Meet Hiroshi Yamamoto | Japanese Omakase Chef

We had the good fortune of connecting with Hiroshi Yamamoto and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Hiroshi, what’s the most important thing you’ve done for your children?
Living in Dallas with my family, I think the biggest thing I’ve done as a parent was moving from Japan to the U.S. last April. It was a huge change for my three kids who didn’t speak any English when we arrived. They had to start school and make new friends in a language they didn’t know. At first, it was really hard for them, but they started picking up English, just simple talks at first, and now they’re doing great. As a parent, I think it’s really important to show your kids that no matter where you are, you can make it your home. You have to face challenges and move forward, and that’s what I’ve tried to teach them by supporting and believing in them.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
In the United States, I first started out as a server at a Japanese sushi restaurant and then worked as a sushi chef, and I realized once again that Americans are very interested in Japanese culture and food. Of course, it was something I was very proud of as a Japanese person. When I returned to Japan, I worked as a kitchen head at a traditional restaurant run by Japanese artisans, as well as an izakaya in the middle of the city.

Meanwhile, I wanted to get fresh ingredients myself, so I obtained a fisherman’s license that allowed me to participate in early morning fish market auctions and briefly worked as a fisherman. At the same time, I fell in love with the mystery and wonder of Japanese eel and worked at an eel specialty restaurant.

Then, when I got married, I started a business with the intention of doing everything I wanted in Japan and returning to the United States. It was a company that helped market and sell Japanese food or special products that were not well known overseas. I really started from zero, and the company gradually grew, and my company and my documentary were even featured on Japanese public broadcasting, so it seemed like I was on a roll, but in the end, I had to face the bitter taste of society. So, I summarized everything I achieved over the past 10 years.

My grandfather was a green tea farmer for five generations. Even now, my uncle continues the work, but maintaining the green tea fields is not easy due to labor shortage and decreasing demand in Japan. The green tea field was my playground when I was kid, and I wanted to maintain it, so I went to a green tea company to study green tea in more detail and came to the U.S. as a tea master with a plan to promote Japanese green tea when I came back to the United States, but in the end, it fell through. However, I haven’t given up yet.

So now I am currently working as a chef at an omakase sushi restaurant in uptown Dallas, a business consultant for Japanese people about the United States, a YouTuber who makes fun of the differences between the United States and Japan, a coach who teaches judo to children, and starting in July, I work with my wife. I’m preparing to run a donut shop.

My greatest pride is my mental ability to overcome difficulties and adversities. As a business owner and parent, I always do my best to live in the present moment. We approach the theme of today being a little better than yesterday, trying harder than anyone else, failing, standing up, and trying again. That’s my brand and my story.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Reflecting on my adventurous bike ride from Chicago to Dallas at 19 years old without a cell phone—a journey marked by solo camping and a terrifying tornado encounter—I now prefer safer but equally fulfilling adventures. When my best friend visits, our plans include biking along Dallas’s picturesque trails, early morning fishing after picking up breakfast at my donut shop, and enjoying barbecues under the open sky. Evenings are spent indulging in authentic Japanese sushi at the restaurant where I work, ensuring every moment of the visit is a perfect mix of adventure and cultural exploration.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I dedicate this shoutout to my wife, the love of my life, the cornerstone of inspiration in my life. Her steadfast support, guidance, and love have been my stronghold amid life’s challenges.
I was born in Japan and my wife hailed from Korea, we met in the melting pot of America and ventured back to Japan together. Despite my wife not speaking Japanese initially, her resilience shone through as she embraced life there for over a decade.
From starting a business in Japan that made significant social contributions to overcoming severe setbacks, my wife has stood by me unwaveringly. Her strength and acceptance have enabled us to seize a new beginning in the U.S., equipped with renewed determination and resilience.

Website: https://www.yushutsuya.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1984_hiro/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hiroshi-yamamoto-5b1497239/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hiroshi.yamamoto.90663

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1aru47JxVdobg7-zFExEmg

Other: Coming Soon. https://stacydonuts.com/

Image Credits
The photos were all taken by myself or by friends for me, so there are no separate image credits.