With his career spanning nearly half a century, his role in developing French cuisine in Japan has been pivotal

He was born in 1951 in Fukuoka prefecture. He started his culinary career when he was 18, after entering "Royal" in Fukuoka. He was deeply impressed by the dessert buffets at "Regence" in Roppongi, which were still rare at that time, and he also trained as a patisserie. He went to France in 1977, and studied for five years at restaurants such as "Troisgros", and "Georges Blanc", being impressed once again by the culture of French cuisine that he experienced in the country itself. After returning to Japan, he held successive posts as a chef in "De Roanne" in Kyobashi, and "Pantagruel" in Akasaka. He opened "Kitajimatei" in 1990.

The influence of his chef father led him down the same path

Our chef Sano was raised looking up to his chef father from the time he was a child. Seeing how delighted people were when they ate his father's food, he thought, "Someday, I want to make people happy like that with my own cooking," which led him down the same path. Afterwards he built up experience at various Italian restaurants, before opening this establishment. His memories of his father's cooking still form the foundation for Sano's own culinary style even now.

With a desire to let everyone know the magnificence of Italian cuisine

Born in Tokyo, 1968. Dut to his love of pasta, he worked toward becoming an Italian chef after graduating culinary school. After training at Tokyo's [Ristorante Carmine], he traveled to South Italy. He further improved his skills at Sicilia's famous [Ristorante Unico], and was appointed as chef at [Tante Grazie] after returning to Japan. He explains that he gets hints of inspiration for his creations by communicating with his customers.

Following in the Footsteps of His French Chef Father

Born in 1978 in Osaka city. Influenced by his father who was working as a chef at a French restaurant at the time of his birth, he grew up surrounded by the chefs' aprons. After graduating from high school, he completed his training at a French restaurant in Kobe. In 1998 he took over the position of head chef at the "Bon Village Sennan" main branch. In January of 2005 he opened "Bon Village Oser" in Kishiwada city. At the young age of 26 he was entrusted with the unification and care of both Bon Village locations,where he has remained acting as executive chef of both until the present day.

Our inspiration was French cuisine, but we are also inspired by Italian cuisine.

He gained experience working at a hotel and restaurant in the city. During that time he was also given a job as a chef. At first, he started out doing French cuisine, and then he fell in love with Italian cuisine and opened Fujji, where he is currently based.

Trained under two master chefs

Born in 1978 in Tokyo. Enrolled in a culinary school and then set out to work in that field. He studied in Shibuya's "Bigorosso" and Daikanyama's "Canobiano" under Uetake Takamasa, and then at the age of 22 he went to Italy for about two and a half years. He improved his craft in many restaurants, including a 2 star Michelin location in Tuscany, the "Tendarossa." After returning to Japan, he trained under Sasajima Yasuhiro at Marunouchi's "Il Giottone," working as a chef from the opening. In 2008, he opened the mainly vegetarian "Frick." It is a restaurant that is very popular with regular customers.

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.

A chef who is constantly thinking up new menus in which the flavors of the drinks and the food complement each other

Born in 1965 in Oita Prefecture, graduated from Tsuji Japanese Culinary Arts College. After gaining experience in Kyoto and Osaka he went independent, starting his own restaurant in Kyoto. In 2006 fate brought him to "Ristorante Misato", where he shows off his skills daily as the lead chef.

Our chef values the input of his guests and pursues fashionable, cuttingedge cuisine with the spirit of a true craftsman

Born September 25th, 1957 in Miyazaki Prefecture. After graduating from the Tsuji Culinary Institute in Osaka, he studied at Seiyoken for five years before moving to France. He started at Japanese restaurants before working his way to the Michelin one-star (now three-star) restaurant Guy Savoy in Paris. He then honed his skills at the Swiss restaurant Girardet before returning to Japan. He served as head chef at Restaurant Hiramatsu and chateau restaurant Joel Robuchon for three years before striking out on his own. In 1997 he opened Restaurant Monna Lisa Ebisu.

He was drawn to the charms of French cooking, and his experience in famous restaurants has made him a powerful chef.

He was born in 1975 in Osaka. Although he went to a technical high school, he decided to pursue cooking-in both cases, because he enjoys making things. While learning the basics of service at a hotel, he studied cooking as hard as he could, aiming for places like the Riga Royal Hotel, and he got his dream assignment at the Restaurant Chambord, a famous restaurant known for tradition and formality. He had always hoped to become a French chef, and he fell in love with French food even more in that position, where he spent quality time working under a head chef he greatly admired. He has continued to achieve great things and gain experience since then.

His father's cuisine was the starting point of his own

He was born in Yokohama, Kanagawa prefecture. Inspired by his father who was a chef, it was natural for him to become a chef. He improved his culinary skills at a French restaurant in Tokyo and a restaurant in Yokohama. After that, he left for France to acquire knowledge in authentic French cuisine. Currently, he is playing an active role as the chef of Bistro Le Nougat.

A chef with a wealth of experience whose genius was recognised by Chef Baba

Koji Itou was born in Saitama prefecture in 1976. His part-time job at university led him into the world of cooking. In 2002, he went to Italy and honed his skills at the famous restaurants of Emilia-Romagna and Piedmont. He returned to Japan in 2005, and worked for 2 years at Taverna Messina in Jiyugaoka. After that, he worked for 4 years at an Italian restaurant in Hiroshima before coming to Tharros in 2012. In the spring of 2014, leadership of the kitchen was handed over to him by Chef Baba. Chef Itou hopes that just as before, he wants to make the unique food culture and atmosphere of Sardinia more widely known.

A professional whose signature dish is "Ankake (thick sauce) Spaghetti".

After working for the Toyohashi restaurant "Ciao" for five years he opened his own place. He left the establishment he ran for 27 years to his son, and opened "Spaghetti House Chef Meiekinishi" nine years ago. He is a chef of the ankake (a thick, starchy kudzu sauce) spaghetti school of cuisine.

Enchanted by Italian cuisine that draws out the inherent flavors of the raw ingredients

Originally from Kagoshima Prefecture, he graduated from a culinary school in Osaka before moving to Tokyo. After studying at various restaurants such as Basta Pasta, he went to Italy to learn authentic techniques. After working in Mantua and Florence, and trying more and more of the food in different restaurants, he returned to Japan to work at Ristorante Yamazaki. Afterwards, in 2001, he struck out on his own to open Ristorante Hamazaki.

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.

A master craftsman of French cuisine inheriting the Grande Maison tradition

He was born in Tokyo in 1959. He was influenced by a senior in his high school field hockey club who decided to go down the path of becoming a chef, so eventually he too went to culinary school. After graduation, he worked for four years at the prestigious French restaurant called "Piaget," where he built a strong culinary foundation. In 1983, he entered Apicius, and diligently studied under the wings of Chef Tokuo Takahashi, one of the most esteemed French chefs in Japan. In 1997, he became a sous chef, and then eventually moved on to his present position as head chef in 2008.

Wanting to work in a job where one dish can make someone smile

Born in 1984 in Chiba. He worked to become a chef thinking, "I want to make people smile with the food I cook." After working at Aux Bacchanales and Ginza Candle, he came to Aoyama Spain Bar El Vuelo.

Stepped into the world of culinary from an admiration of white chef coats

Born in 1960 in Aichi prefecture. The glamour of French cuisine left a great impression on him and he set his mind on becoming a French chef himself. He polished his skills at numerous noted restaurants, including The Westin Nagoya Castle, Au Bec Fin Ponto-cho branch, Maxim's de Paris Nagoya branch, and Imperial Wing. In 2004, he took the position of executive chef at Aile d'Ange main branch, a role he maintains to the present day.

His training started from as early as elementary school and he was considered a cooking genius.

He started working at a Japanese restaurant and Japanese sweet shops when he was an elementary school student. He graduated from the culinary school, Tsuji, and also went to France to study at a French cooking college. He went to Alsace and visited other areas as well. He became a chef after four years and returned to Japan after eight years in total. In 2012, he opened La FinS.

In contrast with his beloved father, a sushi chef, he's challenging himself in the world of French cuisine!

Born in 1971 to a sushi chef father. After honing his skills at famous hotel restaurants in Fukuoka and Kobe, he set off for France. After learning about authentic French cuisine, he came back to Japan and set up his own restaurant. His restaurant, which used to be solely a French restaurant, has now expanded its offerings, developing into a "Western food and wine restaurant."