What is Japanese food? Sushi? Ramen? Kaiseki? What about Izakaya? What exactly are they? A Japanese native, New York-based food writer Akiko Katayama will tell you all about the real Japanese food and food culture. Her guests will range from a sake producer whose family has centuries of sake-making history, to a great American chef who pushes the envelope of Japanese cuisine. Japanese cuisine is demystified here!

Akiko Katayama was born and raised in Tokyo. Attracted by its explosive energy, she came to New York in 1996. After a solid corporate career in finance and consulting, she got her dream job – a food writer. She has interviewed 600+ food and beverage professionals over the last 12 years. She is also a director of The New York Japanese Culinary Academy, which promotes a deeper understanding of Japanese cuisine in the US. She has served as judge on Food Network’s Iron Chef America multiple times. She holds an MBA from New York University Stern School of Business, an MSc from London School of Economics & Political Science and a Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) Advanced Certificate with Distinction.