From art to cuisine. The head chef, Mr. Tanaka, continues to hone his skills in pursuing beauty common to both.

Mr. Tanaka was born in 1978 in Tokyo. Originally specialized in art. Aspire to become a cook, having been inspired by Japanese food with the same beauty as the art world. After graduating from a culinary school, he joined Nadaman and began his career in earnest. Following Park Hyatt Tokyo, he joined the Shabuzen group in 2001. In 2011, he left the group to widen his perspective on food and trained in Italian and other western cuisines. In 2020, he assumed the head chef post at Shabuzen Roppongi Branch.

His efforts and fate have led Mr. Yamamoto to build a career as a chef.

Mr. Yamamoto was born in 1989 in Kyoto. An acquaintance invited him to enter the world of chefs. He worked in hotel operations for about two and a half years, learning the basics of customer service and hospitality. After that, he became increasingly attracted to cooking, and his desire to make delicious food with his hands grew stronger. Amid such a situation, he had an opportunity to join Kyoto Stand Kiyokiyo Kiyamachi Main Branch. Currently, he is developing his cooking knowledge further while improving his handling of ingredients and cooking techniques.

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.

Mr. Irita puts his heart and soul into every slice with the skill he has honed by dedicating himself to Yakiniku.

He was born in 1975 in Osaka. When he was around 24, he started his culinary training after working at a yakiniku restaurant. Since then, he has honed his skills in yakiniku exclusively for more than 20 years. As the manager of Kobe Koushiya, which serves only quality meat, including Kobe beef, he cuts each slice by hand with great care and thought. Respecting the delicacy of the meat, which changes in taste depending on the thickness and the way it is cut, he uses a special cutting method to serve the meat. He is committed to serving delicious meat in its best condition.

If you forget your gratitude, you won't be able to meet delicious Japanese Wagyu.

Mr. Matsumoto is from Hyogo. He honed his skills by learning everything from cutting meat to judging it, mainly at famous restaurants in the Kansai region that specialize in meat dishes regardless of genre. Through his experience as a chef, he has always looked at meat, but the producers and suppliers understand the ingredients best. That is why he never misses saying, “Thank you for always supplying the best meat,” to Wagyu beef farmers and suppliers who carefully raise and deliver the beef.

Mr. Sawada continues to lead a life as a chef filled with enthusiasm and hard work.

He was born in Fukushima. At 18, he chose the culinary world in order to develop his skills. At Asakusa Kusatsutei, a renowned restaurant in Asakusa, he trained and honed his techniques while experiencing the depth of the cuisine. In April 2023, Asakusa Kusatsutei Ariake Branch was opened in Ariake. He has now moved to this new career stage and displays his shrewdness.

 

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.

Having been familiar with cooking since childhood, Mr. Yamamoto trained at a French restaurant in Tokyo.

He was born in 1987 in Fukui. He spent his childhood in Obama City, facing Wakasa Bay, where he felt close to fresh seafood. While standing in the kitchen at home for his working parents, he discovered the joy of cooking and went on to fisheries high school. After attending a vocational school to further study culinary skills, he trained at "Kitajimatei" and "Restaurant Sakaki" in Tokyo. Afterward, he relocated to Nagoya and continued to refine his skills at the bistro Innover. He now works at "Marconsorts +plus," valuing the charm of the ingredients.

Mr. Akeno has developed skills and a deep love for ingredients to take his cooking to the next level.

He was born in 1976 in Tokyo. His parents owned a yakitori restaurant, and his admiration for his father's cooking inspired him to become a chef. After graduating from Hana Culinary College, he began training at a kappo restaurant serving fugu (blowfish) and unagi (eel), both of which require particular skills in Japanese cuisine. Under the tough environment, he continued to hone his culinary skills. In 2007, he joined the current company. Keeping up his hard work and passion, he became the head chef of Daigomi in 2022.

Culinary career built up by experiences supported by lucky encounters at various prestigious restaurants

Born in 1973 in Shizuoka Prefecture. After graduating from a senior high school, he entered a company, but changed his career to pursue his childhood dream to be a chef. He started working at a western restaurant, where he was fascinated with French cuisine. When he was 22, he went to France and spent 5 years and a half to build up his experience at various places such as a three stars restaurant [Georges Blanc] in Paris, [Hostellerie Due Vieux Moulin] in Bourgogne, and [Saint James] in Bordeaux. After returning to Japan, he entered a famous French restaurat "Kitajimatei". 3 years later, he became independent and opened a small bistro in downtown. In 2012, he opened [Virbius].

Seeking the ultimate ramen that will bring a smile to anyone's face.

Attracted by the work of a chef, who can see guests' happy faces up close, Mr. Ono entered the culinary world. At Matsuri, which opened in March 2021, he displays his skills as restaurant head and works hard to make a restaurant with more and more customer smiles. 

Enjoy our tempura using proud ingredients of Hokkaido that is fine for even senior and delicate stomach.

He is from Hokkaido. His dream has come true to be the owner chef of a restaurant specialized in tempura using ingredients from Hokkaido where he was born and raised, as such a restaurant was rare. He harvests ingredients himself in the mountains and ocean by boat, then cooks them into crispy tempura using high-quality oil.

He went from observing his father who was farming eel, to entering the cooking field.

He was born in 1972 in Aichi prefecture. Observing his father who was an eel farmer, he was fascinated with eels and eel cuisine. Though he worked once as a foreman in the construction industry, he left the industry to start training as a chef in 2003 at [Sumiyaki Unafuji] in Nagoya. After working as its master chef and manager, he went independent and finally opened [Unagi-ka Shibafuku-ya]. 

Mr. Hasegawa's high-quality Genghis Khan (grilled mutton), made with only the best ingredients, makes food lovers cry out with delight.

Mr. Hasegawa was born in 1986 in Hokkaido. He was born and raised in Iwanai, a town with abundant nature located on the west side of the Shakotan Peninsula and which faces the Japan Sea and the Niseko Volcanic Group. Taking advantage of the know-how gained from his extensive experience managing restaurants, he opened Genghis Khan Eijin Betteiin in Niseko Hirafu, Kutchan, in December 2022. The lamb is not brought over frozen from its place of origin, Australia. Instead, it is chilled, and great care is taken with the quality when purchasing. In addition to the lamb, the fresh seafood unique to Hokkaido makes food lovers visiting from Japan and overseas cry out with delight. 

Mr. Omori, conveying both the old and the new, is an owner who quietly burns his love for sake.

He was born in 1988 in Hyogo. While working as a freelance makeup artist in New York City, he also worked as a server in a Japanese restaurant, which hooked him on sake. After returning to Japan, he realized that although there were places where he could drink sake, there were not many places dedicated only to sake in Japan. So, after three years of study at a Japanese restaurant, he opened his own restaurant, Sake bar KoKoN. As a bridge between sake breweries and consumers, he promotes the goodness of sake.

A chef who creates a synergistic effect of seasonal, richly flavorful food and wine.

Mr. Akazawa is a native of Hiroshima. Since childhood, he has liked to cook, which led him to pursue a career in the food industry. He has trained hard and polished his skills in hotels for 9 years and French restaurants. His love of making things led him to create beautiful house-made chocolates, in addition to the overall cuisine at Amusez-vous. With the desire for customers to "enjoy their meals," he purchases carefully selected ingredients without deceit and transforms them into colorful dishes.

From when he first started cooking during his student years, he has continued single-mindedly down a culinary path

He was born in Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture on December 29, 1958. From when he was a student, he learned how to cook with what he had available. After that, he apprenticed at places such as hotel restaurants specializing in Western cuisine and restaurants in his hometown. He has worked at [Kushitei] from 2008 to the present.

Growing up watching his grandfather, Mr. Horiuchi's journey as a chef began with an inspiring encounter.

Growing up watching his grandfather, Mr. Horiuchi's journey as a chef began with an inspiring encounter. While helping out at his grandfather's udon restaurant in Yamanashi Prefecture, he grew up watching his grandfather's back. Naturally, he longed to become a chef and trained at a hotel in Shinjuku. Around that time, he came across Suijin-En when he visited Jindaiji Temple. Impressed by its greatness, he became a chef at Suijin-En with a strong desire to work there. Today, he brings his passion and experience to the table, serving dishes that delight his guests.

Mr. Yashima fascinates guests with seasonal delicacies based on French cuisine paired with various fine wines.

He was born in 1979 in Fukushima. Having loved cooking since childhood, he decided to pursue a professional career. After graduating from Ecole d'Art Culinaire de Miyagi, he began his professional training at Shozankan. At this banquet facility, he acquired various culinary skills and techniques focusing on French and Italian cuisine. Then he worked as a sous-chef atRistorante Padrino del Shozan in it. In 2023, he was appointed as the head chef of Shozan, which opened following the charm of the same restaurant. He collaborates with Mr. Monma, a sommelier from the Shozankan era, to create fascinating pairings.