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.

Mr. Kondo wants to provide the four seasons and sophistication through his sushi and the excitement that spreads beyond that.

He was born in 1995 in Tokyo. He has pursued his passion for cooking since childhood. After graduating from culinary school, he refined his skills at the renowned Kyoto restaurant Kyoryori Kinobu for five years to master traditional Japanese cuisine. As a further challenge, he worked at Sushi Yuu in Roppongi, honing his Edo-mae style and techniques. There, he was captivated by the possibilities of sushi and named his own restaurant Sushi Kondo, which opened in January 2024. His creative and delicate cuisine, a fusion of Kyoto cuisine and Edo-mae sushi, has impressed visitors.

Through her dishes, Ms. Murata aims to deliver smiles to her guests.

She was born in 1999 in Gifu. Started her career as a chef at an Italian restaurant in the prefecture. After working at a Japanese restaurant and a café, she is currently working as a kitchen staff at HIDATAKAYAMA MEAT. She aims every day to provide a menu that satisfies both the heart and the stomach so that she can bring a smile to her customers through cuisine.

Naturally entered the world of cooking after growing up watching his aunt and mother run the restaurant.

Born in Oshamanbe. His aunt ran a restaurant there, which his mother worked at as well. Although he originally worked in a different industry, growing up watching his aunt and mother run the restaurant together naturally lead to him becoming a chef as well. After graduating from culinary school, he worked at hotels in locations such as Onuma, Lake Toya, and Noboribetsu. In Hakodate, he met his mentor Maejima at one of Hotel Hokke Club's Japanese restaurants, and began studying under him. He then worked as head chef at Hakodate Park Hotel and Hakodate Royal Hotel before taking up the position of head chef at Hakodate Kaisenryori Kaikobo.

Enjoy a delicious experience of high-quality Kuroge Wagyu beef.

Mr. Ishizaki was born in 1969, in Sapporo, Hokkaido. In 1970, his grandfather started a butcher shop and associated farm. His parents then opened a sukiyaki (hot pot stew) and shabu-shabu (sliced meat parboiled with vegetables) restaurant, which led him to develop an interest in cooking. He decided to pursue cooking as a career upon graduating from high school, beginning his training in a teppanyaki (ingredients grilled on an iron griddle) restaurant. After honing his skills for over four years, he opened Steak&Wine Ishizaki in 2013. This restaurant delights its guests with its own high-quality Kuroge Wagyu beef dishes, including teppanyaki and roast beef.

Mr. Sasaki strives everyday with the philosophy of "treasure every encounter, for it will never reoccur" in his mind.

He was born in 1980 in Hakodate, Hokkaido. Mr. Sasaki's family enjoyed fishing since he was little. He decided to become a chef as he wanted to cook the fish he caught himself. After working at a fresh seafood restaurant and a ryokan hotel in Hakodate, he demonstrated his skills working as the head chef of a hotel in Hakodate. He became the head chef of [Uni Murakami Hakodate ekimae restaurant] which opened in 2019. He strives everyday with the philosophy of "treasure every encounter, for it will never reoccur" in his mind, valuing the encounter with every guest.

Fascinated by Mexico's unique flavor, Mr. Uekita deepened his cuisine exploration.

He was born in 1983 in Osaka. Being fascinated by the delicious vegetables his grandmother grew when he was a child was the starting point for his career as a chef. Upon graduating from university, he moved to the United States. While receiving agricultural training, he worked with Mexicans and was introduced to Mexican food. After returning to Japan, he started his career as a chef at a Japanese restaurant in Osaka, gaining experience in various genres such as cafes and Italian. In 2020, he was appointed chef of Piopiko in Ace Hotel Kyoto, as his solid skills and multinational experience were in high demand.

 

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.

The phrase customers say how delicious the food was, is everything the chef works for

While still a student, he discovered the joy of cooking while working part-time at an Izakaya (Japanese pub). After that, he managed a number of restaurants for “Muroran Yakitori Yoshidaya” and “Tokachi Butadon Ippin” before assisting in the opening of a branch restaurant at Stellar Place. With his creed of making each and every dish with the greatest of care, he goes about his daily preparations. He says that hearing customers tell him that his food was delicious is particularly moving. The butadon (pork bowl) prepared by Mr. Nakamura is infused with the gratitude he has for his customers, and people throng to the shop every day in search of that delicious taste.

Mr. Makino organizes the store as the head manager after transitioning from a different industry.

He was born in 1978 in Tokyo. Originally, he worked in the motorcycle industry, but when emission regulations came into effect, he decided to pursue a different path. He entered the Tsuji College of Culinary Arts in Osaka to pursue a career in the food and beverage industry, which he had always been interested in, after which he jumped into the world of culinary arts at the age of 26. After working at [Ristorante La Bisboccia] in Hiroo and [Bancasa] in Ebisu, he started working at [Pizzeria Gtalia da Filippo] in 2015. His job now is to manage the store.

With his pursuit of roast beef, Mr. Watanabe puts his uniqueness into each dish.

He gained experience in French restaurants and hotels. As he acquired various skills, he began to realize how different he was from the chefs around him and thought that he would like to "master his skills in one field" to pursue his uniqueness. Inspired by the realization that "warm roast beef also tastes great, instead of serving it cold," he opened Roast Beef no Mise Watanabe in 2013. In April 2021, the restaurant moved to a new location. He continues to devote himself passionately to mastering "Roast Beef."

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.

"Master of Aged Sushi" celebrated for patiently facing ingredients and accumulating experiments

Born in 1971 in Tokyo, Kimura Koji was born as a third generation of his family-business sushi restaurant. After having trained in his grandfather's restaurant and his uncle's, he entered the well-known tempura restaurant [Mikasa] just before opening his restaurant. As a result, this experience contributed greatly to his aged sushi, learning how to prepare ingredients without using water. Kimura established [Sushi Kimura] when he was 33 years old. Accumulating experiments for a long time, he invented a new genre of sushi,"Aged Sushi." After Michelin Guide 2013, [Sushi Kimura] has obtained two stars for 5 years straight.

Mr. Tamura has been devoted to cooking and has accumulated diligent and steady training.

He was born in 1993 in Osaka. Because of his love for "eating," he aspired to become a chef. After graduating high school, he entered Ecole Tsuji Osaka and studied at the Master College of French and Italian Cuisine. After graduation, he worked for about 2 years at Restaurant Lille and about 7 years at Restaurant Difference, where he honed his skills as a chef. In 2021, he was selected as a chef at Les Confluences, where he continues demonstrating his skills.

After hard training days, he was fully prepared to be independent.

He was born in 1971 in Hokkaido. Tokyo fascinated him a lot during his boyhood, which was why he went to Tokyo right after graduating from junior high school and started live-in training at a traditional Japanese restaurant. As the training was so hard, 4 out of 5 trainees quit in only 6 months. But he tried his hardest to learn the fundamentals of Japanese cuisine there for 7 years. After he got married and had a child, he moved to another restaurants such as a Japanese restaurant and izakaya (Japanese pub) and had further training. In 2012, he went independent and opened [Kazumiya], a compilation of his cooking career.

Becoming the forefront of French cuisine showing his identity in Asakusa, the hometown of the chef.

He was born in 1974 in Tokyo. After graduating from junior high school, he went to a cooking school and had training at restaurants in Tokyo. At the age of 24, he went to France to work for restaurants with the stars such as [Auberge de Cimes] in Paris and [Auberge La Feniere] in Southern France. After coming back to Japan, he worked at Tsukiji Fish Market for 1 year to save money, then opened [HOMMAGE] at the age of only 26. He is currently offering original French dishes that can be created only in Tokyo, in his hometown Asakusa.

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. Matsuzaki trained and studied various types of cuisine, beginning with patisseries.

He was born in 1974 in Ehime. His mother ran a coffee shop, and he tasted and helped her cook from a young age. As long as he can remember, he has wanted to make something and has become interested in pastry making, which he had never experienced before. He decided to become a pastry chef who could make everyone's hearts happy with his elegant creations, so he enrolled in a confectionery school in Kyoto. After that, he worked at a ryokan (Japanese-style inn) for 1 year, a confectionery store for 5 years, a Sushi restaurant for 4 years, a Korean restaurant for 7 years, and a restaurant specializing in Motsu Nabe (offal hot pot) for 1 year.

Pursuing Tuscan cuisine for over 50 years: bringing a traditional taste of Italy to Japan.

Mr. Virgiglio was born in 1951 in Lucca, Tuscany, Italy, where the main restaurant is located. He specializes in Tuscan cuisine, which he has been familiar with since childhood. He has been studying since the age of 17 in Italy and France. He devoted himself to learning in Italy at "San Domenico Palace Hotel", "Harry's Bar", "AL SORRISO", and other such famous Michelin-starred restaurants. In 1981, he became a chef at Sabatini di Firenze Tokyo branch. He brings Japan the spirit of orthodox Italian cuisine that emphasize unique ingredients.

Mr. Urata is a manager who values the spirit of Omotenashi and serves delicious food.

He was born in 1989 in Osaka. At age 20, he entered the world of food and beverage. While working as a bartender, he realized he enjoyed cooking and became a chef. In addition to the bar, he trained at a yakiniku restaurant and a Takoyaki restaurant to hone his skills. He later joined Light House Co., Ltd., which operates Matsusakagyu Yakiniku M by chance. He has been supporting the restaurant as a manager since the opening of the Dotombori Sennichimae Branch in December 2023. With the spirit of "Omotenashi" (hospitality), he considers "as long as you are in Osaka, you are our customer."