Seiji Yamamoto

Seiji Yamamoto, born in 1970 in Kagawa, Japan, trained for eleven years under Master Hirohisa Koyama at Aoyagi before opening Nihonryori RyuGin in Tokyo's Roppongi district in 2003, where he pioneered progressive kaiseki cuisine by integrating avant-garde techniques with seasonal Japanese ingredients. The restaurant has held three Michelin stars and consistently ranked in the top 10 of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants. He expanded with Shoun RyuGin in Taipei (2014-2022, two Michelin stars) and Tenku RyuGin in Hong Kong (2012-2020, two Michelin stars), and received the American Express Icon Award in 2019.