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.

Realising his father's greatness and his own culinary aspirations on leaving Hiroshima.

Shinji Umeda was born on March 17th, 1982. He learned much while working a part-time job at a restaurant. The izakaya (Japanese pub) he worked in at that time had an open kitchen, and during everything he did there, from the difficulty of conversing with customers to gaining more knowledge about cooking, he thought to himself "Dad did it like this, and at that time he spoke about this," and the image of his father's face was constantly on his mind. Shinji is currently training at his father's restaurant, studying the culinary arts so that he may one day open his own restaurant full of smiling, satisfied customers.

I had a fascination with the hospitality industry and I always hoped to have my own place!

My first job working in the hospitality industry was at an izakaya. While I was working there, I became very interested in the industry and I began to think about starting up my own place. From that time on, all of my attention went into learning how to cook. The izakaya that I worked at focused mainly on seafood based cuisine, which meant that I gained a lot of knowledge and tricks about cooking with fish. People say that my knowledge of fish is on a different level to others.

It all started back when I used to help my mother in the kitchen.

He started training in traditional Japanese cuisine at age 18. He endeavors to ascertain exactly what his guests want by chatting with them as he prepares their delicious meals.

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!?

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.

With food hygiene his top priority, he is a chef who appraises his fresh ingredients

Born on February 24th, 1951, he hails from Tokyo. He mastered the foundations of Japanese cuisine primarily through small restaurants. He has been involved with Yakitori Toriryori Toritatsu since 2010. Because the food he cooks is for his customers, it is understandable when he says, "More than anything else, I pay attention to my judgement of the ingredients."

In the restaurant business for nearly 30 years. Now a chef who captivates many

When he was a student, Koichi Ryu began working in a restaurant without much serious thought. But he was so taken by the head chef there that he started on the culinary path at the age of 18. At one point, he almost threw in the towel but there was no way he could completely give up on the culinary world. It's been thirty years now since he first chose this career. After working at Hakata Saryo, Fugu Taisho, Moyai (small restaurant), and various other restaurants, Mr. Ryu is now the owner of Ryuichi in Zashonokuma.

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

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.

Learning the joy of cooking from a Chinese chef, and its depth from a Japanese master.

Born in 1973 in Chiba Prefecture, his inspiration for pursuing this path was a Chinese chef who showed him the joy of cooking at the restaurant where he worked part-time as a high school freshman. He later became the apprentice of a Japanese chef while working at another restaurant. Although the chef was a well-rounded master who had studied abroad, he still said "Nothing beats Japanese beef." Those words made a deep impression on Mr. Ogura.

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's loved eating since early childhood! He dreamed of having his own restaurant.

When he was young, owner Hisayoshi Sugawara's favourite foods were ramen and curry rice. With the spirit of a child, he dreamed of owning his own restaurant. Since it was his favourite food, Hisayoshi was determined to make the ultimate bowl of ramen himself. Trying the ramen at various restaurants, he made continual improvements until settling on the present taste. That's the taste you can enjoy today.

Transformed from a westernstyle restaurant to Japanese 'izakaya' (barrestaurant), with the aim of creating a place where a group of regulars gather around the bar area.

After training mainly in French and Western cuisine from the age of 18, he switched over to what he's wanted to do from his 20s, and that's working in an izakaya Japanese bar. He is currently entrusted with the cooking at Yakitori Oden Zen. Taking special care to note the seasons, he makes classic oden (winter vegetable soup) as well as other original dishes.

I like eating nice food. That's why I became a chef.

I want to eat quality food, I want to make quality food, and I want people to eat quality food. Because I felt this way, I entered the world of cooking. I am still learning everyday and I make my food with passion.

The chef who protects the Queen Alice flavor.

Born in Kawasaki. After graduating high school, he trained at Kawasaki Nikko Hotel for 7 years before starting work at Queen Alice Ginza. After that, he worked at Queen Alice Reception Hall and then in 1999 he started at Queen Alice Yokohama Bay Hotel Tokyu, where he works now.

A chef who creates a refined flavor by using the knowledge and techniques he has built up over the years.

He was born in Miyagi Prefecture on March 7, 1959. After graduating high school, he learned the basics of Chinese cuisine at a hotel in Sendai City, as well as in a Chinese restaurant in Gifu. Afterwards, he was made the Assistant Head Chef at a rather famous hotel's Chinese restaurant. Intending to set out on his own, he then furthered his craft in Yokohama's Chinatown area and finally in 1989, he opened [Chinese Restaurant Taigen] in Hakone. As a result of feeling a bit cramped there, he reopened the shop in 2000 in Sengokubara. From there, he gained popularity thanks to word of mouth from my regular customers.

Influenced by his relatives who cooked for a living, he chose the same path

Born July 9th, 1958, he's a native of Miyagi Prefecture's Higashimatsushima City. Influenced by his relatives who cooked for a living, he too chose the same path. After graduating from the Musashino School of Culinary Arts in Tokyo, he trained for three years at a Japanese restaurant in the city before moving on to the high class Sendai restaurant Gin Tanabe. He plied his skills there for roughly 30 years before coming to Sumibi Wabo Hesoya (now: Wasyoku to Tempura Zehu) to cap off his career.

From being raised by a fishmonger, to creating a place to eat delicious fish.

Kawanona was born in Takikawa, Hokkaido in 1969. His family home was a fish shop, so he has a long history of handling fish. At the age of thirty he started training at a Japanese restaurant in Sapporo. However, he had already decided on what he wanted to do, so three years later he opened the current restaurant, which takes the form of an extension on his family home. Everyday he spiritedly wields his knife, hoping to make this restaurant a place where food lovers gather.

Just how it is in Spain. Savor true Spanish cooking.

Born in Barcelona, Spain. Her family runs a restauraunt for over 100 years since her grandfather's generation. Since much of Spanish cooking in Japan is adapted to the Japanese palate, she opened a restaurant to offer the true flavors of Spain. She offers the authentic taste she's been familiar with from an early age. Every year, when she returns to her country, she learns a dish that is trending in Spain. New flavors appear in the menu right away.