Yuji Wakiya

Wakiya - Tokyo, Japan

Born in Hokkaido in 1958, Yuji Wakiya started his career as a cook at the age of 15. After gaining experience at Akasaka Sanno Hanten and other restaurants, he was appointed as head chef at Tachikawa Recent Park Hotel at the age of 27. In 1996, Wakiya assumed the post of representative director and executive chef of Turandot Yusenkyo. Then he opened Wakiya Ichiemi Sarō in 2001 and Ginza Wakiya in December of 2023. Today, Wakiya is the chef/owner of five restaurants in Tokyo. While leading the Chinese cuisine scene in Japan with his unique and sophisticated style based on the techniques of Shanghai cuisine, he has been the biggest spokesperson widely spreading the joy of Chinese cuisine through the media. He is the chairman of the Japan Chinese Cuisine Association. In 2024, Yuji Wakiya released his book The Philosopher in the Kitchen (Gentosha).