History and Achievements of Hidekazu Tojo

Restaurant Career

1950 February 8    Born in Kagoshima in southern Japan

1968                           Moves to Osaka to become a chef

1968 – 1971            Ohnoya, famed Ryotei or classic Japanese fine dining

         Humble start as an apprentice and quickly moves up the ranks

1971                          Chef at Sanko Sushi in Osaka

1971 August            Arrives in Vancouver

1971 – 1974            Chef at Maneki in Vancouver

1974 – 1987            Chef at Jinya in Vancouver, Jinya closes in July 1987

1987 – 1988            Chef at Soft Rock Café in Vancouver

1988 October 6      Opens Tojo’s Restaurant at 777 West Broadway

2007 January 8      Moves to 1133 West Broadway

Achievements

Publications

1000 Places to See Before You Die – in the USA and Canada, P. Shultz, 2007

The Search for Sushi, C. Chu, 2006

1000 Places to See Before You Die – global, P. Shultz, 2003

…head for the coveted sushi counter, where the beaming and energetic Tojo performs his magic with the precision of a surgeon and the faintest Vegas swagger

World – The Luxury Lifestyle Magazine – New Zealand Edition, 2006

This Tojo is a true sushi master

Vancouver Fashion, March 2003

It’s no wonder every celebrity, food editor and politician who passes through town  stops by chef/proprietor Hidekazu Tojo’s terrific, award-winning spot

For Worth, Texas, October 2001

Sesame-coated local tuna bites melted in my mouth like butter and lightly smoked sable fish in a Japanese pumpkin broth was rich with flavour

Coastal Living, July – August 2000

‘He’s a master of Asian with local ingredients’, John Bishop of Bishop’s

Gourmet – the magazine of good living, October 1999

Supremely fresh fish

Food Arts, May 1999

Artful arrangements of intently procured ingredients are also hallmarks of Hidekazu Tojo

Wingspan, November 1996

‘I can take the same tuna and prepare it 100 different ways’, Tojo

The Washington Post, 1998

…Tojo’s, a Japanese restaurant where dining is grander and more enticing than a geisha’s dance

Katei Gaho, August 1989

東條氏は、実は日本でも良く知られているカリフォルニアロール、そしてBCロールの生みの親

Tojo is the inventor of California roll and BC roll well known even in Japan

Works and Awards

British Columbia Restaurants Hall of Fame, 2006

Vancouver Magazine’s best Japanese Award, each year from 1988

Fairmont Dubai Grand Opening, March 2006 – Guest chef in ‘Tojo on One’

Zagat Extraordinary Award, 2007

Western Canada Culinary Promotion in L.A. 2006 – guest chef

Martha Stewart cooking show, 2004 – taught Martha how to make sushi

Sea into the Future – chefs unite for sustainability, Seattle 2004 - guest chef

Japanese Agricultural Ministry Commission of Japanese Rice, New York 2002

Pacific Serenade – New York Chamber Symphony 2001 - guest chef

Northwest Best Places

Where to Eat in Canada