made in Japan, refind in Germany

Profile

Shinichi Tanaka

I am a Japanese chef and culinary consultant with over three decades of professional experience, including ten years in Kyoto and nearly two decades working across Europe. Throughout my career, I have remained hands-on in the kitchen, leading teams and developing concepts in real operational environments rather than from a distance.

My background spans a wide spectrum of Japanese cuisine — from classical restaurants rooted in tradition to creative fusion concepts, izakaya-style dining, and Japanese fine dining that integrates European ingredients and perspectives. I have worked across formats ranging from high-end establishments to casual gastronomy, adapting my approach to each context while maintaining clarity, authenticity, and purpose.

Beyond cuisine itself, my expertise includes kitchen operations, menu development, cost control, hygiene management, and team leadership. Years of daily service under real conditions have shaped a practical understanding of how kitchens function sustainably and efficiently.

Today, I support non-Japanese restaurant owners in Germany who seek to build or refine Japanese cuisine concepts. My consulting is grounded in experience, cultural understanding, and the belief that authentic Japanese cuisine is not about imitation, but about understanding fundamentals and applying them correctly within context.

Services

  • Japanese Restaurant Startup Consulting

    I support new Japanese cuisine ventures from initial concept development to operational setup.
    This includes menu structure, kitchen planning, ingredient strategy, and team preparation.
    My focus is on building a concept that is culturally grounded, financially realistic, and sustainable in the long term.
    Each project is adapted to the local market while respecting the fundamentals of Japanese cuisine.

  • Menu & Concept Refinement

    For established restaurants, I provide structured evaluation and strategic refinement.
    This may involve rethinking menu composition, improving clarity of concept, and strengthening consistency in execution.
    The goal is not change for its own sake, but alignment — between cuisine, identity, and operational reality.
    Clear structure and disciplined fundamentals often create the greatest improvement.

  • Hands-On Culinary Development

    I offer practical, experience-based culinary development tailored to professional kitchens.
    This includes recipe creation, adaptation to European ingredients, and on-site implementation with your team.
    Rather than delivering static recipes, I work within real service conditions to ensure feasibility and consistency.
    The result is cuisine that is creative, executable, and aligned with your restaurant’s positioning.

New Ventures

I also develop original business ideas aimed at expanding the presence of Japanese cuisine beyond Japan. From time to time, I welcome conversations with investors and entrepreneurs who share an interest in thoughtful and sustainable food projects.

Beyond consulting, I am interested in contributing to projects from early concept development through to execution, helping shape ventures that are sustainable, strategically sound, and built for long-term impact.

All consulting activities are conducted independently and outside of regular working hours.

Kontakt

If you are interested in working together, please complete the form with a few details about your project or quotation request.
I will review your message and respond within two business days.

For initial discussions, I offer a complimentary 30-minute online consultation.

Inquiries regarding private chef services and pop-up events are also welcome.
Please feel free to get in touch to discuss your project.

E-mail : meerundseele@gmail.com

Berlin Wedding

Food photo : Hiroshi Toyoda
Portrait : Mio Shimazaki