Mr. Suemoto has aspired to be a chef since he was a teenager and continued pursuing a food career.

He was born in 1956 in Oita. Having been interested in the world of food since his teenage years, he aspired to become a chef, hoping to "bring joy to many people with my cooking." He trained at a Western-style restaurant for 10 years, honing his culinary experience. Later, while working in various restaurants of different genres, he became strongly attracted to yakiniku. His yakiniku, made with quality ingredients he carefully selects and prepares with care, is favored by many repeat customers.

Since school age, Mr. Akaishi has set out for a career in the culinary world.

After studying Japanese and Kyoto cuisine, he joined Real Taste Corporation from Kappo Cuisine. He has been working with his skills to make the customers' time at the counter more important. After serving as the head chef of another new restaurant, he became general chef of Kushitei. He is committed to seasonal ingredients and continues to discover new ways to use these ingredients by combining 100 percent sunflower oil with his special breadcrumbs.

Mr. Imai always has a desire to improve and approaches his daily work with a sincere attitude.

He was born in 1987 in Osaka. As a child, he wanted to become an itamae (Sushi chef), but through a part-time job in high school, he was exposed to meat dishes and became fascinated by the attraction of meat. Later, he gained experience at an izakaya (Japanese-style bar) and a Yakiniku restaurant and deepened his understanding of food. Through a connection with the owner, he joined Naniwa Yakiniku Nikutareya. Utilizing his years of experience and the skills he has cultivated, he is now also responsible for the management of the restaurant as manager.

Mr. Nakano wanted to see the smiles of people enjoying Jingisukan, so he became a chef.

He was born in 1995 in Hokkaido. He started working part-time at his father's Jingisukan restaurant while studying at a medical university. While working at the restaurant, he learned cooking skills on-site under the guidance and supervision of the store manager at that time. As he saw the guests enjoying their meals and smiling while eating Genghis Khan, he gradually developed a strong attraction to the restaurant industry. After graduating, he decided to pursue a career as a chef. He is currently dedicated to his role as the manager of Juttetsu with the belief that he wants more people to experience the unique Jingisukan of Hokkaido. 

Having earnestly lived out his dream of being a chef, Mr. Tsuda shares the deliciousness of Kushiage.

He was born in 1970 in Aichi. He has been cooking since childhood, from shopping for ingredients to making food. His passion for cooking led him to enter Tsuji Culinary Institute. After graduation, he worked at a French kaiseki (tea-ceremony dishes) restaurant. Moved to the Michelin-starred Rokukakutei restaurants in Osaka and Tokyo, which were his starting points. After ten years of experience, he became independent in March 2013, starting his restaurant, Sousaku Kushiage Tsuda Main Branch. Then, he opened the Kinshachi Yokocho Branch in March 2018 and the Toranomon Hills Station Branch in 2024.

Mr. Tomita presents the quintessence of Japanese cuisine in a Japanese setting, with dishes that are rich in flavor and make the most of seasonal ingredients.

He was born in 1969 in Kumamoto. The owner of Nihonryori Tomita. While working part-time at a Japanese restaurant, he was praised for the delicious rice balls he made, which awakened his enjoyment of working in the food industry. He trained at a Japanese restaurant in Tokyo for five years, aspiring to become a professional. After returning to Kumamoto and working for many years as a sous chef at a traditional Japanese restaurant and a chef at a Japanese restaurant, he founded his current restaurant in 2008. The restaurant was moved to its current location in 2020. He attracts guests from Japan and abroad with seasonal delicacies and cordial hospitality in an elegant Japanese space.

Mr. Kobayashi wants to offer dishes that are relaxing and not overbearing.

He was born in 1978 in Ibaraki. Grew up as the heir to a long-established inn, Motoyu Yamadaya Ryokan, he naturally decided to become a chef. He began his career at a ryokan in Kanagawa, and after studying at various places, including a Japanese restaurant, a pike eel restaurant, and a restaurant specializing in pufferfish, he became the 20th generation in 2008. His specialty is colorful and delicate cuisine that uses his wealth of experience. His innovative dishes, which use abundant local ingredients from Ibaraki, are very popular, and he has many repeat customers who come back for his cuisine.

Mr. Sato is a young third-generation, handling everything from fish selection to cooking, who has honed his skills on the sea.

He was born in 1989 in Shizuoka. After graduating high school, he entered a culinary school in the prefecture and obtained a cooking license. Learned the basics of Japanese cuisine in the kitchen of a ryokan (Japanese inn), then worked as a head chef on a large pelagic purse seiner for ten years. In 2023, he took over Sakanaya Uosei, which has been in business since his grandfather's generation.

Fascinated by Kaga cuisine, Mr. Tamaki entered the culinary world.

It was a connection with the Kanazawa City Cooking and Restaurant Association chairman at the time that led him into the world of chefs. He decided to change his career from the publishing industry because he was fascinated by the charm of Kaga cuisine. Since then, he has been supporting Tamura in Kanazawa for 20 years. Lined up in the restaurant are photos of people everyone has seen on TV, taken when they visited the restaurant. The restaurant is renowned among celebrities as a top-rated store. Mr. Tamaki continues to study Kaga cuisine and has many repeat customers for his menu, resulting from his curiosity.

Serves delicious dishes that make the most of the flavors of seasonal ingredients.

Mr. Sumiya was born in 1960 in Aichi and raised in a fishing family. His parents' house also ran an agriculture business, so high-quality fish and vegetables were always close to him. So, he naturally entered the culinary world because of his interest in food. After graduating from high school, he worked at a Japanese restaurant and then honed his skills in Japanese cuisine at various restaurants, such as Japanese restaurants and Kaiseki restaurants. In 2007, he opened his dream restaurant, Otobashi Sumiya. Every day, he devotes himself to "creating a restaurant where diners can fully enjoy the season's delicacies."

Mr. Tsuchihashi opened his own restaurant, believing that cooking was his only path.

He was born in 1978 in Aichi. Cooking has always been close to his heart since he was a child. He says that going to a culinary school was a natural choice for him, but it was not until after he started working that he strongly felt that "this is the only path" for him as a chef. Inspired by the human qualities of his great seniors, he has continued his studies, wishing to become like them. He has honed his skills in Japanese cuisine at Japanese restaurants, kaiseki (traditional multi-course meal) restaurants, and Sushi restaurants in Tokyo.

Using the high expectations and hopes of those around him as a source of motivation, he forges his own path

He was born in Oita Prefecture in 1970. His parents ran a “fugu (blowfish) restaurant and Japanese restaurant” and he grew up in a family of dyed-in-the-wool chefs. As he was raised in constant contact with the culinary world and delicious food from early on, he was naturally aware of the fact that he too would become a chef. After graduating from university, he studied mainly fugu and Japanese dishes, then, in his 30s, sought to make a further leap in his development and gave Western cuisine a try. His insatiably curious mind, which did not stop at Japanese cuisine, continues to create new and spirited dishes.

Mr. Nakamura's passion and dedication to the ingredients bring smiles to people's faces with his captivating techniques and cuisine.

He was born in 1973 in Toky. When he was 20, he traveled to Hokkaido and worked part-time at a tourist hotel in Shiretoko, which led him to a career in food and beverage. He then gained experience in French cuisine at Maccarina, a group restaurant of Moliere, a famous French restaurant in Sapporo. At the age of 26, he returned to Tokyo and switched to Japanese cuisine, opening his own izakaya pub in Shibuya at the age of 27. He is now the representative of the Yoshinari Group, operating three restaurants in Shibuya and one restaurant in Marunouchi. He is a genuine chef who enjoys being in the kitchen more than anything else.

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.

 

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.

Making the restaurant a place where visitors want to come back again.

The cheerful and energetic staff members are waiting for you with smiles!

Mr. Morita became a head chef who prepares high-quality and delicious food to fulfill his dream as a student.

He was born in 1993 in Osaka. When he was a student, he was captivated by the sight of a chef working across the counter of a Kappo restaurant, and his dream from then on was to become a chef. He began his career in 2013 at Swissotel Nankai Osaka SH'UN Wine & Dine. After training at Steak Kappo Tsune-zune, he gained further experience by returning to his current workplace, SH'UN Wine & Dine, and since November 2024, he has displayed his skills as the restaurant's head chef.

Mr. Deguchi wants to thoroughly master his craft! With his stoic nature, he found himself becoming a sushi chef.

Mr. Deguchi was born in 1985 in Nagasaki Prefecture and grew up near the sea. So, fresh seafood was always on the table from a young age. After tasting various fish dishes, he decided to become a sushi chef handling fresh fish and moved to Tokyo. After 2 years of training at a sushi restaurant in Ginza, he was invited by a senior chef he admired to work at the affiliated restaurant where he now works. He is a stoic who pursues it to its end once he starts on a path. Presently, he is the general manager of all affiliated restaurants Hatazushi and Magurobito.

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.