A "Meat Master" uses various approaches to convey the deliciousness of meat.

Mr. Yamase was born in 1967 in Kumamoto. He grew up watching his parents running a ranch and started his own food wholesale company. After meeting the current owner through a mutual acquaintance, he was involved in establishing Waniku 89BAL, the predecessor of Niku Ebisu 89BAL, in 2015. Currently, he is also a chef and is active in many fields as a meat professional to spread the deliciousness of carefully selected meat from all over the country, including Kikuchi Beef, raised at his parent's ranch.

Mr. Kondo has pride as a sushi artisan and continues to refine his skills.

He was born in 1979 in Tokyo. When he first visited a counter-style sushi restaurant as a child, he was so impressed by the chef's performance that he decided to become a sushi chef. After graduating high school, he started his career at sushi and Japanese restaurants. He then worked in various positions, such as instructor at a culinary institute, sushi restaurant head chef, and hotel head chef, before opening Kappo Kondo in 2022. While managing the restaurant, he met someone working as a Toyosu Market sushi broker and sushi artisan, and they discussed their dreams with each other. In August 2023, they did a magnificent job of realizing their dream of opening a restaurant together, Kagurazaka Sushi Konkon.

The journey into cooking began with an interest in various industries.

Mr. Ono was born in 1999 in Hyogo. The inspiration to work in the food industry came from a desire, during his time at an agricultural high school, to experience the entire process from production to processing and sales, known as the sixth industrialization. After graduating from culinary school, he spent a year in vegetable production and processing in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata, which UNESCO recognized as a Creative City of Gastronomy. He then worked at a French restaurant in Tokyo before joining his current company. He left the company temporarily to help his mentor, a chef, with the opening of a restaurant in France and then returned to Japan. He is currently active at APA Hotel & Resort Tokyo Bay Shiomi.

Mr. Iwamoto is an experienced chef who has been involved in food from various aspects.

He was born in 1971 in Tokyo. He had worked as a chef at "SARA" in Aoyama, Tokyo. He then became involved in the launch of "Table Modern Service," where he assisted in the operation and menu development of various restaurants, starting with its production business. After that, he worked at "Tokyo American Club" and is currently a chef at "Kagurazaka Shabu-shabu Fuga." His diverse menu, ranging from simple dishes that best use quality ingredients to creative dishes, has delighted many people.

Mr. Honda pursues new possibilities for Japanese cuisine with his unique sensibilities and techniques.

He was born in 1982 in Chiba. He started his career as a chef, wanting to make people happy through food. Fascinated by Japanese cuisine's depth and seasonal ingredients' beauty, he continued his culinary training to acquire the skills to bring out the best of the ingredients.  In 2013, he opened honda Azabujuban.

Dedicated to sushi for more than 45 years. Performing the finest nigiri with Edomae techniques and spirit.

Mr. Shimada was born in 1954 in Kumamoto. The owner of Ryoheisushi. Attracted by the stylish behavior of sushi chefs, he entered the world of Edomae sushi. After many years of honing his skills at a well-known restaurant in Tokyo, he has mastered traditional techniques while refining his unique taste in rice and ingredients. Since the spring of 2023, he has worked expertly at his current store in Ginza-itchome. He purchases the best seafood of the season from the middle wholesalers with whom he has built a relationship through his visits to the Toyosu Market. And he serves delicious nigiri and seasonal dishes with careful Edomae style work.

In his eight years at Birdland, Mr. Chino has honed his skills and gained a profound level of knowledge about yakitori (grilled chicken).

Born in Nagano prefecture in 1972, Mr. Chino was enamored with French and Italian cuisine in his younger days, but he took a part-time job at Birdland when he was 24. Working under the supervision of master chef Toshihiro Wada, Mr. Chino became completely fascinated by the profound nature of yakitori. Four years later, he was appointed as a restaurant manager and since then, has devoted himself to his study of yakitori and has now been working at Birdland for eight years. In 2004, he set up Asagaya Birdland independently. It was given an award by the famous restaurant guide in 2015.

A chef who trained in Canada for ten years thoroughly pursues European cuisine.

Mr. Ichinomiya was born in 1971 in Akita. As a child, he admired chefs he saw on TV and aspired to pursue a career in cooking. To grasp the essence of European flavors, he dedicated himself to thoroughly understanding Western cuisine, even excluding traditional Japanese seasonings from his personal life. During his ten years living in Canada, he honed his skills at several restaurants, including a steak house, and also gained management experience in franchise operations. He believes that assembling a dish is like working in four dimensions, and he cooks with respect not only for the taste but also for the country's unique culture.

 

Mr. Iwasaki was born on January 1, 1984 in Ishikawa. After graduating from high school, he started his life as a chef at Yamashiro Onsen Ryokan in Kaga, Ishikawa. Then, he worked at the Japanese restaurant "Shibazakura" in Prince Hotel Park Tower Tokyo. During his time there, he won first place twice in the Japanese cuisine category of a cooking competition in which chefs from Prince Hotels nationwide competed for the best chefs. After working at several Japanese restaurants, he opened Kappo Ichika in July 2015. He is pursuing dishes that will surprise and impress his guests.

A chef embodying the authentic taste and culture learned in Canada.

Mr. Ichinomiya was born in 1971 in Akita. From a young age, he admired chefs and decided to pursue a career in cooking. He honed his skills for ten years in several restaurants, including a steakhouse in Canada, where he learned authentic taste and culture. Saying that " cooking is a four-dimensional process and learning about culture," he understands not only the taste of unique foreign cuisines but also their culture and cooks with all his heart and soul. He is a chef with a sincere attitude toward cooking and a strong spirit of inquiry, such as refusing Japanese seasonings in his personal life to understand the Western taste.

A French chef who cooks earnestly, preserving the old while continuing to evolve.

Mr. Maki was born in 1997 in Saga. He chose to become a chef because he loved creating and wanted consumers to see the process of creating dishes up close. While studying at a culinary school, he traveled to France to study French cuisine at local restaurants. After returning to Japan, he honed his skills at restaurants such as le sputnik in Roppongi and L'Ojier in Ginza. In September 2023, he took on the role of the only chef at Ginza Fugetsudo. While preserving the traditional flavors of French cuisine, he constantly seeks innovation.

Mr. Konuma is an experienced chef who has brought joy to many people.

He was born in 1964 in Tokyo. After working as a chef at Hotel New Otani for four years, he served at the renowned French restaurant KM for another four years. Then, he joined the Shin Takanawa Prince Hotel (now the Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa) and spent 20 years there as a chef. After that, he joined the current company to pursue new challenges. He now serves as the head chef at Teppanyaki THE Nanami in the APA Hotel & Resort Ryogoku Eki Tower. He has brought joy to many guests.

A chef who has honed his skills in the world's famous restaurants, pursuing the best flavors of the ingredients.

Mr. Crabbe is from Australia. Starting with the famous restaurant Tetsuya's in his hometown, Sydney, he worked around the world's first-class restaurants and honed his skills. After coming to Japan in 2001, he served as head chef of the New York Grill at the Park Hyatt Tokyo and executive chef at the Hyatt Regency Kyoto. Since becoming independent, he has led the Tokyo restaurant scene. His cuisine, prepared with his own free-flowing ideas and based on the philosophy of "not adding too much to the ingredients," continues to attract visitors to the restaurant.

A famed chef who mixes classic and new Italian cuisine.

Started building his career as a favorite apprentice of the famous chef Ettore Alzetta. After becoming the head chef at Angelo Paracucchi, where he formerly learned his trade, he gained experience working at several three-star Michelin restaurants. He also refined his craft at Antica Osteria del Ponte Milano Main Branch and is currently the executive chef of Antica Osteria del Ponte Tokyo Branch.

Mr. Miyashiro is a Japanese chef who uses his expert skills to entice guests with crispy fried tempura.

Mr. Miyashiro was born in 1967 in Kanagawa Prefecture and went to a culinary school (Yokohama chouri) with his friend. After graduation, he trained at Hotel Metropolitan in Ikebukuro and gained experience at Royal Park Hotel in Yokohama. Then at Sakura restaurant in Hotel Nikko Tokyo in Odaiba, he started up the tempura counter and served as head chef. After that, he worked as head chef at Hilton Tokyo in Odaiba, then joined MUGEN, Inc. in 2018. He has been working at "Tempura Miyashiro" since May 2018, primarily responsible for tempura. 

Founded an "extraordinary steakhouse" that delights gourmets.

Wolfgang Steakhouse was founded in Manhattan in 2004 by Mr. Wolfgang Zwiener, who has been in prestigious steakhouses in New York for more than 40 years. It quickly became a thriving restaurant for its delicious steaks, which are made with the utmost care. Today, the restaurant is highly popular in New York City, Waikiki, Miami, and Beverly Hills as the "extraordinary steakhouse" to please even the most discerning of palates. The first store in Japan, the Roppongi branch, is the first store outside of the United States.

Mr. Yamamoto combines trendy style with the image of the Yakiniku restaurant run by his grandmother.

He was born in 1987 in Tokyo. His grandmother ran a Yakiniku restaurant, and his father ran an Okonomiyaki restaurant. As a result, cooking has been familiar to him since he was young. He aspired to be a chef, and trained at his father's restaurant after graduating from school. He then worked at a Yakiniku restaurant in Ginza to hone his skills. Although he served as executive chef, his desire to open his own restaurant grew more substantial, and he invited his colleague, Mr. Takagi, to join him in becoming independent. In December 2024, Yakiniku Fuji opened. "I want people to enjoy really delicious Yakiniku," he says.

Grew up watching his father's back, Mr. Kobayashi also decided to pursue a career in food. 

He was born in 1979 in Niigata. He became familiar with cooking from an early age because of his father's influence. After moving to Tokyo with his father, who worked there, he began pursuing his culinary career earnestly. In Tokyo, he trained at several Kaiseki restaurants for several years and honed his skills. While respecting traditional techniques, he always incorporates new ideas to provide dishes that surprise and impress his guests. As head chef at Hassan since 2021, he creates dishes that bring out the best in the ingredients.

An up-and-coming chef from India who has worked in some of the world's most famous restaurants.

Mr. Tejas Sovani studied at "noma" in Copenhagen and has worked as a sous executive chef at luxury hotels "The Oberoi" and "AMAN" in India. With the flexible sensibility and solid skills accumulated at restaurants around the world, he freely uses spices to create delicate and original dishes. He pursues elegant, gastronomic modern Indian cuisine out of an extraordinary passion for cooking, where he says, "Established concepts create nothing."

Mr. Sugiyama promotes the appeal of Niigata Prefecture's food, colored by ingredients nurtured in a rich natural environment.

He was born in Niigata Prefecture. After graduating from culinary school, he worked at Niigata-no-Aji Seikoan restaurant in the Omotesando Niigata-kan N'espace, an antenna store that opened in Omotesando in 1997. He made efforts to promote Niigata Prefecture's charms, focusing on "food," including selling local products. Ginza Seikoan was relocated and reopened on July 7, 2024, as directly managed by Niigata Grand Hotel. He is demonstrating his skills there as the head chef manager.