At Washoku Agent, we are a recruitment consulting firm that provides comprehensive support for the hiring process of Japanese chefs (or Japanese Sushi Chef).
In general, the entire process from candidate search to hiring decision takes approximately 2 months.
Important Note
The timeline above does not include the process of obtaining a work visa or work permit in your country. After making a hiring decision, you will need to account for the time required for the chef to obtain a work visa or work permit before they can officially start working.The ideal hiring timeline depends on the role you expect the Japanese chef (or Japanese Sushi Chef) to fulfill:
– If the chef will be involved in kitchen layout, equipment selection, and tableware procurement:
→ Hire them immediately after signing the tenancy agreement, so they can start working right away.
– If the chef – If the chef will be responsible for menu development and hiring local staff:
→ Hire them around the start of the renovation of the restaurant promise.
– If the chef – If the menu is already mostly decided and the chef is only needed for cooking:
→ Hire them about 3 weeks to 1 month before the opening date.
However, keep in mind that you must determine the hiring decision timeline by working backward from the expected start date, considering the time required for the chef to obtain a work visa or work permit.
Japanese chefs specialize in a wide range of culinary categories, including:
Sushi (traditional Edomae sushi, omakase-style, modern fusion, conveyor belt (kaiten) sushi)
Kaiseki (multi-course fine dining with seasonal ingredients)
Washoku (traditional Japanese cuisine)
Izakaya-style dishes (small plates, grilled skewers, sake pairings)
Yakitori (charcoal-grilled chicken skewers)
Ramen (various regional styles such as tonkotsu, shoyu, miso, shio)
Teppanyaki (iron griddle cooking, often featuring premium wagyu beef)
Tempura (lightly battered and deep-fried seafood and vegetables)
Each category requires specialized techniques, training, and experience, so it’s important to define the exact skills needed when hiring a Japanese chef.
Not all Japanese chefs can prepare sushi. Most chefs specialize in a specific category of Japanese cuisine.
Even among sushi chefs, there is a wide range of expertise, from high-end omakase-style sushi to casual conveyor belt (kaiten) sushi.
When hiring, it’s important to thoroughly understand the chef’s specific specialization and experience to ensure the right fit for your restaurant.
The required experience varies depending on the chef’s specialty:
High-end sushi & kaiseki cuisine: At least 10 years of continuous experience in the same field is generally considered appropriate.
Casual sushi restaurants, izakaya, yakitori, etc.: 5 to 8 years of experience in the same industry is typically desirable.
However, experience levels can vary greatly between individuals, so years of experience should only be used as a general guideline.
If you’re unsure about evaluating a chef’s expertise, seeking advice from a professional consultant is recommended.
In Japan, “omakase” traditionally means that the chef selects and serves dishes one by one based on the best ingredients available that day.
It is not limited to sushi and can include various types of Japanese cuisine.
However, in modern dining outside Japan, “omakase” is commonly defined as a pre-set chef’s course, typically featuring 12 to 15 sushi items.
This interpretation has become widely recognized internationally.
Not all Japanese chefs can develop an omakase course menu.
Chefs with management experience in high-end sushi restaurants, kaiseki, or fine dining kappo are often capable of menu development.
However, an omakase menu must align with the vision of the restaurant’s management, making strong communication between the chef and owners essential.
English communication skills (or a structured system for translation) may be necessary to ensure smooth collaboration.
Chefs with limited work experience or those specialized in non-fine dining categories may require evaluation to determine whether they can create an omakase menu.
In Japan, only about 17% of the population holds a passport, and only 8% identify as English speakers.
The percentage of chefs who are proficient in English is likely even lower, making finding a Japanese chef with strong English skills quite rare.
To ensure smooth communication between the chef and management, it is highly recommended to hire a local staff member who speaks Japanese.
This can help bridge the gap and facilitate daily operations.
There Are Several Approaches, but Two Main Methods:
At Washoku Agent, we have Japanese consultants fluent in English, enabling us to bridge both language and cultural gaps and provide high-quality service for your hiring needs.
For Single Chef:
Head Chef: US$5,000 – 8,000/month (net) Sous Chef: US$4,000 – 6,000/month (net) Junior Chef: US$3,000 – 4,000/month (net)For Chef accomodate with Family:
Head Chef: US$6,000 – 10,000/month (net) Sous Chef: US$5,000 – 8,000/month (net) Junior Chef: US$3,000 – 5,000/month (net)These are approximate figures and can vary based on individual circumstances. Please consider these as guidelines only.
The typical benefits package for Japanese chefs includes the following:
Housing provided (company covers the cost)
Meals provided
Medical insurance or medical allowances (if unable to join the government insurance plan)
One-way airfare provided for travel to the country when the chef commencement to work
Visa-related expenses covered by the company
Annual round-trip airfare to Japan for their holiday
Of course, the final benefits package can be negotiated based on the position, the chef’s experience, and other factors.
It’s crucial to not assume your competition for hiring Japanese chefs (or Japanese Sushi Chef) is limited to just your country.
Senior-level Japanese chefs are likely to choose the offer with the best overall package, regardless of location. Therefore, it’s essential to evaluate whether your offer package is competitive globally.
At Washoku Agent, we have clients in 26 countries and successful experience supporting recruitment in 14 countries.
Based on this expertise, we can help you design a competitive offer that aligns with the global market.
Unfortunately, as a recruitment consulting firm, we do not directly support the acquisition of work visas or work permits.
However, we do assist in communication with Japanese chefs to help them obtain the necessary documents for their visa application.
Additionally, based on our successful recruitment experience in 14 countries, we can share our knowledge about visa processes and provide guidance on how to navigate the visa application process.
While obtaining a work visa and work permit depends on various factors like the country of application, candidate’s experience, and salary offer.
However, there are certain characteristics that generally help make visa approval easier for chefs in any country:
Chefs with these qualifications are generally seen as more qualified for visa applications and have a higher likelihood of success.
