Masaharu Morimoto

Synopsis

Masaharu Morimoto is a Japanese Chef, well-known as Iron Chef on the Japanese television cooking show Iron Chef and its subsidiary Iron Chef America. He also appeared as a guest judge on Hell's Kitchen and Top Chef.

Morimoto published his first cookbook named Morimoto: The New Art of Japanese Cooking in 2007 which was honored with two awards by the International Association of Culinary Professionals.  

Early life and Education

Masaharu Morimoto was born as Morimoto Masaharu on May 26, 1995, in Hiroshima, Japan. He belongs to Japanese ethnicity.

Morimoto attended Tamagawa University.

Career

After receiving practical training in sushi and Kaiseki cuisine, Morimoto opened a restaurant in Hiroshima in early 1980. Later, he was inspired by western cooking technique and traded his restaurant to travel America; hence, this has let him experience different fusion style of cuisine and was more influenced, establishing himself in New York City.

 Here, Morimoto worked in various prestigious Manhattan's restaurants including, as an executive staff and visiting VIPs in Sony Corporation, as executive chef in Sony Club and as head chef at Japanese restaurant Nobu.

During the time in Nobu, Morimoto started a television show Iron Chef but eventually after running the show for several months the program ended in 1999 and left Nobu.

Later in 2001, he opened his restaurant in Philadelphia named Morimoto. He also opened Morimoto restaurant in Chelsea, New York City. He collaborated with Tadao Ando and Goto Design Group and extended his restaurant around the world including in New Delhi and Mumbai, India in which it is named Wasabi as well as Morimoto restaurant at Boca Taton, Florida.

Morimoto partnered with businessmen Paul Ardaji, Sr., and Paul Ardaji, Jr. over Ardaji restaurant Ventures, LLC. The partnership broke apart when Ardaji was reported for bankruptcy as well as their investment entity Ardaji Restaurant Ventures, LLC.

Morimoto XEX is also owned by Morimoto in Tokyo, which received a Michelin star in 2008. He also appeared in other several television shows, including Recep Oke Rudy which was aired by RCTI in Indonesia.

 In 2010, Morimoto appeared teaching the contestant how to make sushi in the episode of Hell's Kitchen. Morimoto also appeared as Guest Judge in Top Chef Season 8. In the television series of CBS's Hawaii Five-0, he appeared as a guest star and also made his first appearance on the season 1 of Ma Ke Kahakai.

Personal life

Masaharu Morimoto married Keiko Morimoto in 1978. The couple is blessed with three children.

Morimoto is the winner of Culinary Hall of Fame induction once sang at the Thousand Hearts Benefit for the relief of Japan earthquake victim on April 2011. He was also honored with the James Beared Award for the special.

He opened two more Morimoto Restaurant in Napa Valley and Waikiki, Hawaii both in 2010. Later, Morimoto again opened Asian Fusion restaurant Bistro in New York in October 2013. Recently in April 2016, he opened Momosan Ramen & Sake in New York City's Lexington Ave.

Morimoto currently lives in New York with his family. 

Net worth

His successful career had earned him a net worth $15 million with a gets a lucrative amount of salary from various source.