Who is he?
Jiro Ono is a Japanese chef and owner of Sukiyabashi Jiro, a 3-Michelin-starred Japanese sushi restaurant in Tokyo, Japan.
Ono has been regarded by his contemporaries and peers as the greatest sushi craftsman alive and is credited with innovating methods used in modern sushi preparation.
"I was born in Hawaii and ate a lot of sushi, but this was the best sushi I’ve ever had in my life."
Early years
Ono was born in the city of Tenryū (present-day Hamamatsu) in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. He started working at a local restaurant from the age of seven, before moving to Tokyo to study as an apprentice.
He became a qualified sushi chef in 1951, and in 1965 opened his own restaurant, Sukiyabashi Jiro, in Ginza, Tokyo.
"You must dedicate your life to mastering your skill. That's the secret of success... and is the key to being regarded honorably."
Personal life
Ono has two sons, Yoshikazu Ono and Takashi Ono, both of whom are also sushi chefs. His younger son Takashi manages his own Michelin-starred restaurant.
Jiro Ono was the subject of David Gelb's 2011 documentary film Jiro Dreams of Sushi. Ono has served Shinzo Abe and Barack Obama at Sukiyabashi Jiro.
What makes a great sushi chef?