A father and daughter take on a new challenge.

For more than 50 years, Mr. Shimizu has been making sushi at Akame Sushi, which has been loved by locals and tourists in front of Kanazawa Station. Responding to the voices of guests who want to drink in a relaxed atmosphere, enjoy meat dishes as well as fish, and relax with loved ones, he opened Sushi Sukiyaki Akamechan on March 1, 2023. He is trying out his new dream by teaming up with his daughter, who is challenging herself in the restaurant business from a different industry, hoping to cheer up people of her generation.

Wants many customers to know about gourmet food in Kanazawa.

Mr. Ishida entered the restaurant industry, hoping to "work in a job where relationships between people help him." He aims to move all the visitor's hearts through heartwarming service and delicious food. In April 2023, he opened AMIYA. Making full use of fresh ingredients from Wajima and Okunoto, he offers dishes such as "Kanazawa Oden" that bring out the best of the region's charms.

Mr. Santoscoy pursues a new French cuisine style by weaving his ideas into Japanese ingredients.

He was born in 1992 in Guanajuato, Mexico. After studying the basics of French and other cuisines in Argentina, he moved to the United States. While gaining experience at Napa Valley and Scottsdale restaurants, he became familiar with traditional Japanese crafts such as Japanese kitchen knives and Noh masks. In 2016, he moved to Japan because he wanted to "see Japan with his own eyes, where many things he feels his sensitivity sympathizes with." Enchanted by abundant food, beautiful nature, and warm-hearted people, he relocated to Ishikawa.

 

Trained in hotels and restaurants in Japan and three-star restaurants in France, Mr. Sawabe worked as a chef in various hotels and restaurants. In Japan's Hokuriku region, he has served at Kanazawa PREEMINENCE and Yoichi Sanso Auberge de Mikuni. Sympathizing with the concept of "A la ferme de Shinjiro," under the guidance of Mr. Shinjiro Imura, he creates French cuisine at traditional wooden townhouses in Kanazawa.

By having two chefs as parents he was able to familiarize himself with cooking at a young age.

Born on July 4th, 1960 in Ishikawa Prefecture. He graduated from Ishikawa Prefectural Kanazawa Nishikigaoka High School, then the Tokyo School of Culinary Arts. His parents were forerunners of Chinese cuisine in Ishikawa, having opening their own restaurant, Chinkaro, in 1970, and it was through helping them that he grew familiar with cooking. In Tokyo, he worked for Nankoku Shuka Main Store in Harajuku, then trained at a number of famous Chinese restaurants in Yokohama. After that, he opened the local Kanazawa Zenkai Kosho, where he remains to this day. Along with plying his skills every day in the kitchen, he shows off his hobby, guitar-playing, with a live event on our second floor three times a year.

His passion for frequenting restaurants turned into a profession, and now he eagerly learns everything he can about new flavors and techniques.

He was born in 1968 in Ishikawa Prefecture. He got his start by taking on a job at a hotel in his home of Kanazawa after graduating from vocational school. While picking up experience in bartending and waiting tables at the hotel, he also learned about catering banquets and working in the kitchen with Japanese cuisine. After that, he went on to develop his skills further at different restaurants around Kanazawa, where he worked with traditional Japanese cuisine, as well as newer interpretations of Japanese food. He then went on to open Oryori Kifune in 2008. He loves to travel around to eat delicious food, and once he hears about a good restaurant he will go there, no matter how far, to try the food and develop his palate.

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.

A veteran Kanazawa sushi chef who crafts his dishes with precision, all while engaging guests with polite conversation.

Born on February 1st, 1950 in Ishikawa Prefecture, at age 21 he went on to Kagayasuke Main Branch after training in Tokyo. He continued to fine-tune his sushi skills at this long-standing Kanazawa shop, where he delivers precise flavors along with pleasant conversation at the counter. Kanazawa is rich with foods from both the land and sea, which are displayed in expertly crafted signature dishes like "Tama," which is made with baked minced sweet shrimp, and his expertly prepared "Dashizuke Ikura," made with locally harvested salmon roe. Dishes like these have helped him garner a wide following of customers that stretch beyond his local prefecture.

Fascinated by Kanazawa, Mr. Yamasaki is striving forward as a sushi chef/owner in a new place.

He was born in 1987 in Kochi. He decided to go into the culinary arts after graduating from high school to try something new that suited him. He trained for four years at a Japanese restaurant in Rome, Italy, which was run by a ryotei in Asakusa. When he was still unsure whether to become independent in the difficult situation of the Corona disaster, he was approached by Mr. Tanaka, the owner of Katamachi Koryori Sho, a sushi restaurant in Katamachi, Kanazawa City. After working under Mr. Tanaka for three years since 2021, he moved to Kanazawa, attracted by the city and its people. In 2024, he opened Sushi Kinari.

He cooks the blessings from Hokuriku into French cuisine to see the happy faces of the guests.

He was born in 1968 in Toyama prefecture. He entered the cooking field as he liked cooking, but started wanting to see the happy faces of the guests more and more. After working actively at a bridal-related guest house, he entered [APA HOTEL Kanazawa Ekimae Arcen Ciel in December 2018. Currently, he gives flexible service to offer a fun moment to the guests.

With the knowledge of meat acquired at a renowned restaurant, Mr. Kanemoto challenges the possibilities of meat and rice in the Noto region.

He was born in 1987 in Osaka. Began his apprenticeship at the popular yakiniku restaurant Manryo in Osaka at the age of 18. Over 15 years, he established his knowledge and expertise in meat. After leaving Manryo, he spent two years at Gyugujo in Tokyo. Currently, he is serving as the head chef at Yakiniku House Daishogun Kanazawa Branch.

One-of-a-kind dishes combining Japanese and French elements in Kanazawa

Born in 1968 in Aichi, Doi started off his career in Japanese cuisine at the age of 20. He likes to delve deep into various aspects of cooking, such as ingredients, cooking techniques, serving dishes and decor, and trained in both Kansai and Kanto regions. He went on to work in the area of French cuisine, obtaining a job as a chef at a French restaurant in Ginza. He then worked as a chef for around 4 years in various countries, such as Switzerland, Scandinavia, and France, gaining knowledge on the local food. Upon returning to Japan, Doi opened his restaurant in Kanazawa, a region that offers the best in ingredients, producers, culture, and atmosphere. He dedicates himself to serving one-of-a-kind cuisine.

Watching his parents, Kazuyuki Ikeda made up his mind to become a cook of Chinese cuisine

Born November 19th, 1974, a native of Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture. Since his parents were also Chinese food cooks, Kazuyuki Ikeda grew up being naturally acquainted with food since a young age. He liked all of the food that his parents made and felt that he wanted to make the same kind of food too. At the age of 20, his official training began in Kanazawa. He went around about four restaurants and went on to learn all about seasoning, working with ingredients, and more. He joined Wafuchuka Shoryoten in 2008. This head chef comes up with menu items that include a wealth of local seafood.

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.

With a desire to own a restaurant by age 30, he trained hard at a number of establishments to learn everything he could.

He was born in 1980 in Ishikawa Prefecture and grew up in Ushitsu, which is situated in the northern region of the Noto Peninsula. He started his culinary career after graduating from high school by taking up a job at a Japanese restaurant. He wanted to make sure that he owned his own restaurant by the time he was 30, so he trained hard to develop his skills at notable Japanese restaurants and bars around Kanazawa. From there, he was able to realize his dream by opening Ajiraku Yumeri at age 29, which is where he still works today.

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.

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. Murata delivers pleasure with his particular passion as a meat lover.

He was born in 1971 in Ishikawa and is the owner and chef of NIKU Dining meat meet. He has experience in a casual restaurant that mainly serves meat dishes and an Italian bistro. As a meat lover himself, he is uncompromising in his dedication to all the menu items he offers. He carefully chooses ingredients, figures out how to cook them properly depending on the items, and provides meals that satisfy both the stomach and the mind.

Mr. Miyakawa is a chef who carries on the tradition, carefully creating a space for enjoying meals.

He was born in 1971 in Ishikawa. His family owned a long-established kappo restaurant, Ishiya, which has been in business since 1866. He entered the culinary field to follow in his family's footsteps. After graduating from college, he trained at "Naniwa Kappo Kigawa," led by Mr. Shuzo Ueno. After seven years of experience, he joined Ishiya. As well as taking the time and effort to cook, he carefully creates a space where guests can fully enjoy their meal and welcomes them to a blissful moment.

He mastered tappanyaki (grilled on iron griddle) cuisine in his own style, after accumulating training in Kanazawa and Osaka.

He was born in 1981 in Ishikawa prefecture. After working in various fields, at the age of 27 he started training at a teppanyaki (grilled on iron griddle) restaurant in Kanazawa for 2 and a half years, and at a high-end teppanyaki restaurant in Osaka for 3 years. In February 2015, he opened [Teppanyaki Atsu-Atsu] in Kanazawa to offer reasonable teppanyaki which is generally considered high-budget. His dishes served in his own style receive high reputation, such as steak with A5-rank Hida Beef, and a teppan (iron griddle) Chinese menu cooked on an iron griddle.