We make Westernstyle cuisine to suit Japanese tastes!

With a confectioner father and a chef for an older brother, he entered the world of professional cooking at the age of 24. He got his start at a French restaurant, then moved on to Chinese, Japanese, and a wide variety of cuisines. After gaining further experience at the Kanda steakhouse Kaki no Ki, he struck out on his own, and has been running his own business for almost 20 years.

Nothing says Sendai like gyutan (beef tongue)!

Nothing says Sendai like gyutan (beef tongue)! Interested in local ingredients, he took a job at Rikyu where he is now in charge of the grill. His motto is to take high quality ingredients and carefully grill them to perfection. "Grilling gyutan is fairly straightforward, and yet the flavor differs with each chef. I find that fascinating," Takashi remarks, as he affectionately tends the grill.

A chef whose spirit is formed on the foundation of strong Japanese cuisine fundamentals interwoven with seasonal delights

After seeing the old style restaurant "Kicho" on TV, he yearned to work at such a place, and enrolled in culinary school. After graduating he got a job at an old style restaurant called Kikumi in Akasaka. After polishing his Japanese cuisine skills at "Kobori" in Akasaka, "Hamaisihi", a fancy restaurant in Ginza, and "Narita View Hotel", he established his own restaurant. He is very picky about the ingredients he uses. He selects organic rice and vegetables from his hometown, and goes to markets to personally pick out the freshest ingredients, allowing customers to experience the full flavor of each season.

Leave the hospitality of Japanese cuisine up to this chef.

At Ichukyo, a kaiseki (traditional Japanese banquet) restaurant in Tokyo's Omi, he trained under the former director and head chef of Nadaman. "Let me serve you a feast in which you will sense the passage of the seasons in the ingredients and the arrangements," he tells us.

A chef who continues to demonstrate the wonderful techniques and spirit of a sushi master.

Born in 1957 in Miyagi. When he was a high school student, his father took him to a sushi restaurant, where he was moved by both the techniques of the chefs and the welcome he received. Because of this experience, he set his heart on becoming a sushi chef. He trained at Ota Sushi at Iizaka hot spring for five years. After that, he worked at a Japanese restaurant in Sendai under master chef Hiroshi Atami, learning Japanese cuisine, how to handle himself in the kitchen, and the art of hospitality. At the age of 29 he became a chef at a Japanese restaurant, and after three years, he became the acting manager at the Sendai branch of Ginza sushi dono. At the age of 40 he opened Sushidokoro koya. There are presently eight branches, and he also runs the store in Kokubun.

Growing up watching his father, a chef

After growing up watching his father work as a sushi chef, it was a natural step for him to set foot in the culinary world. He trained at various restaurants and even opened his own restaurant but fate lead him to manage a restaurant with his father in 2012. That restaurant is reopening after a renovation.

Born February 23rd, 1960, a native of Hyogo Prefecture. After graduating from high school he worked at a number of restaurants, before traveling to France. He studied under Bernard Loiseau, the head chef at La Cote d'Or (now called Le Relais Bernard Loiseau), who gave rise to the Asian-inspired French fusion style, which our chef learned. He returned home to work at the Japanese chef of La Cote d'Or Kobe in 1992. As of 2000 he was promoted to the general manager and head chef of the Kitano Kobe Hotel.

The authentic Chinese chef.

Chef Ko was using his skill as a Chinese chef in China. He came to Japan in 2005 and became the chef of this restaurant. The renowned mabodofu (spicy dish with tofu and ground meat) featured on the radio is his creation.

Realizing his childhood dream, he stands in the kichen.

He was born in Hong Kong in April 1960. He had admired chefs who displayed brilliant skills at restaurants since he was young, and so he chose to be a cook with the desire to become a chef able to make many people happy. He works hard every day to bridge the gap between Japanese and Chinese food cultures.

Since he was a child, he was interested in food and he chose this path.

The chef was interested in making dishes with a variety of ingredients. After a while, he became able to cook on his own, and naturally started to think about working as a chef.

Working hard with the staff to create a comfortable restaurant

Born August 10, 1956 in Sapporo. After graduating from a vocational school, he worked at restaurants, hotels, and izakaya bars, serving customers. When Hokkai Shabu Shabu Kita 2 Jo opened in 2012, he was hired on as manager. Rather than "training staff by the book," he focuses on "little acts of service and hospitality," working towards creating a restaurant with a warm atmosphere along with his staff.

A pure and simple Izakaya! Nothing pleases us more than making our customers happy.

Since graduating from university, I've spent all my time working in various izakaya Japanese bars. This one's my tenth! Unlike other jobs, I love how you can see the customers' genuine reactions. I try my best everyday to prepare whatever dish the customer wants, even if it's not on the menu.

Eels, the pride of the proprietor who has continued to handle them since Sansho opened in Asakusa some 30 years ago

After training at an unagi (eel) wholesaler, he opened the unagi specialty restaurant Sansho in 1985. He refuses to compromise on taste and freshness, only procuring enough fresh unagi for the day. In addition to his infallible skills and judgement, he has been winning over customers with his warm and sociable hospitality.

I have realized the dream that I had as an elementary school student who loved to cook.

I was born in Shimane prefecture. Since childhood, I have loved to cook. I continued to study cooking in high school, including the basics of Japanese, western, and Chinese cuisines. I became interested in French cuisine and focused on it more after graduation. Having gained much knowledge and experience, I returned to my hometown and opened up my current restaurant.

Working part-time in restaurants during his high-school days proved to be the gateway to a culinary career

He was born in Hiroshima Prefecture on December 4th, 1972. During his high school days he worked in part time jobs at a variety of food and drink establishments and because of this experience he decided to become a chef. Aiming to become a chef in French cuisine, the most highly regarded in the world, he went to France, and at the age of 20 he graduated from the Tsuji Culinary Institute's school in France. After training in top-class hotels, he returned to France. After training in Lyon and Cannes he came back to Japan. He has been with "Mikuni Hiroshima" since it opened. Carrying on in the spirit of chef Kiyomi Mikuni, he opened "Restaurant Shimamura L'Espirit de Mikuni", which he currently operates.

From boxer to owner of oden (hot pot dish) stall. And then to French cuisine, in pursuit of the world stage…

He was born in Ibaraki prefecture in 1949. When he was in college, he was selected as one of the candidates to compete in gymnastics for the Olympics, and after graduating, he became a ranked professional boxer in Japan. After wrecking his body and giving up on boxing, he made a 180 degree turn and opened an oden (hot pot dish) stall. However, he says, "That would never allow me to aim for the world stage," and entered the world of French cuisine. He underwent training at a restaurant in Tokyo before going to France. After perfecting his skills for two years in places such as restaurants with three Michelin stars, he returned to Japan, and in 1988, he opened "A Ta Goul" in Ebisu. He took the opportunity to rename his restaurant to "Ne Quittez Pas" when he moved to Gotanda.

After all, the love of cooking lead to this profession.

Deeply impressed by the Italians' service and delicious food

Born in 1974 in Tottori, the chef decided to pursue this path while visiting Italy and being drawn to its delicious cuisine and friendly people. After graduating from a culinary school, he entered an Italian restaurant. In 1998, he joined "Vino Hirata" and became head chef in 2009. In May, 2010, he became an owner chef.

A chef who layers the flavors of the four seasons and the encounters between people

Kojiro Kashiwada is a native of Miyazaki Prefecture in Kyushu. Because he had a dining hall for a home, he naturally chose the path of the chef. After training at a ryotei (traditional Japanese restaurant) in Osaka that specialized in catering, he worked for five years at Gyozantei in Miyazaki before moving to Tokyo in order to establish the second branch of that restaurant in the Akasaka neighborhood. He worked for about seven years at the Akasaka store before setting out on his own. It has been 16 years since he first opened Kasane.

Offering local cuisine made using naturally abundant Shimane ingredients

Born August 16th in Shimane Prefecture. After graduating from high school, he attended culinary school. Upon graduation he went to work for Creative Group Inc., a company that runs a number of prominent restaurants. In 2012 his first assignment was determined to be Mond Nihonbashi, so he traveled to Tokyo. Now he treats Tokyo's Nihonbashi to the nostalgic Shimane flavors of his youth.