Toshiro Kandagawa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Toshiro Kandagawa
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Kandagawa in 2013
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| Born | November 15, 1939 |
| Died | April 25, 2021 (aged 81) |
| Occupation | Chef |
Toshiro Kandagawa (born November 15, 1939 – died April 25, 2021) was a famous Japanese chef. He was known for sticking closely to traditional Japanese cooking methods.
Contents
Becoming a Chef: Kandagawa's Early Career
Toshiro Kandagawa started his cooking journey when he was just 16 years old. He began as an apprentice chef at a restaurant called Nadaman in Osaka, Japan.
When he was 22, he moved to another restaurant named Fukuyanagi to continue learning. In 1965, Kandagawa opened his very own restaurant, also in Osaka, which he simply named Kandagawa.
Iron Chef Battles: Kandagawa's TV Fame
Many people in America know Toshiro Kandagawa from the popular TV show Iron Chef. He was a strong supporter of traditional Japanese cooking. When he appeared on the show, he often brought a big group of other chefs with him. He also helped his younger chefs challenge the Iron Chefs.
On the show, Kandagawa played a role similar to a "heel" in wrestling. This means he acted like a tough and sometimes bossy person for the Iron Chefs to compete against. He personally fought the Iron Chefs five times, winning three of those battles.
- His first win was against Iron Chef Chen Kenichi.
- His second win was against Iron Chef Koumei Nakamura. After this loss, Nakamura kept his promise to retire as an Iron Chef.
Kandagawa's Special Appearances on Iron Chef
Besides battling, Kandagawa was also a special guest on Iron Chef many times. He attended the farewell episodes for both Iron Chef Nakamura and Rokusaburo Michiba. These Iron Chefs had often battled against Kandagawa's students.
Kandagawa also gave advice to master chef Tadamichi Ohta. Ohta led a group of Japanese cuisine experts who often challenged Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto. Kandagawa's last appearance in the main series was during the "King of Iron Chefs" final. He watched the final battle between Hiroyuki Sakai and Chen Kenichi alongside the other Iron Chefs.
Kandagawa's Final Iron Chef Challenge
Kandagawa's last Iron Chef battle happened during a special show called 21st Century Battles. For this battle, he shaved his head to show his strong determination to bring Japanese cooking into the new century. He won this battle against Iron Chef Hiroyuki Sakai. It was one of the few times Sakai lost a battle where seafood was the main ingredient.
Kandagawa was also known for his quick temper on screen. But he also showed a playful side to the camera, especially during his "Lotus Root Battle" with Iron Chef Sakai.
One memorable moment was when a judge, French actress Julie Dreyfus, did not eat a dish Kandagawa made. This was because it contained whale meat.
Kandagawa's Passing
Toshiro Kandagawa passed away on April 25, 2021, at the age of 81. He died during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.
