The Chefs

The chef on the far left of the above picture in the red and green is Masahiko Kobe, the Iron Chef Italian. Kobe is the youngest of the Iron Chefs. He owns a restaurant in Tokyo called Ristorante Massa. Kobe is generally only called upon for special battles if specifically requested by a challenger. He rises separately from the other Iron Chefs, to the accompaniment of a string orchestra. For more information about Iron Chef Kobe, visit IronChef.com.

The second chef in the above picture, and the one dressed in yellow is Iron Chef Chinese, Chen Kenichi. Chen is the son of Chen Kenmin, who is regarded by most Japanese as the "god of Szechwan cooking". Chen owns a restaurant in Akasaka, Japan, called Akasaka Szechwan. He is the only original Iron Chef still competing. For more information about Iron Chef Chen, visit IronChef.com.

Iron Chef Japanese, Masaharu Morimoto, is third in the above picture, wearing the silver outfit, and the third Iron Chef Japanese. He was preceded by Rokusaburo Michiba and Komei Nakamura. Morimoto is currently in the process of opening his own restaurant, called Morimoto, in Philadelphia. For more information about Iron Chef Morimoto, visit IronChef.com.

The fourth Iron Chef, dressed in red, is Iron Chef French Hiroyuki Sakai. Sakai is known as "the Delacroix of French cooking" in Japan. Sakai is the second Iron Chef French. His predecesor, Yutaka Ishinabe, retired in 1993. Sakai's restaurant, La Rochelle, is located in Tokyo. For more information about Iron Chef Sakai, visit IronChef.com.

Takeshi Kaga is the host of Iron Chef, also known as the Chairman of Kitchen Stadium. The chairman is known as much for his extravagant outfits as for his decadence when it comes to food. Kaga is a well-known actor in Japan. He was the first Japanese Jesus in Jesus Christ, Superstar, and the first Japanese Jean Valjean in Les Miserables. He is currently starring in another Japanese game show, Time Shock For more information about Takeshi Kaga, visit IronChef.com.

To read about the commentators, judges, and voice-over actors on Iron Chef, please visit IronFans.com.