Keeping to tradition while not neglecting to bring in new elements

Born in 1978 in Moriguchi, Osaka prefecture, he came naturally into chefhood, growing up watching his father manage a sushi restaurant. After three years of experience in a hotel kitchen, he came to "Kitazuien", where he has been for 13 years. Rising to the position of head chef two years ago, he keeps to tradition while bringing in little by little new vegetables and elements of western cuisine, all to accomodate to his customers' desires.

Making use of his experience working in a range of different genres, he opened a restaurant where he could express himself

He entered the culinary world at the age of 21 at a French restaurant in Kitashinchi, going on to gain experience in many different types of establishments: cafes, Italian restaurants, dining bars, bars, and teppanyaki restaurants. He learned management skills at major restaurant chains like Balnibarbi and Zetton, before opening his own restaurant, COCOLO.

Wanting to learn the basics of cooking from the one of the best restaurants in Kyoto, he did his training at Hyotei.

Born in Kyoto in 1949, he set his heart on cooking from age 18. He went to Hyotei thinking "If I want to learn, I'll learn from the best." Until 27, he spent almost 10 years there learning the fundamentals, afterwards moving between famed restaurants in Kyoto and Okayama. At 38, he returned to Kyoto and opened his own place, Midori. He vaulted to fame with his interpretation of traditional Japanese food using non-traditional ingredients like game meat and foie gras. Afterwards, in 2008 he moved to his current location in front of the Kyoto Imperial Palace, where he serves his cuisine in a small and cozy 7-seat space.

Born into an established shop that sold "Kobe beef" and raised by a mother who was a food expert.

While taking over Oi Nikuten, his family's established butcher shop that was founded in 1871, he also manages Itozakura, a yakiniku (grilled meat) restaurant. With his mother being a food expert, he learned how to expertly discern meat and fat quality. His motto is "cut the meat only after seeing the customer's face."

From a youth who enjoyed preparing fish to a chef who never fails to engage with his ingredients.

Born in 1982 in Fukuoka, he loved fishing as a child and learned to prepare the fish he caught himself. This was his first taste of the joys of cooking. Graduating from high school, he learned the fundamentals after joining Kani Honke in Nagoya. At 21, he entered the famed Kyoto cuisine restaurant Oryori Hayashi and studied real Kyoto cuisine over about 7 and a half years. Afterwards, he gained experience making Japanese food in Ponto-cho, earned the recommendation of the proprietress of the tea shop Fukushima, and became the head managing chef at the traditional Japanese restaurant Aji Fukushima in 2013.

Reputation built on our unique Italian taste with the spirit of France

Born in Osaka, 1984. Main chef of [Ristorante RinascereDojima]. Admiring his father who was a French chef, he followed him into the culinary world. He worked at the Rihga Royal Hotel Osaka and honed his skills in their dining cafe and French restaurant, as well as in event planning. Currently he is creating unique dishes with knowledge imparted from his Italian cuisine predecessor, and adding a touch of his specialty French method and inspiration, which has earned him a high reputation.

Toward the world of cuisine in longing for the cool of those teppanyaki chefs he saw overseas

Originally studying at a hotel hospitality vocational school, he was propelled toward chefhood after being awed by the stylish cool of the teppanyaki chefs he saw when studying overseas as a student in Australia. He joined New Otani Kobe Harborland in 1995 and worked as head chef at Teppanyaki Rokko. In 2008, he moved on to be head chef at La Suite Kobe Harborland's Teppanyaki Kokoro. He holds the Japanese Teppanyaki Association (JTA)'s first-grade Certification of Proficiency as well as the Vegetable Sommelier Association's Junior Vegetable Sommelier Certification.

After seeing the smiles of people leaving restaurants, he set out to become a chef.

Now, as he is in a position to provide customers with food, he feels it's all worth it when he hears customers exclaiming that the food is delicious.

The parttime job that he had at an izakaya when he was a high school student inspired him to become a chef.

The reason why he decided to get a part-time job in an izakaya (Japanese pub restaurant) was that he wanted to eat the free food. It may not have been the most romantic reason, but this is what led to his career in the restaurant business. Through his part-time job he learned how much fun cooking was, and decided to attend catering college. At college he met fellow students who would play an important part in shaping his future career. After graduating, he spent time working in three different Japanese restaurants. After working for ten years, he and his friends from college opened "Jounetsu Shokusai Kyoshoku". Later, in 2014, they opened "Fujiya Kyoshoku".

His dream is to open an izakaya of his own one day

He was born in Mie Prefecture on September 1st, 1984. He started working at restaurants in his teens, and gained experience as the manager of bars in Tokyo and Tohoku. In 2012, he returned to his hometown, Ise City, to become the chef of Shunsai Izakaya Furuichi Tsubogin. Making use of his experiences working in restaurants where sake played a central role, he is particular about serving high quality food which goes well with his carefully chosen sake. He devotes himself to his work every day so as to satisfy his customers.

His dream to become a chef came true. Now he makes passionate Italian cuisine in a brand new style

He was born in 1979 in Okayama prefecture. He often went out to eat with his parents as a child, and soon he secretly longed to become a chef in the future. That dream come true, when after graduating from the Hattori School of Nutrition at the age of 18, he honed his cooking skills in Tokyo at Italian restaurants and French restaurants in hotels. After that he encountered "Canoviano", and Chef Uetake at our main store in Daikanyama took him under his wing. Still greatly influenced by Chef Uetake, our chef makes every effort to produce many dishes that show the true worth of Italian cooking.

A chef who displays the virtues of Indian cuisine, while also looking for ways to match its flavors to Japanese tastes.

It has been six years since Chef Sawana, the owner's younger brother, came to Japan. He became the chef with the hope that "the Japanese people can enjoy the taste of Indian home cooking." Chef Sawana is in charge of tandoori and naan. By making spiciness levels adjustable and so forth, he continues to refine his dishes to suit the Japanese palate.

He continues to perfect his skills in a traditional geisha district in order to create food that delights his customers

He loves delicious food and wanted to be able to serve it to customers, so he made the decision to become a chef. Since graduating from culinary college he has spent 13 years working in Japanese restaurants, learning the trade from the basics and building up experience. He is particular about drawing out the innate flavor in ingredients that contain a sense of season and provenance, while at the same time adding an extra touch to simple food. The taste of his food is loved by people of all different ages, and he continues to display his skills, encouraged by expressions of appreciation for his cooking.

A chef who creates everything from spices to exquisite dishes

Born in 1950 in Kobe city, the chef has always dreamed of opening his own Yakiniku (Japanese BBQ) restaurant and studies everything about Yakiniku himself. The chef makes everything, except for the ingredients themselves, himself. He also cuts the delicious beef into thick, enjoyable pieces. With his mother's original recipe, the chef serves delicious dishes. The restaurant he opened in San-no-miya in 1990, "Sumibi-yakiniku Abee" has numerous fans and frequenters.

He admires nature's grandeur and pays respect to the divine. He works with local ingredients.

Born in Mie Prefecture on January 7, 1965. He loved to eat from childhood, and pursued the path of becoming a cook to make people happy through food. He decided to become a French chef to challenge the unknown, outside world, and a world that is opposite from his upbringing in the deep mountains of Kumano. He studied under Shima Kanko Hotel's head chef, Tadayuki Takahashi, for three years. Then, after training in France, Osaka, and Kobe, he opened his own restaurant at 26 years old. He continues to make food inspired by nature.

Serious about his cooking, he was born to be a chef

This chef was born on January 30th, 1972 in Hyogo Prefecture. Originally, he simply had an affinity for service, and wound up heading down the path to becoming a chef. He worked at various pubs and restaurants all over, and gradually came to realize the importance of making meals. Then he grew to find joy in delighting people with his cooking, and got serious about it as a career. When Kitsetsu Ryori Sakura opened in 2013, he took the opportunity to apply here, and he works here still.

Offers up big portions made with top quality ingredients.

He was born March 8th, 1972, in Osaka Prefecture. Wanting to become a cook, after finishing high school, he began apprenticing at Tori Ryori after a friend introduced him. After that, he continued working at the same restaurant as a cook. Tondabayashi, Osaka is a place blessed with tranquil nature; a place where people go to get directly-sourced, fresh ingredients to create delicious meals.

Protecting traditions by utilizing skills learned from previous generations and polishing them further.

Yamamoto is a chef from Hyogo Prefecture. His parents ran this restaurant before him, so he was familiar with this cuisine from a young age and naturally wanted to impart its sense and taste with customers and everyone he came in contact with. As he grew up he came to inherit this restaurant that his parents poured so much love into, and wanted to make even more of it. When he graduated from school he entered the culinary world without hesitation. He has come to be where he is now as the result of the guidance and support of his parents and the training he undertook at this restaurant.

Living with Japanese cuisine for 25 years. Good food backed up by experience and sense.

Born in Hyogo prefecture in 1966. When he was a student, he was looking for work and became a chef. That's when he came into contact with the deliciousness and delicacy of Japanese Cuisine. He stayed with it for 25 straight years. He has very strict judgement concerning fish and takes taste very seriously. He is aiming for food that will make the customer happy with its taste and appearance, so he continues to hone his skills day and night.

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.