The most reliable chef in the restaurant leads the young chefs by showing them the way. 

He was born in 1980 in Fukushima prefecture. In Tokyo, he accumulated experiences at a kaiseki (traditional Japanese cuisine) restaurant for 7 years and an Italian restaurant for 3 years. Currently he works as the master chef for [Yakitori Miyagawa Akasaka branch], and [Tori-no-Miyagawa AKASAKA INTERCITY AIR] which is operated in a new business style. He works hard towards [the most popular chicken restaurant in the world] making full use of his management ability obtained through his experience managing two different types of restaurants. His goal is to create a flexible organization to promptly meet the changing needs of the guests. This reliable leader also makes efforts to educate the chefs of the new generation.

Mr. Doi converted his grandfather`s river fish store, established over 100 years ago, into an eel restaurant.

Mr. Doi's grandfather managed a river fish market in Kyoto's central wholesale market, so he was familiar with trade since he was a child. He trained under his grandfather after graduating high school and inherited the river fish market at the age of 26, after his grandfather passed away. In March 2018, he changed industries from the fish wholesale market, opening Doikatsuman and becoming the owner. After opening the first branch in Fushimi-Inari, he opened a second restaurant in Gion-Yasaka.

Having experience with fish from a young age, he decided that "making delicious things will be my job"

Chef Nakasai was born in Gifu prefecture in 1975. Influenced by the sight of his grandfather, a fisherman's boss and a chef, at a young age he decided that making delicious cuisine would be his job This decision was the reason he became a chef. Honkaku Edomae Zushi Matsuki Sushi was opened by his grandfather and continued by his father. Training there since he was 18, in 2002 he became the 3rd generation proprietor. He has an established reputation for his capability in preparing seafood that he has cultivated since he was young.

Mr. Kakuta is one of the chefs who contributed to the global branding of Japanese food.

He is one of the key figures who contributed to the global branding of Japanese cuisine under the tutelage of the Iron Chef, Mr. Komei Nakamura. After working at Nadaman for nearly 30 years, he became the head chef. Since then, he has continued to support many prestigious hotels as head chef. He is currently working as the executive chief chef of Ginza Wagyu Lab.

Showing an ability that goes above and beyond, Mr. Nakamura made steady progress, step by step.

Mr. Nakamura was born in 1972 in Kagoshima. Because his relatives managed their own restaurant, he had many chances to naturally experience delicious food. Wanting to cook his own cuisine instead of just looking at food, he began walking the path of cooking. After acquiring his cooking license, he began working at a Japanese restaurant in a hotel at Fukuoka. After that, he started working for the Hatoya Kanko Group, serving successively in roles such as head chef, executive chef, director, and executive chef. By chance, he joined Fufu Kyoto as head chef in October 2022. 

Hanamidori Chicken, developed with the utmost care and attention to detail.

The history of Hanamitori began in 1949 when Mr. Yoshiharu Kawatsu, who was in charge of wholesale at a chicken wholesaler called Torizen in the Yoshizuka shopping street in eastern Hakata, opened a restaurant on the second floor of his store. While selling chicken, he encountered Mizutaki through relationships with a number of restaurants. Realizing that the secret to the delicious taste of Mizutaki was in the chicken itself,  Hanamidori chicken was born with a unique breeding and feeding method. The nutritious soup is made with fresh chicken and mineral water using a particular recipe.  

Mr. Wakabayashi fascinates guests with the fusion of traditional Japanese cooking techniques and international sensibilities.

He was born in 1975 in Akita. Influenced by his family's restaurant business, he naturally pursued a career in the food and beverage industry. After moving to Tokyo, he gained experience at Japanese and Sushi restaurants. In his 30s, he also trained at a Japanese restaurant in New York, U.S.A., for three years. With those experiences, he has been working as the head chef at Akasaka Shikian Yoetsu since November 2019. His cuisine, a fusion of traditional Japanese cooking techniques and international sensibilities, has attracted many culinary connoisseurs.

The elegant kaiseki cuisine prepared by techniques cultivated over many years fascinates guests.

Mr. Akaishi was born in 1973. He became interested in cooking when preparing dinner for his working parents. Following high school graduation, he enrolled in a specialized culinary school. After completing his studies, he worked at the renowned Japanese confectionery shop Ginza Seigetsudo before joining Ryotei Omiya ICHI-NO-YA at age 21. Once he left his job, he gained a lot of experience, including at the CITY CLUB OF TOKYO, a members-only club in the Embassy of Canada. Fate brought him back to ICHI-NO-YA at the age of 36, where he rose to the position of head chef at 45. He is a chef who attracts guests with dishes that are filled with tradition.

Having loved fish since childhood, Mr. Fujisawa became a sushi chef out of his love for the fish.

He was born in 1970 in Hyogo. He has been interested in fish since childhood and enjoys watching them in illustrated books and aquariums. This interest led him to decide to pursue a career as a sushi chef. Working at sushi restaurants in Tokyo for more than 20 years, he honed his solid skills and unique palate. In 2024, he met the owner of Kagurazaka En and joined the restaurant.

He obtained a chef license after experience as a part-time cook. He has been dedicated to unagi (eel) for 40 years.

He was born in 1956 in Tokyo. When he was young, he worked as a part-timer for a restaurant serving eel and other Japanese foods. As the job was fun, he got into this world and obtained a chef license. Since then, he has gained a wide variety of experiences at Japanese restaurants, including eel restaurants for 32 years. Starting 2008, he works for [Unagi Komagata Maekawa] as a chef. Grilling eel is difficult even with 40 years of experience, as proven by the saying, [8 years to master filleting, 8 years to master skewering, and forever to master grilling]. He devotes himself to improving his skill every day.

A mother wants children to eat real food.

Born in Hokkaido in 1950. Learned the basics of cooking in culinary school, and returned to her hometown in Hokkaido. One day, she learned about the Wagyu boom taking the world by storm, and she "wanted to offer real Wagyu beef at a reasonable price." In addition, there as the mother of a child, she also wanted her child to eat authentic food, and this lead to the decision to open her own shop.

He converted his inn into a restaurant specializing in unagi (eel) to carry on his hometown’s tradition of unagi cuisine.

He was born in 1959 and raised in Mie Prefecture. After he graduated from college, he took a job at Hotel Taiike, which used to be in Toba, since he was going to eventually take over his parents' traditional Japanese inn that they were running at the time. During his time working at the hotel, he worked in the kitchen as well as the front desk, so he built experience with customer service in addition to cooking. After three years, he came back home to handle reception, cooking, and management at Kawaume. When his father passed away in 2008, he took over Kawaume as the 4th generation inheritor, and converted it from an inn into a restaurant specializing in unagi cuisine. Nowadays, he works hard to preserve the local traditions of unagi cuisine and has worked up a reputation for his original donburi (rice bowl) recipe.

He made his middle school dream a reality by becoming a head chef at the young age of 32.

He was born in 1973 and raised in Tokyo. His fascination with professional cooking started in middle school and led him to specialize in the culinary arts during his high school years. He went on to spend seven years studying at several traditional Japanese restaurants, which included Takamura in Roppongi, Egawa in Ginza, and Ajisai in Akasaka. Then, because of a connection he made in Mie Prefecture, he moved there at age 25 to start a job at Sazanami. After seven years on the job, he was promoted to a head chef at the age of 32. He makes his way to local fisheries every morning for fresh ingredients and takes advantage of his veteran skills and judgment to deliver the best food that Toba has to offer.

Offering local gastronomy with ingredients from Nara and MARUTO soy sauce.

Mr. Ota was born in 1981 in Mie. Started his culinary career after graduating from university. With 10 years of cooking experience in Tokyo, he relocated to Nara. He has worked in Japanese cuisine and a café-restaurant using Nara Prefecture's ingredients. In 2021, he became the head chef at Tawaramoto Maruto Shoyu. Every day, he goes to the farm to grow, harvest, and cook nearly 150 varieties of vegetables a year. He welcomes guests with dishes that make the most of MARUTO soy sauce and Nara's ingredients.

Mr. Aoki spares no effort to show his strength in the place he desires.

After starting his career as a Japanese cuisine chef, he was eager to work at Meigara Tonkatsu Fukuro. However, he received advice from the owner that "you should first gain experience in multiple restaurants." Following that word, he started training at various tonkatsu specialty restaurants. While pursuing a finely honed technique, he has improved his unique sensibility.  And now, he shows his skills at the restaurant.

 

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.

Growing up watching his chef father, Mr. Hatanaka opened a Japanese Kaiseki restaurant.

He was born in 1978 in Fukuoka. His grandfather owned a fish store, and his father was a chef, so it was natural for him to become a chef. His first job was at a Japanese restaurant in the "Yamanoue Hotel." After 3 years of training, he gained experience mainly in Japanese restaurants in hotels, including "Senbazuru," a Japanese kaiseki restaurant at "Hotel New Otani." After that, he decided to open his restaurant, Hakata Hatanaka, in 1996, aiming to create a restaurant serving delicious Japanese cuisine. Using carefully selected seasonal ingredients, he has continued to work earnestly on his cuisine.

Hanamidori Chicken, developed with the utmost care and attention to detail.

The history of Hanamitori began in 1949 when Mr. Yoshiharu Kawatsu, who was in charge of wholesale at a chicken wholesaler called Torizen in the Yoshizuka shopping street in eastern Hakata, opened a restaurant on the second floor of his store. While selling chicken, he encountered Mizutaki through relationships with a number of restaurants. Realizing that the secret to the delicious taste of Mizutaki was in the chicken itself,  Hanamidori chicken was born with a unique breeding and feeding method. The nutritious soup is made with fresh chicken and mineral water using a particular recipe. 

He brings out the best flavor of meat with his knowledge and experience.

He was born in Tottori. After working at a Teppanyaki (iron griddle grilling) restaurant in Osaka for several years, he moved to Tokyo to pursue his career as a chef. Currently, he works as a chef at Katsudon Kouei. Based on his knowledge and experience of meat acquired in the Teppanyaki world, he draws out meat's full flavor and serves it to his guests.

Coming home after 7 years of honing his skill in Tokyo, he has taken over the helm of the family business.

Born in Hokkaido in 1977. Soon after finishing high school, he moved to Tokyo to attend a cookery college with ambition to join the restaurant world. After graduating from college, he apprenticed for 7 years at izakayas specializing in Kappo (Japanese style cooking) and fresh fish. At the of 27, he returned to Hakodate to take over his father's restaurant. He is currently the store manager for [Seafood Ikasei Main Branch]. In May 2016, he opened a second store, [Ikasei Daimon] in Wakamatsucho, Hakodate.