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.

The head chef, Mr. Sakai, creates innovative and creative dishes that transcend the category of Japanese cuisine.

After gaining experience as a chef at a well-established hotel, he went to France and spent four years studying authentic French cuisine. Upon returning to Japan, he worked as a head chef of Italian and Spanish restaurants in addition to French cuisine. Currently, as head chef of Izakaya Tanuki, he pursues Japanese cuisine that incorporates the essence of various genres and French techniques. Every day, he devotes himself to preparing creative dishes prepared with a great deal of effort. Because he wants his customers to be happy, he pays careful attention to all aspects of the food, space, and service.

The only one taste in the world developed by his own sense and skill.

He was born in 1970 in Hiroshima prefecture. Though he worked for a department store after graduating from university, he quit the job because he always desired to create something by himself, and his strong will brought him to [Enraku], a renowned restaurant in Shimbashi run by his uncle to learn the fundamentals of pork cutlet. After accumulating the experience for deep-fried skewers and kappo cuisine (Japanese style cooking) in the 11-year training, he opened [Narikura] in 2010 in Takadanobaba. Based on the pork cutlet of [Enraku], he has been modified the recipe little by little to reach [what he wants to eat].Upon closing the restaurant in March, 2019, he succeeded the restaurant to his apprentice having the same restaurant name but written in Hiragana. Same year in July, he reopened the restaurant in Minami-Asagaya and the renowned restaurant is always full of people.

Mr. Fukumuro is creating a space that brings smiles to guests' faces.

He was born in 1983 in Tokyo. Admiring the owner of a sushi restaurant where he had a part-time job in high school, he aspired to become a sushi chef. After studying the basics at a culinary school, he trained at a major sushi restaurant. He worked hard to realize his dream of owning his restaurant and opened Rakuichi on June 18, 2024. Intending to pursue new culinary attractions while carrying on the traditions and techniques that he has cultivated, he is improving day by day.

 

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 next-generation global culinary leader who creates each dish with a passion for the ingredients.

The next-generation global culinary leader who creates each dish with a passion for the ingredients. Fascinated by the meticulous and delicate cooking techniques and the history of French cuisine, he moved to France. He studied and honed his skills in restaurants in Burgundy and Provence.  After returning to Japan, he worked at several French restaurants before joining TRUNK HOTEL. In 2023, he became the chef of TRUNK (KITCHEN). With French techniques at his core, he offers dishes full of surprises and appealing dishes adapted to the diversity of today's circumstances.

Mr. Sugiyama promotes the appeal of Niigata Prefecture's food, colored by ingredients nurtured in a rich natural environment.

He was born in Niigata Prefecture. After graduating from culinary school, he worked at Niigata-no-Aji Seikoan restaurant in the Omotesando Niigata-kan N'espace, an antenna store that opened in Omotesando in 1997. He made efforts to promote Niigata Prefecture's charms, focusing on "food," including selling local products. Ginza Seikoan was relocated and reopened on July 7, 2024, as directly managed by Niigata Grand Hotel. He is demonstrating his skills there as the head chef manager.

Mr. Sakamoto has honed his skills in Japanese cuisine, but the sushi course is what will win you over.

Mr. Sakamoto was born in 1983 in Kanagawa Prefecture. After training at a Kyoto restaurant for 5 years, he honed his skills in the sushi department of Nadaman restaurant in a hotel in Tokyo, Nadaman in Yokohama, and other such places. He has been involved with Sushi Tsukiuda since its opening in September 2016. At Sushi Onikai, he has served as head chef since it opened in November 2019. As a sister restaurant of Sushi Tsukiuda, it mainly serves nigiri. While many restaurants offer a course of nigiri with side dishes, this restaurant is trying to compete primarily with nigiri and to satisfy customers with sushi alone. 

A chef who trained in Canada for ten years thoroughly pursues European cuisine.

Mr. Ichinomiya was born in 1971 in Akita. As a child, he admired chefs he saw on TV and aspired to pursue a career in cooking. To grasp the essence of European flavors, he dedicated himself to thoroughly understanding Western cuisine, even excluding traditional Japanese seasonings from his personal life. During his ten years living in Canada, he honed his skills at several restaurants, including a steak house, and also gained management experience in franchise operations. He believes that assembling a dish is like working in four dimensions, and he cooks with respect not only for the taste but also for the country's unique culture.

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.

Mr. Washio produces an extraordinary time to enjoy creative Japanese cuisine and drinks.

He was born in Tokyo. Growing up watching his parents running an izakaya (Japanese-style pub), he naturally entered the culinary world. He was fascinated by the depth of Japanese cuisine, which makes the most of the richness of Japanese ingredients. After working at his parents' izakaya, he joined Koukian. His skillful technique of bringing out the best seasonal ingredients captivates his guests.

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.

Founded an "extraordinary steakhouse" that delights gourmets.

Wolfgang Steakhouse was founded in Manhattan in 2004 by Mr. Wolfgang Zwiener, who has been in prestigious steakhouses in New York for more than 40 years. It quickly became a thriving restaurant for its delicious steaks, which are made with the utmost care. Today, the restaurant is highly popular in New York City, Waikiki, Miami, and Beverly Hills as the "extraordinary steakhouse" to please even the most discerning of palates. The first store in Japan, the Roppongi branch, is the first store outside of the United States.

Decided to be a chef at the age of 17, still seeking for the ideal taste.

Born in 1972 in Chiba prefecture, he decided to open his own pork cutlet restaurant when he had a pork cutlet in a Japanese cuisine restaurant during the stay in the US as a high school student. After graduation, he had training at several Japanese restaurants to learn culinary fundamentals, and also studied how to cook pork cutlets in his own way. He visited many renowned pork cutlet restaurants to steal their tastes, and spent most of his salary on it. Finally he opened [Agezuki] at the age of 37, he has since been making efforts to realize his ideal pork cutlet.  

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.

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.

Skills sharpened at a quality restaurant in Spain, and a profound knowledge about Japanese ingredients.

Born in 1978, he supported his parents who was running a guest house where he familiarized himself with cooking. Graduating cooking school in Barcelona, he built up his career at 1 star [L'Esguard] and other restaurants. At [Neichel], one of the most famous restaurant in Spain, he experienced being a chef of all sections, and assistant chef. In 2008, he became an executive chef at [Mugaritz], and at OGASAWARA-HAKUSHAKU-TEI in 2009. Pursuit of unique Spanish based on Spanish cooking tradition evolved with Japanese ingredients supports the star rating for the 8th straight year.

He focuses on maximizing the original flavor of the ingredients by keeping the recipes simple

He is a veteran with an experience of 16 years at [Ukai Toriyama], who has dedicated himself to mastering Japanese cuisine. He became the head chef 6 years ago, and every single day he keeps busy in the kitchen cooking delicious food. As a motto, he says "it is my job as a chef to make the ingredients taste even more delicious," so he aims to enhance the good features of each ingredient without elaborating on them too much. He offers delicacies that best represent the current season, thoroughly matching ingredients and balancing them with the seasoning broth.

Mr. Suzuki makes each piece of sushi with his passion for SHIOGAMAKOU - a sushi chef with a sense of humor.

He was born in 1982. He entered the world of sushi at the age of 16 and started his apprenticeship at 19 at KIYOTA, a famous sushi restaurant visited by many celebrities.  After his training period, he met Mr. Kamada, a tuna professional. He joined Kaisenzushi Shiogamakou because he was fascinated by how Mr. Kamada worked and his deep knowledge. He has made sushi for many people in Shiogama. In February 2024, he was appointed Oyakata (head chef) of SUSHI SHIOGAMAKOU GINZA KIWAMI. With his passion for SHIOGAMAKOU, he brings smiles to visitors' faces with the knowledge and wealth of experience he has cultivated.

Starting as a chef at a hotel, Mr. Kobayashi studied at various places in Tokyo before coming to Fukuwauchi.

He was born in 1980 in Osaka. At the age of 18, he started working in a restaurant. He then began his career in earnest as a hotel chef, working at "Hotel The Manhattan" in Kaihin-Makuhari, where he was in charge of kaiseki cuisine. After that, he gained experience as a chef in Tokyo and was employed at the Fukuhauchi, which was then located in Shinbashi, where he eventually came to be in charge of the restaurant's management. After relocating to Muromachi, the restaurant has now reopened as Muromachi Fukuhauchi.