaki through cuisine using Miyazaki's ingredients.

He was born in 1984 in Kyoto. Later, he grew up in Miyazaki, which is rich in nature. Since childhood, foodstuffs from the sea and the mountains have been familiar to him. Attracted by a job where he could sublimate the deliciousness of ingredients, he entered the culinary world at the age of 21. After 17 years of training at resort hotels, kaiseki restaurants, and popular Japanese restaurants in Miyazaki, he opened his own restaurant, Washoku Takagi, in March 2022. He always wishes that people would learn about the wonderful ingredients Miyazaki has to offer through its cuisine.

Mr. Iwamoto is an experienced chef who has been involved in food from various aspects.

He was born in 1971 in Tokyo. He had worked as a chef at "SARA" in Aoyama, Tokyo. He then became involved in the launch of "Table Modern Service," where he assisted in the operation and menu development of various restaurants, starting with its production business. After that, he worked at "Tokyo American Club" and is currently a chef at "Kagurazaka Shabu-shabu Fuga." His diverse menu, ranging from simple dishes that best use quality ingredients to creative dishes, has delighted many people.

Born in Kumamoto and trained in Osaka, refining the masterful skills to perfection.

Mr. Tsutsumi was born in 1989 in Kumamoto. Raised in a family of sushi chefs, he joined the family business at 15. After three years of training, he honed his skills at a Japanese restaurant in Osaka for about 15 years. With a foundation of solid technique and refined sensibility, he went on to establish his own restaurant, Sushi Tsutsumi. His sushi pursues a sense of harmony between the ingredients and rice, paying particular attention to bringing out the natural appeal of the ingredients to the fullest. 

His dishes reflect a long and diverse history of cooking professionally across the country.

He was born in 1982 in Ishikawa Prefecture. During his time in high school, he took on a part-time job at a yakitori (grilled chicken) restaurant, and the food there delighted him so much that he decided to enter culinary school after his high school graduation. After that, he went on to develop his skills at a traditional Japanese restaurant in Kanazawa and a Japanese-style inn in Kyoto, as well as a Kaiseki (course meal) restaurant in Kagurazaka and a Japanese restaurant in Ginza called Uchiyama. He also spent time in Italy working at Japanese restaurants there. After he returned to Japan, he set out on his own to take his current position. He is also a certified sommelier and sake (Japanese alcohol) master.