Masakazu Ishibashi

Masakazu Ishibashi is a Japanese sushi chef who began training at age 10 in his family's restaurant in Tochigi Prefecture, later graduating from San Diego State University and honing skills at sushi restaurants in the US before returning to Tokyo as executive chef of Ginza Sushi Ichi, where it earned a Michelin star in 2011-2012. In 2016, he moved to Singapore to head Shoukouwa, leading it to two Michelin stars within four months of opening. He has overseen Sushi Ichi expansions across Asia including Singapore, Bangkok, and Jakarta.