Mr. Okuno presents his cultivated "depth" in the restaurant where "everyone is the main character."

He was born in 1972 in Wakayama. Raised in a ryotei restaurant, he studied business administration at a U.S. university and worked in the real estate industry before entering the culinary industry. He first served at an Italian restaurant in Tokyo and then moved to Italy. He returned to Japan after studying at eight restaurants in all regions of Italy. In 2003, he opened Ristrante la Brianza; it relocated to Roppongi Hills in 2016 as La Brianza. He then opened DepTH Brianza in Azabudai Hills in November 2023. In addition to his seven restaurants in Tokyo, he also produces restaurants and teaches cooking in Japan and abroad.

Pursuing deliciousness that combines the new appeal of Yakiniku with tradition.

Mr. Yuji Baba was born in 1985 in Saitama. During his school years, he worked part-time in a restaurant, which satisfied and enthused him. He then entered the restaurant industry. In 2010, he founded Dining Kitchen Co. and developed a restaurant business related to Italian and Western food, his area of expertise. With the know-how he has cultivated over ten years in Italian cuisine and three years in the yakiniku industry, he opened Yakiniku Kokon in 2024 as the representative director.

Mr. Yamashita is a chef who works hard in a new place, pursuing new delicacies.

He was born in 1973 in Shizuoka. His father was a chef in his hometown of Izu. Because he hoped to get a job early in his career, he naturally chose the path of a chef. Started his career as a chef in earnest in Tokyo, where many famous restaurants are crowded. He worked the Western food department of Hotel Okura Tokyo (currently The Okura Tokyo), and then moved to French.  In 2022, he became the head chef with the opening of Nouvelle Epoque.

In his eight years at Birdland, Mr. Chino has honed his skills and gained a profound level of knowledge about yakitori (grilled chicken).

Born in Nagano prefecture in 1972, Mr. Chino was enamored with French and Italian cuisine in his younger days, but he took a part-time job at Birdland when he was 24. Working under the supervision of master chef Toshihiro Wada, Mr. Chino became completely fascinated by the profound nature of yakitori. Four years later, he was appointed as a restaurant manager and since then, has devoted himself to his study of yakitori and has now been working at Birdland for eight years. In 2004, he set up Asagaya Birdland independently. It was given an award by the famous restaurant guide in 2015.

Based on his experiences and passion in Kyoto and France, Mr. Tawara creates a gentle fusion of Japanese and French cuisines.

He was born in 1974 in Ishikawa. Inspired by a love for making things, he started his career as a chef. After honing his skills in Japanese cuisine at a restaurant in Kanazawa for three years, he moved to France. He gained experience for a total of three years at renowned restaurants in Provence and Perigord. After returning to Japan, he worked at Gion Okumura, a Kaiseki (tea-ceremony dishes)-style French restaurant in Kyoto, for four and a half years, where he further developed his skills in the fusion of Japanese and French cuisine. In 2012, he returned to his hometown, Kanazawa, and founded tawara. His creative and gentle cuisine, born from his experience in Kanazawa, France, and Kyoto, attracts food lovers inside and outside the prefecture.

Mr. Ichiki wants to bring smiles and energy to more people through food.

He was born in 1996 in Gunma. After working part-time as a student at a franchise chain curry restaurant, he joined SKYSCRAPER Inc. as a full-time employee because he wanted to bring smiles and energy to more people through food. Trained in the basics of restaurant operations and cooking, he then gained experience as a restaurant manager and area manager in Gunma Prefecture. He learned the basics of ramen at the new business model Ramen Daisenso, after which he was appointed brand manager and manager of Ramen Daisenso TOKYO Suidobashi Branch.

Mr. Takada makes the most of his experience and welcomes the guests with his time-consuming cuisine.

Mr. Takada was born in 1971 in Miyazaki. He trained in the Western-style food department of a hotel. After working at Jiyugaoka patisserie, he worked as a sous-chef at an embassy in Tokyo in Aoyama, where he learned French cuisine and cuisine from around the world. Then after serving as sous-chef at an Italian restaurant in Tokyo, he worked at Ore no French/Italian affiliate before joining his current company in October 2019. He is now working as the head chef of the culinary department of "restaurant REGINA," "Ryuduki TEPPAN," and other affiliated restaurants.

A young chef leading a new style of oden restaurant.

Mr. Kobayashi was born in 2002 in Fujimino-shi, Saitama. He graduated from culinary school and honed his skills through experiences in Italian and Japanese cuisine. Since February 2024, he has been the chef at Toyosu Kinpura, bringing vitality to the restaurant. With a desire to offer oden to visitors from overseas as well, he welcomes guests with meticulous preparation every day. His sincerity shines through in both the dishes he serves and his approach to customer service. He welcomes guests every day with careful preparation as he wants "visitors from overseas to enjoy Oden as widely as possible." His sincerity shines through in both the dishes he serves and his approach to customer service. This young chef's honesty is reflected in the cooking he serves and the service he provides to customers.

 

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. Yamamoto combines trendy style with the image of the Yakiniku restaurant run by his grandmother.

He was born in 1987 in Tokyo. His grandmother ran a Yakiniku restaurant, and his father ran an Okonomiyaki restaurant. As a result, cooking has been familiar to him since he was young. He aspired to be a chef, and trained at his father's restaurant after graduating from school. He then worked at a Yakiniku restaurant in Ginza to hone his skills. Although he served as executive chef, his desire to open his own restaurant grew more substantial, and he invited his colleague, Mr. Takagi, to join him in becoming independent. In December 2024, Yakiniku Fuji opened. "I want people to enjoy really delicious Yakiniku," he says.

Mr. Teramoto is passionate about conveying the appeal of meat and supports the restaurant's growth.

He was born in Osaka in 1994. When he joined Kobe Aburi Bokujo Umeda Main Branch as a part-time staff when it opened, he was deeply impressed by the skillful knife work of the meat specialists. Through gaining experience, he noticed how each piece of beef's marbling and muscle structure is unique. Captivated by the profound complexity of meat, he decided to pursue a career as a chef. Now, as the manager, he draws on his experience and skills to also focus on training the staff.

The passion to breathe new life into Japanese cuisine, cultivated at renowned restaurants and honed abroad.

Mr. Ito was born in 1986 in Miyazaki. Influenced by TV shows and manga during junior high school, he aspired to become a chef and went to a high school with a culinary course. After graduation, he moved to Tokyo and joined the prestigious Japanese cuisine restaurant Nadaman. He then trained under his master at renowned restaurants in Kagurazaka and Izu, gaining valuable experience over 10 years. Furthermore, he expanded his vision overseas and spent five years in Hong Kong. Upon returning to Japan and a period of preparation, he opened Higashiazabu Ito, a fusion-style Japanese cuisine restaurant.

Mr. Uesaka was fascinated by Italian cuisine, where the flavors of the ingredients come through directly.

He was born in 1984 in Kyoto. He began his career in the hotel's French restaurant. Fascinated by Italian cuisine and its exceptional beauty of ingredients, he moved to Italy after switching to Italian cooking. In three cities in Puglia, Piemonte, and Tuscany, he studied the local cuisine of each region. After returning to Japan, he joined Ristorante t.v.b in Gion as a sous chef. Three years later, he became a chef, and in 2023, he opened his own restaurant as the owner and chef of Restaurant DA CIRO.

Mr. Fuyuno is a chef and owner of the restaurant, who is highly admired by a wide range of guests from Japan and abroad.

He was born in 1974 in Ibaraki. Trained in Kaiseki (tea-ceremony dishes) cuisine, hotels, and Japanese restaurants. He learned and honed his skills in various techniques of serving food in beautiful dishes and using seasonal vegetables and other ingredients. In 2017, he came to Tokyo October. Serving as both head chef and owner of the restaurant, he has established a “style in which the chef himself provides hospitality.”  He calls himself a Japanese cuisine artist and pursues not only cooking but also the art of tea ceremony. Offering a diverse appeal as a comprehensive cultural art not limited to Japanese cuisine, he is adored by a wide range of guests from Japan and abroad.

Mr. Saito, the owner, serves his proud teppanyaki and char-grilled dishes, where guests can enjoy the cooking scene right in front of their eyes.

He was born in 1979 in Tokyo and raised in Hiroshima. As his father was a chef and his maternal grandmother ran a Japanese-style hotel, he decided to become a chef and moved to Tokyo. While training in the restaurant business of Tokyu Corporation, he also attended a confectionery school and honed his skills in Western cuisine, banquet cuisine, and bridal cuisine. Later, he worked at a creative Japanese restaurant. In 2004, he worked at a Teppanyaki restaurant in Ginza, and he became the chef and owner of Teppanyaki Oribe in 2010, the predecessor of the current restaurant. In 2019, he relocated the restaurant and re-opened it independently with a new name, Teppanyaki Sumiyaki Saito.

40 years of devoted sushi career creates Hakodate special sushi.

He was born in Hokkaido in 1960, and became an apprentice at a sushi restaurant when he was 15 years old. He learned the basic of Edomae sushi from the senior staff. Relatively young at the age of 34, he started his own restaurant [Sushidokoro Kihara] in Hakodate. 4 years later, fell in love with the location overlooking the Tsugaru Strait, he moved to the current location. Keeping Hakodate special sushi as his creed, he serves sushi using the best local fish.

His skills were cultivated in Osaka. Mr. Yamasaki delivers the season using various techniques based on Japanese cuisine.

He was born in 1987 in Hyogo. Based in Osaka, he has built a career as a chef in Japanese and creative restaurants. Currently, he is the owner and chef of Sushi Fukushima. He has experience in various genres of cuisine, with a focus on Japanese cuisine. He uses a variety of culinary techniques, from the best use of ingredients to the most elaborate and carefully prepared dishes, to convey the charm of the season to his guests.

Mr. Konuma is an experienced chef who has brought joy to many people.

He was born in 1964 in Tokyo. After working as a chef at Hotel New Otani for four years, he served at the renowned French restaurant KM for another four years. Then, he joined the Shin Takanawa Prince Hotel (now the Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa) and spent 20 years there as a chef. After that, he joined the current company to pursue new challenges. He now serves as the head chef at Teppanyaki THE Nanami in the APA Hotel & Resort Ryogoku Eki Tower. He has brought joy to many guests.

A budding talent that began with an obsession with the charms of yakitori (grilled chicken) at the famous Birdland.

Chef Imai was born in 1973 in Saitama Prefecture. In his 20's, he worked various odd jobs while he pursued a career as a rock musician. He started working at a high end Japanese restaurant at age 27 with the hope of being a cook, but was dissatisfied with the restaurant he chose for its high salary. Eventually, at age 29, with the thought of joining a restaurant he would personally like to eat at, he started working at the famous Birdland in Ginza. There, he was fascinated by the complexity of yakitori and immersed himself in that world. Following a stint at the Birdland in Kita-Senju, he opened Yakitori Imai in 2006.

A French chef who cooks earnestly, preserving the old while continuing to evolve.

Mr. Maki was born in 1997 in Saga. He chose to become a chef because he loved creating and wanted consumers to see the process of creating dishes up close. While studying at a culinary school, he traveled to France to study French cuisine at local restaurants. After returning to Japan, he honed his skills at restaurants such as le sputnik in Roppongi and L'Ojier in Ginza. In September 2023, he took on the role of the only chef at Ginza Fugetsudo. While preserving the traditional flavors of French cuisine, he constantly seeks innovation.