He had a mind to open his own, cozy place.

He was born January 31st, 1954, in Okayama Prefecture's Kurashiki City. After graduating from college, Ozaki found employment in the restaurant business. After focusing on take-out for eight years, he switched to eat-in cooking, studying in the capital city for four years before finally realizing his chef's dream of owning his own restaurant. After running Mamakari for 15 years, at the age of 34, he opened Shitamachi Shokusai Daidokoro. With a wide variety of creative Japanese cuisine and daily specials on offer, he welcomes diners with a cozy and comfortable atmosphere.

It's been my dream to be a chef ever since I was little.

Born in Kanagawa Prefecture in 1986. I've loved cooking ever since I was little and have always had the dream of becoming a chef. Be it a la carte dishes or main dishes, I spare no effort in making each and every dish.

French fusion cuisine with an added Japanese undertone

Born in 1976 in Fukushima, the chef went to a culinary school after graduating from college. He learned French cuisine for five and a half years while working at "Auberge au Mirador" in Hakone. Later, he moved on to become a head chef at "ELEMENTS" after working at "SHINPEI," a Japanese restaurant. The chef opened his own restaurant "Le Japon" in 2011, after refining his basics in Japanese cooking at "Ryoriya Kodama." Presently he offers cooking classes at his own shop.

I want to cook delicious food for others to enjoy.

Having a great love for cooking since childhood, he entered the world of cuisine, and after twelve years of experience at a soba restaurant, came to Rikyu. The grilling of beef tongue may be simple but it also has depth. To serve it in its finest form, everyday he centers himself and grills for a delicate perfection.

The beginning was simple. After that, his efforts have not ceased.

He was born in 1973 in Kyoto. Ever since he was a child, he dreamed of being a chef. He thought that their white coats were smart, and that working as a chef on a cruise liner looked fun. Rather than letting this remain as just a dream, he worked consistently to realize it and to get to where he is today.

He makes use of local ingredients from Ishikawa and hopes to demonstrate the great taste of Indian food.

Born on March 7th, 1966, in Bangalore, India, he loved making food from a young age. After thinking, "I want everyone to eat good food", at the age of 16 he started on the path to a career in cooking. For 15 years he worked at one of India's top hotels, then built up four years of experience working in a restaurant in Japan. In 2000, in the home prefecture of his wife, Ishikawa, he opened Indian Restaurant Tirupati. He offers real Indian food, making enthusiastic use of ingredients from Ishikawa, with its incredibly rich natural areas.

Creating Smiles with Tasty Food!

Having always had a passion for food, he entered the world of cooking in order to serve people delicious food. He had been a fan of Rikyu's beef tongue, and attracted by the restaurant's appeal he joined the restaurant and is now in charge of the grill. Charcoal-grilled beef tongue is a simple dish, but there is depth to it. He focuses on getting the meat cooked to just the right degree, so that he can have his guests taste the best of it.

A promising young chef who polished his skills under the guidance of one of the masters of creative Japanese cooking, Rokusaburo Michiba.

The son of the owner of a Japanese restaurant named 'Ampuku', he grew up with an intimate connection to food and a fascination for cooking. He took his first step on the culinary road at the age of 19, when he joined a 'kaiseki' banquet restaurant in Gifu as a chef, and later refined his skills further at Poisson Rokusaburo in Tokyo's Akasaka. He was also involved in planning the launch of the New York branch of the restaurant 'Ninja' during his time as a trainee chef. He developed a reputation for creating dishes which are subtle and elegant, yet stick unfalteringly to their principles. After returning to Japan, deciding that he wanted "to open an affordable restaurant for ordinary people, just like my father"; he opened his own 'udon' noodle restaurant, the 'Ampuku' which he still runs to this day.

A chef with a wealth of experience whose genius was recognised by Chef Baba

Koji Itou was born in Saitama prefecture in 1976. His part-time job at university led him into the world of cooking. In 2002, he went to Italy and honed his skills at the famous restaurants of Emilia-Romagna and Piedmont. He returned to Japan in 2005, and worked for 2 years at Taverna Messina in Jiyugaoka. After that, he worked for 4 years at an Italian restaurant in Hiroshima before coming to Tharros in 2012. In the spring of 2014, leadership of the kitchen was handed over to him by Chef Baba. Chef Itou hopes that just as before, he wants to make the unique food culture and atmosphere of Sardinia more widely known.

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.

He was drawn to the charms of French cooking, and his experience in famous restaurants has made him a powerful chef.

He was born in 1975 in Osaka. Although he went to a technical high school, he decided to pursue cooking-in both cases, because he enjoys making things. While learning the basics of service at a hotel, he studied cooking as hard as he could, aiming for places like the Riga Royal Hotel, and he got his dream assignment at the Restaurant Chambord, a famous restaurant known for tradition and formality. He had always hoped to become a French chef, and he fell in love with French food even more in that position, where he spent quality time working under a head chef he greatly admired. He has continued to achieve great things and gain experience since then.

Treating customers to carefully prepared dishes that follow in the traditional spirit of this long-established restaurant.

He was born in 1948 in Fukushima Prefecture. Chef Saito was born into the third generation of the family-owned Fukuzumi Ryokan, established in 1912. In in order to inherit the family business, he set his heart on becoming a chef. In 1979, he devoted himself full-time to running a restaurant specializing in yakitori (grilled chicken) while running a hotel, which he continues to do into the present. Chef Saito prizes highly the feeling of "gratitude to one's customers", and has opened three Yakitori Fukuzumi restaurants within Iwaki city. (The Hirono shop is currently closed)

It all started back when I used to help my mother in the kitchen.

He started training in traditional Japanese cuisine at age 18. He endeavors to ascertain exactly what his guests want by chatting with them as he prepares their delicious meals.

Working part-time in restaurants during his high-school days proved to be the gateway to a culinary career

He was born in Hiroshima Prefecture on December 4th, 1972. During his high school days he worked in part time jobs at a variety of food and drink establishments and because of this experience he decided to become a chef. Aiming to become a chef in French cuisine, the most highly regarded in the world, he went to France, and at the age of 20 he graduated from the Tsuji Culinary Institute's school in France. After training in top-class hotels, he returned to France. After training in Lyon and Cannes he came back to Japan. He has been with "Mikuni Hiroshima" since it opened. Carrying on in the spirit of chef Kiyomi Mikuni, he opened "Restaurant Shimamura L'Espirit de Mikuni", which he currently operates.

Influenced by relatives who ran a sushi shop, he started his career in cooking.

He was born in Chiba Prefecture in 1964. Thanks to his relatives who ran a sushi shop, he has wanted to become a chef ever since he was a child. He started his training at a sushi restaurant in Tokyo when he was 15 and after that, he polished his skills at several other shops. In 1994, he opened up a new shop, "Kisoji", in Shinbashi in Minato Ward in Tokyo Prefecture and ever since then, has been serving only the freshest of ingredients and seasonal fish that are not only healthy, but let you enjoy the delicious flavors of each season.

Ceaselessly refining his skills in Japanese cuisine

After graduating from cooking school he built up his career at four Japanese restaurants, and in 2006 moved to Rikyu. His motto as a chef is "Delicious, fast, and beautiful".

Born February 23rd, 1960, a native of Hyogo Prefecture. After graduating from high school he worked at a number of restaurants, before traveling to France. He studied under Bernard Loiseau, the head chef at La Cote d'Or (now called Le Relais Bernard Loiseau), who gave rise to the Asian-inspired French fusion style, which our chef learned. He returned home to work at the Japanese chef of La Cote d'Or Kobe in 1992. As of 2000 he was promoted to the general manager and head chef of the Kitano Kobe Hotel.

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."

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.

Our chef values the input of his guests and pursues fashionable, cuttingedge cuisine with the spirit of a true craftsman

Born September 25th, 1957 in Miyazaki Prefecture. After graduating from the Tsuji Culinary Institute in Osaka, he studied at Seiyoken for five years before moving to France. He started at Japanese restaurants before working his way to the Michelin one-star (now three-star) restaurant Guy Savoy in Paris. He then honed his skills at the Swiss restaurant Girardet before returning to Japan. He served as head chef at Restaurant Hiramatsu and chateau restaurant Joel Robuchon for three years before striking out on his own. In 1997 he opened Restaurant Monna Lisa Ebisu.