Chen Kenmin facts for kids

Chen Kenmin (simplified Chinese: 陈建民; traditional Chinese: 陳建民; pinyin: Chén Jiànmín; Japanese: 陳 建民, Chin Kenmin; June 27, 1912 – May 12, 1990) was a very famous chef. He was born in China but later moved to Japan. He is known for teaching many people about delicious Chinese food, especially from the Sichuan region. People often call him the "father of Chinese Sichuan cooking" in Japan. His son, Chen Kenichi, also became a super famous chef on a TV show called Iron Chef.

A Master Chef's Journey

Chen Kenmin was born on June 27, 1912, in a city called Yibin in Sichuan Province, China. He learned to cook many traditional Chinese dishes. In 1952, he decided to move to Japan. Two years later, in 1954, he became a Japanese citizen.

When he first started cooking, Chen Kenmin was an expert in Chinese imperial cuisine. This is a very special kind of food, often made for emperors and important people.

Bringing Sichuan Food to Japan

In 1958, Chen Kenmin opened his own restaurant in Japan. It was called Shisen Hanten (四川飯店). He noticed that Japanese people had different tastes. So, he changed his dishes to make them more popular with his new customers.

Chen Kenmin was the first to introduce Shanghai-style Sichuan cuisine to Japan. He did this through his Shisen Hanten restaurant. He also shared his cooking on national TV shows. One very popular show was NHK's Kyō no ryōri, which means "Today's Cuisine" in English. Because of his efforts, he became known as the "father of Chinese Sichuan cooking" in Japan.

Chen Kenmin's Famous Dishes

Chen Kenmin made many Chinese dishes popular in Japan. These dishes became known as Japanese Chinese dishes. Here are two of his most famous ones:

• "Prawns in Chili Sauce": This dish was originally called simplified Chinese: 干烧虾仁; traditional Chinese: 乾燒蝦仁; pinyin: gān shāo xiā rén. Chen Kenmin renamed it Ebi Chili Sauce (エビチリソース, ebi chiri sōsu) for the Japanese. It's a yummy dish with shrimp in a spicy sauce.
• Mapo doufu: This is a classic Sichuan dish. It's made with soft tofu and a spicy meat sauce. The Chinese name is Chinese: 麻婆豆腐; pinyin: má pó dòu fu.

His Legacy: The Iron Chef

Chen Kenmin's influence continued through his son, Chen Kenichi. Chen Kenichi became a famous "Iron Chef" on the TV show Iron Chef. This show featured chefs competing against each other.

In 1998, a chef named Masuyoshi Kimura appeared on Iron Chef. He had been personally trained by Chen Kenmin himself! Instead of competing against Chen Kenichi, Masuyoshi chose another Iron Chef, Masaharu Morimoto, as his opponent. Chen Kenichi was there to watch the exciting cooking battle.

Chen Kenmin's work helped many people in Japan discover and love Chinese food. His restaurant and his recipes are still enjoyed today.