An encounter with a chef of French cuisine opened him up to the world of French food.

Toru Totoki was born in 1956 in Fukushima prefecture. When he was 20-years old, at a time that few people were familiar with French cuisine, he happened to meet the head chef of a French restaurant. Thanks to this chef's introduction, Totoki trained for 2 years at Regence Shibuya, then the famous French restaurant Ginza Lecrin, before going to Europe. He worked for 11 years as the head chef of Ginza Lecrin, from 1992 to 2003, then he opened Les Dix Temps, The Totoki. In 2013, the restaurant was updated and re-opened as Ginza Totoki.

From being raised by a fishmonger, to creating a place to eat delicious fish.

Kawanona was born in Takikawa, Hokkaido in 1969. His family home was a fish shop, so he has a long history of handling fish. At the age of thirty he started training at a Japanese restaurant in Sapporo. However, he had already decided on what he wanted to do, so three years later he opened the current restaurant, which takes the form of an extension on his family home. Everyday he spiritedly wields his knife, hoping to make this restaurant a place where food lovers gather.

Brings delicious tastes to life with his cooking experience that can't be confined to one culinary style

Born in 1981 in Hida, Gifu Prefecture. Aspiring to become a chef, he trained at the Japanese food restaurant "Izakaya Fumi" in Nagoya city's Chikusa district and "Karatoya" in the Sakae district from the age of 18 on. After that, he returned to Takayama and opened this restaurant in 2012, turning his dream into a reality.

He is a chef that is devoted to drawing out the the flavor of finequality ingredients through flamebroiliing.

He was born in 1972. After graduating high school, he first started cooking Japanese cuisine. Starting his training from scratch, he was lucky enough to meet a respectable boss, who put him through rigorous training, day in and day out, allowing him to blossom into a chef. After that, he got his feet wet while working in a restaurant and then became the head griller at Sakagura Kura. He says that the most important things in his job are making sure that all the ingredients procured by the shop are first-rate and flavorful, can have that flavor drawn out through flame-broiling, and ensuring that customers savor every moment of tasting them.

In contrast with his beloved father, a sushi chef, he's challenging himself in the world of French cuisine!

Born in 1971 to a sushi chef father. After honing his skills at famous hotel restaurants in Fukuoka and Kobe, he set off for France. After learning about authentic French cuisine, he came back to Japan and set up his own restaurant. His restaurant, which used to be solely a French restaurant, has now expanded its offerings, developing into a "Western food and wine restaurant."

A diehard chef, straight along this road from his middleschool longing

Born August 19, 1968, in Yokosuka, Kanazawa, during his middle school days he always gazed upon the neighborhood Chinese restaurant, impressed with the smells and the sounds he heard from its kitchen. He was inspired when a person from the restaurant noticed this and made him fried rice. While working as a part-timer at that restaurant, learning many things from the owner, he started on the chef's path. He built up experience at many different Chinese restaurants, most notable The Westin Tokyo's Ryutemmon. He has been working at China Room since 2003.

By making sure ingredients change every day, there is always an eye on consistent quality.

Born in 1973, and a native of Fukuoka Prefecture, he had always loved food, but was working at a company unrelated to the culinary world. From there, he decided to change occupations and pursue the path of becoming a chef. Every day he constantly watches changes in conditions and the quality of ingredients to insure a consistent high level of quality, which means he is always studying the textures and flavors of the food he has perfected.

He's been coming home to the shop where his parents cooked at since he was young.

Chef Ide was born in 1976 in Shizuoka Prefecture. Having always been good at making things and working with his hands from the time he was young, upon graduating high school, he returned home to inherit his family's soba shop. The more he learned about cooking, the more it appealed to him. He studied hard and steadily began taking on new challenges. In lieu of training elsewhere, he adopted the attitude of always challenging himself to continually learn. Continuing to preserve the flavors created by his parents while adding his own style, he works on creating new flavors he can be proud from here on into the future.

Stepped into the world of culinary from an admiration of white chef coats

Born in 1960 in Aichi prefecture. The glamour of French cuisine left a great impression on him and he set his mind on becoming a French chef himself. He polished his skills at numerous noted restaurants, including The Westin Nagoya Castle, Au Bec Fin Ponto-cho branch, Maxim's de Paris Nagoya branch, and Imperial Wing. In 2004, he took the position of executive chef at Aile d'Ange main branch, a role he maintains to the present day.

Working hard with the staff to create a comfortable restaurant

Born August 10, 1956 in Sapporo. After graduating from a vocational school, he worked at restaurants, hotels, and izakaya bars, serving customers. When Hokkai Shabu Shabu Kita 2 Jo opened in 2012, he was hired on as manager. Rather than "training staff by the book," he focuses on "little acts of service and hospitality," working towards creating a restaurant with a warm atmosphere along with his staff.

After his father's retirement, he succeeded the family business spanning 3 generations and 50 years

He was born in Aichi Prefecture in 1968. He first thought of running a Korean barbecue shop when he was 40. When his father, the previous head, retired, he felt that someone had to continue the store that his grandfather had started, so he quit his construction job and entered the world of Korean barbecue.

He his love of cooking and yakiniku (grilled meat) pushes him to pursue Korean cuisine that does high quality meat justice

Born August 22nd, 1986, in Kyoto. As a child his love of cooking and yakiniku (grilled meat) led him down the path to becoming a chef. At the age of 18 he started working at a Korean restaurant. After honing his skills for four years at Tendan Gion, he transferred to Tendan Akasaka. He doesn't just make Korean food - he uses his considerable skills to make luxurious yet subtle dishes that pair perfectly with yakiniku. With high quality meat you can't find anywhere else, many Korean food lovers flock to our restaurant daily.

Just how it is in Spain. Savor true Spanish cooking.

Born in Barcelona, Spain. Her family runs a restauraunt for over 100 years since her grandfather's generation. Since much of Spanish cooking in Japan is adapted to the Japanese palate, she opened a restaurant to offer the true flavors of Spain. She offers the authentic taste she's been familiar with from an early age. Every year, when she returns to her country, she learns a dish that is trending in Spain. New flavors appear in the menu right away.

Depth that even a connoisseur can taste.

Wanting to use my hands to make a living, I entered the food industry because of my interest in cuisine. With over 20 years since we opened Rikyu, you'll soon find out why connoisseurs say, "When it comes to grilled beef tongue, one seeks the modest sensitivity that's a product of a single coal in the fire. The flavorful depth of each ingredient can change with the chef."

In the restaurant business for nearly 30 years. Now a chef who captivates many

When he was a student, Koichi Ryu began working in a restaurant without much serious thought. But he was so taken by the head chef there that he started on the culinary path at the age of 18. At one point, he almost threw in the towel but there was no way he could completely give up on the culinary world. It's been thirty years now since he first chose this career. After working at Hakata Saryo, Fugu Taisho, Moyai (small restaurant), and various other restaurants, Mr. Ryu is now the owner of Ryuichi in Zashonokuma.

After all, the love of cooking lead to this profession.

His training started from as early as elementary school and he was considered a cooking genius.

He started working at a Japanese restaurant and Japanese sweet shops when he was an elementary school student. He graduated from the culinary school, Tsuji, and also went to France to study at a French cooking college. He went to Alsace and visited other areas as well. He became a chef after four years and returned to Japan after eight years in total. In 2012, he opened La FinS.

A chef with a passion for serving delicious meat

Born in Kagoshima prefecture on July 19, 1982, this chef has a passion for serving the ultimate delicious meat prepared seared, rare, or roasted on one side. He spends his days at Yakiniku no Ryuen honing his cooking skills.

He has loved cooking for a long time now. Spanish cuisine in particular has captivated him.

He has liked cooking since he was a child. Cooking paella for the first time ignited within him a strong fascination with Spanish cuisine. In order to polish his cooking skills, he went to the United States and, in 2007, opened Moonlight Wine Kitchen. Only using raw materials in his cooking, he has acquired many fans.

Inspired by the flavor of "Chef's", a young talent asked to be taught

Minami was born in Tokushima Prefecture in 1983. After graduating from university, he studied Chinese cuisine at Tsuji Culinary Institute. Afterwards, he apprenticed at "Kuushin", a famous restaurant in Osaka . At the age of 26, attracted by its simple yet delicious food, he began working at Chef's. At the time it was called "Renge", and he gained experience under the restaurant's owner Eishun Nishioka. After two years he became the restaurant's head chef. While holding on to the traditional flavors of this famous establishment, he continues to strive in earnest to discover new flavors.