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 would like a lot of people to taste the deliciousness of Matsuyama's seafood.

He was born in 1971 in Fukuyama city in Hiroshima Prefecture. When he was young, he saw a chef in action and thought he looked cool. Wanting to do the same, he decided to enter the world of cooking. After training in various types of restaurants throughout the country, he tried the fish in Matsuyama and was moved by its deliciousness, which was beyond the imagination. When he opened Amimoto, he became both the restaurant owner and master chef. Every day, he strives to share the deliciousness of the food he was once moved by with a lot of people, and is currently in his 6th year.

I've gone down this road because I like cooking.

Born in Hong Kong in 1979. Came to Japan as soon as he graduated from high school in Hong Kong and enrolled himself in a specialized Japanese language school. After that, he began working at a Chinese restaurant in Sakura-shinmachi, Tokyo. Subsequently, he continued working at Chinese restaurants in Chigasaki and Meguro for two years and one year respectively. Passionate about other cuisines besides Chinese food, he joined Gyukoku as a chef in 2004 on a friend's recommendation. Since then, he has mastered the art of cooking beef. Now, he regards the purpose of his work to be making his customers happy.

Our goal is to make sure our parents eat delicious food.

Born in Nagano Prefecture on the 10 of March, 1963, he set out to become a chef so that he could make delicious food for his parents. After he worked at a Hotel for three and half years, he got a job at Restaurant Carrot, where he is now based.

This chef decided to devote his life to cooking after meeting the president of the company.

After meeting the president of Jitokko Kumiai Matsue Ekimae, Chef Inoue was startled by the extent to which they shared the same thinking and decided to move from an unrelated industry to become a chef. His eyes shine as he tells us how fun it is for him to receive direct, positive feedback from customers. He also feels that this work, where he gives shape to his own ideas with the design of the menu and flavoring of the food, has real meaning. Each day he works to continue to produce delicious food.

He strives to build a unique menu that matches the restaurant's atmosphere

He was born in Nagano prefecture in 1979, and it was a part-time kitchen job that gave him the motivation to go to Tokyo and start cooking professionally. After training at hotel kitchens and French restaurants, he gathered experience at various restaurants, such as a small bistro and a 145-seater restaurant in Daikanyama, where he worked as the head chef. In 2012, he became the head chef of Dining & Bar KITSUNE, where he handles the creation of new menu items, including dishes like "Sushine," a cross between sushi and a terrine. He says, "I want to continue offering dishes that taste great, but still manage to surprise customers."

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.

Going forward along his dream culinary path in a truly lively bar, coupled with fresh fish

He was born in Kumamoto prefecture in 1982. He loved cooking since he was young, and has had experience working as a part-timer at a small local restaurant in high school and an izakaya (Japanese-style bar) in college. After that, he went down the path of an office worker for a time without forgetting his culinary dream, and went to Tokyo when he was 24. He found employment at companies operating French and Italian restaurants in Yokohama, and studied diligently for about six years at two restaurants. He entered "El Pulpo" in 2011. Although this is his first time at a Spanish bar, his eyes have been opened to the joy that running a bar provides as well. As the chef now, he handles delicious, fresh fish daily.

It's been my dream to be a chef ever since I was little.

Born in Kanagawa Prefecture in 1986. I've loved cooking ever since I was little and have always had the dream of becoming a chef. Be it a la carte dishes or main dishes, I spare no effort in making each and every dish.

We want our favorite foods to become our customers' favorites too.

I have always loved making okonomiyaki pancakes at home, so I started working here part time in the second year of high school. And then, falling in love with the taste of monjayaki, I decided to work here full time. I want to serve monjayaki to the customers and have them love it as much as I do!?

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.

Particular about charcoal, a chef who pays attention to the details when grilling.

He expertly prepares the ‘Kirishima Chicken' of Miyasaki one by one by hand, and provides the skewers, even adding the finishing touches to the grilled dishes. At ‘Torigen, Kamata branch', he calls himself the ‘Char-grilling Craftsman.'

By making sure ingredients change every day, there is always an eye on consistent quality.

Born in 1973, and a native of Fukuoka Prefecture, he had always loved food, but was working at a company unrelated to the culinary world. From there, he decided to change occupations and pursue the path of becoming a chef. Every day he constantly watches changes in conditions and the quality of ingredients to insure a consistent high level of quality, which means he is always studying the textures and flavors of the food he has perfected.

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.

French fusion cuisine with an added Japanese undertone

Born in 1976 in Fukushima, the chef went to a culinary school after graduating from college. He learned French cuisine for five and a half years while working at "Auberge au Mirador" in Hakone. Later, he moved on to become a head chef at "ELEMENTS" after working at "SHINPEI," a Japanese restaurant. The chef opened his own restaurant "Le Japon" in 2011, after refining his basics in Japanese cooking at "Ryoriya Kodama." Presently he offers cooking classes at his own shop.

He started in the world of yakiniku (grilled meat) through a meeting with a friend

Chef Fujimoto, from Yokohama City, is a long serving veteran-this year is his 37th. He found employment in the yakiniku business partially through the invitation of a friend. He has devoted himself to this business ever since. Although he temporarily left Yakiniku Restaurant Konandai Kannaien, this year will mark about 13 years since his return. With yakiniku, it is hard to choose ingredients because the taste of the ingredients directly comes through. Also, everyone has different preferences, so it is extremely difficult to flavor things that suit everyone. Successfully facing this difficulty, he is building a thriving restaurant.

Our whole-hearted hope is that you will eat our delicious food and smile

Ever since Mr. Satou was a child he enjoyed food and always loved watching people smile and enjoy themselves as they ate. Thanks to his father, who ran a butcher shop, he was strongly influenced to want to see people enjoy delicious food. He succeeded his father in his butchering business and hormone-manufacturing business, and working there for 25 years he acquired a lot of know-how. At the age of 46 he stepped into the food industry for real, setting up his own shop, and after that opened "Sakura". It's now been over 15 years since the restaurant opened, and he's still doing his best to make sure his customers are happy day after day.

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.

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.

An encounter with a chef of French cuisine opened him up to the world of French food.

Toru Totoki was born in 1956 in Fukushima prefecture. When he was 20-years old, at a time that few people were familiar with French cuisine, he happened to meet the head chef of a French restaurant. Thanks to this chef's introduction, Totoki trained for 2 years at Regence Shibuya, then the famous French restaurant Ginza Lecrin, before going to Europe. He worked for 11 years as the head chef of Ginza Lecrin, from 1992 to 2003, then he opened Les Dix Temps, The Totoki. In 2013, the restaurant was updated and re-opened as Ginza Totoki.