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.

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.

An interest in cooking that started in high school. A life devoted to Japanese cuisine and fish-based cuisine.

Born in Shizuoka prefecture in 1977, the proprietor's interest in cuisine started in high school. He started his career as an apprentice in Japanese restaurants in Shizuoka, achieving expertise in all forms of fish-based cooking at the likes of Uogashi Maruten, at both the main and branch restaurants. Since 2011 he has been at Uogashi Maruten Fuji, where he excels in all forms of Japanese cuisine.

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

Creating Smiles with Tasty Food!

Having always had a passion for food, he entered the world of cooking in order to serve people delicious food. He had been a fan of Rikyu's beef tongue, and attracted by the restaurant's appeal he joined the restaurant and is now in charge of the grill. Charcoal-grilled beef tongue is a simple dish, but there is depth to it. He focuses on getting the meat cooked to just the right degree, so that he can have his guests taste the best of it.

Striving to be the impetus for popularizing wine and cheese.

Katsuhito Ito was born in Shimogo Town, Minamiaizu District, Fukushima Prefecture, on April 1st, 1977. He has been chair of the Fukushima section of the Japan Sommelier Association since 2009, and became a senior sommelier at age 28. After working at resort hotels and city hotels in Fukushima Prefecture, he became independent in 2010. Ito began a wine class in 2013, and he currently strives to create a space that would be an impetus for popularizing wine and cheese. He also serves as an examiner for the certification exam for sommelier and restaurant service specialists.

Passion for making people happy with his cooking led him to the path of culinary studies.

Born in 1967 in Tokyo. "I want to be a chef who makes people smile." This wish led him to aspire to being a chef. He learned various types of cooking while he worked in the kitchen of an Izakaya (Japanese style pub) in Tokyo for 5 years from age 19. He met the owner of Sakanaya during this time. When the owner opened Sakanaya in Morioka in 1991, he moved to Morioka with him. He spent the next twenty years by the owner's side, showing his skills as a chef.

A chef pursuing the art of cooking with the determination of a master craftsman after a visit to France

Born in Fukushima prefecture in 1983, this chef has always loved making things and aspired to be a chef since a young age. After graduating school and spending some time in another industry, he started working at a french restaurant in Hayama at the age of 19 through an introduction from a friend. There, he studied cooking basics for 4 years. Later he travelled to France where he trained in Normandy, Ile De France, and Cote d'Azur for 5 years, experiencing authentic French cuisine. He returned to Japan in 2011 to work in Benoit in Aoyama, and joined Arukana Tokyo KARATO in 2013.

Experienced delectable Japanese cuisine during his culinary training and decided to devote himself entirely to Japanese cuisine

He was born in Fukuoka Prefecture in 1979. After graduating from high school, he started working part-time at a restaurant. Subsequently, he honed his craft for 5 years at a Japanese restaurant before working at Seafood Restaurant Zauo Main Store. Meticulously preparing fresh dishes, he puts his heart and soul into ensuring that these dishes will evoke feelings from his customers.

He had a mind to open his own, cozy place.

He was born January 31st, 1954, in Okayama Prefecture's Kurashiki City. After graduating from college, Ozaki found employment in the restaurant business. After focusing on take-out for eight years, he switched to eat-in cooking, studying in the capital city for four years before finally realizing his chef's dream of owning his own restaurant. After running Mamakari for 15 years, at the age of 34, he opened Shitamachi Shokusai Daidokoro. With a wide variety of creative Japanese cuisine and daily specials on offer, he welcomes diners with a cozy and comfortable atmosphere.

He continues to strive down the path of cuisine to fulfill his dream of owning his own restaurant

Born in 1959. A native of Saga Prefecture's Karatsu City. His memories of a local Japanese food restaurant led him to enter the world of cuisine, deciding to make food that could move people. After acquiring experience at Hakata hotels and Japanese restaurants, he became head chef of Japanese cuisine at the Yachiyo Royal Hotel in Kumamoto. After that, he worked as head chef of the Yamaguchi Grand Hotel's Japanese Restaurant Miyabi for 12 years. He opened WA FUKUSHIMA in September of 2009, and this is his fifth year with us. He's never satisfied with his own cooking, striving for excellence each day.

Innovative Chinese food from a veteran Chef's inspired sensibilities

Born in 1961 in Hong Kong. He loved eating from a young age, and, inspired by chefs serving up delicious food, decide to pursue the culinary arts. He worked as a head chef at two restaurants in Hong Kong, and started up restaurants in Shanghai as well. His diverse sensibilities in cuisine have been the subject of widespread praise. In 1983 he was invited to Japan. After working a number of head chef positions, he took a job as head chef at "Manchiro" main branch. Building on his legend, he continues to innovate and build on old ideas, creating new and imaginative Chinese food that is very well received.

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.

Encountering genuine motsunabe (meat stew) in Osaka led to him opening his own restaurant

I'm originally from Ichinomiya City. After stepping away from the 9-to-5 life of a businessman, I entered cooking school. After that, I apprenticed at a Chinese restaurant and worked at a gyoza (dumpling) shop in Osaka for even more training. When a famous motsunabe (meat stew) restaurant from Fukuoka opened a branch in Osaka, I seized the opportunity to work there and trained for a year and a half, and in 2007 split off and opened a restaurant in Nagoya.

After his father's retirement, he succeeded the family business spanning 3 generations and 50 years

He was born in Aichi Prefecture in 1968. He first thought of running a Korean barbecue shop when he was 40. When his father, the previous head, retired, he felt that someone had to continue the store that his grandfather had started, so he quit his construction job and entered the world of Korean barbecue.

Fascinated by the delicate cuts, he was drawn to the world of traditional Japanese cuisine.

Koyama wanted to be a Western-style cook when he was small, but when he attended culinary school his eyes were opened to the finesse required of the knife work in traditional Japanese cooking, and after graduation he went to to work at a Japanese food restaurant. After 12 years of experience, he opened Kisei in 1997.

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.

Nothing says Sendai like gyutan (beef tongue)!

Nothing says Sendai like gyutan (beef tongue)! Interested in local ingredients, he took a job at Rikyu where he is now in charge of the grill. His motto is to take high quality ingredients and carefully grill them to perfection. "Grilling gyutan is fairly straightforward, and yet the flavor differs with each chef. I find that fascinating," Takashi remarks, as he affectionately tends the grill.

A veteran who welcomes his customers with his warm personality and dishes made from the freshest ingredients

Born in Tottori prefecture in 1958, he decided to pursue a career as chef of Japanese cuisine as he admired the protagonist of a TV show. After graduating cooking school, he trained at a luxury Japanese restaurant in Osaka for 2 years. Moving to Tokyo, he diligently studied at the Japanese restaurant Tsukushi for 2 years. After this, he worked for 15 years at a Japanese restaurant that would become a step towards his present one. He took the opportunity to take over the business when his master retired, opening Sakedokoro Yamane in 1991 and continuing to the present day.

A childhood spent watching the backs of mum and dad that naturally lead to following this path.

Having helped out at her family home and restaurant since childhood, the world of food was always close to her. She was taught the joy of participating in a meal by her parents, and it was natural that she should set out to be a chef. At present, as the proprietress-to-be, she helps with the flavors and service of the Motsunabe Mizudaki Yombankan, and with a warm smile and attentiveness, she makes food to delight the taste buds and hearts of the people who visit each day.