Shota Nakajima

Nakajima was born in Japan, and raised in Seattle, Washington.{{Cite web|title=Here Are All the Chefs Competing on 'Top Chef' Season 18 in Portland|url=https://www.foodandwine.com/news/top-chef/top-chef-season-18-portland-chefs-cast|access-date=2021-06-29|website=Food & Wine|language=en|archive-date=2021-06-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629020031/https://www.foodandwine.com/news/top-chef/top-chef-season-18-portland-chefs-cast|url-status=live}} At 18, he moved to Osaka to attend the {{ill|Tsuji Culinary Arts School|ja|辻調グループ校}}.{{Cite web|title=Shota Nakajima|url=https://www.chicagogourmet.org/page/ShotaNakajima#:~:text=Shota%20began%20cooking%20in%20Seattle,one%20of%20Japan's%20most%20prestigious.|url-status=live|website=Chicago Gourmet|access-date=2021-06-29|archive-date=2021-06-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629020031/https://www.chicagogourmet.org/page/ShotaNakajima#:~:text=Shota%20began%20cooking%20in%20Seattle,one%20of%20Japan's%20most%20prestigious.}} There, he apprenticed with chef Yasuhiko Sakamoto.{{Cite web|last=Róisín|first=Fariha|date=2018-07-19|title=Why Shota Nakajima Turned From Fine-Dining to 'Homestyle' Japanese Cooking|url=https://www.eater.com/2018/7/19/17574926/shota-nakajima-eater-young-guns-adana|access-date=2021-06-29|website=Eater|language=en|archive-date=2021-05-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518043127/https://www.eater.com/2018/7/19/17574926/shota-nakajima-eater-young-guns-adana|url-status=live}} He later returned to Seattle and worked for chef Taichi Kitamura at Sushi Kappo Tamura from 2011–2012.

Nakajima appeared on Food Network's Iron Chef Gauntlet in 2017, where he was the fourth chef eliminated.{{Cite web|last=Russo|first=Maria|title=The Journey to the Gauntlet: Chatting with Challenger Shota Nakajima from Iron Chef Gauntlet|url=https://www.foodnetwork.com/fn-dish/shows/2017/03/shota-nakajima-iron-chef-gauntlet-interview|url-status=live|access-date=2021-06-29|website=Food Network|language=en|archive-date=2021-05-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518040033/https://www.foodnetwork.com/fn-dish/shows/2017/03/shota-nakajima-iron-chef-gauntlet-interview}}{{Cite web|last=Russo|first=Maria|title=One-on-One with the latest Iron Chef Gauntlet Challenger to Go Home|url=https://www.foodnetwork.com/fn-dish/shows/2017/05/iron-chef-gauntlet-episode-4-exit-interview-shota-nakajima|url-status=live|access-date=2022-03-26|website=Food Network|language=en|archive-date=2022-05-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524223235/https://www.foodnetwork.com/fn-dish/shows/2017/05/iron-chef-gauntlet-episode-4-exit-interview-shota-nakajima}} In 2018, he appeared on Season 16, Episode 4 of Beat Bobby Flay. Nakajima won with his signature dish, tempura.{{Cite web|url=https://m.imdb.com/title/tt10460338/|title="Beat Bobby Flay" Sprung a Leek (TV Episode 2018) - IMDb|website=IMDb|access-date=2021-09-04|archive-date=2021-09-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904040905/https://m.imdb.com/title/tt10460338/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url = https://www.mashed.com/594214/top-chef-finalist-shota-nakajima-dishes-on-the-competition-exclusive-interview/|title = Top Chef Finalist Shota Nakajima Dishes on the Competition - Exclusive Interview|date = 3 September 2021|access-date = 4 September 2021|archive-date = 4 September 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210904041728/https://www.mashed.com/594214/top-chef-finalist-shota-nakajima-dishes-on-the-competition-exclusive-interview/|url-status = live}} In 2020, Nakajima competed on Top Chef: Portland, where he was one of three finalists.{{citation |last=Clement |first=Bethany Jean |title=Is Seattle's own Shota Nakajima the new 'Top Chef'? We talked to him about Thursday's finale |newspaper=The Seattle Times |date=July 1, 2021 |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/is-seattles-own-shota-nakajima-the-new-top-chef/ |access-date=July 2, 2021 |archive-date=July 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210702145418/https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/is-seattles-own-shota-nakajima-the-new-top-chef/ |url-status=live }} He was also voted Fan Favorite of the show.{{cite web|url=https://www.distractify.com/p/who-won-top-chef-season-18|date=July 1, 2021|access-date=July 2, 2021|last=Gualtieri|first=Jacqueline|website=Distractify|title=Who Won 'Top Chef' Season 18?|archive-date=July 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709182705/https://www.distractify.com/p/who-won-top-chef-season-18|url-status=live}} In Season 4 of Tournament of Champions, Nakajima reached the quarterfinals before losing to eventual winner Mei Lin.{{cite news |last1=Struble |first1=Cristine |title=Tournament of Champions Season 4 episode 7 recap: Final four battles set |url=https://foodsided.com/2023/04/03/tournament-champions-season-4-episode-7-recap-final-four-battles-set/ |access-date=19 April 2023 |work=foodsided.com |archive-date=20 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420150726/https://foodsided.com/2023/04/03/tournament-champions-season-4-episode-7-recap-final-four-battles-set/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Selasky |first=Susan |title=Dearborn native Mei Lin wins Food Network's 'Tournament of Champions' competition |url=https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/dining/michigan/wayne/2023/04/10/mei-lin-tournament-of-champions-food-network-dearborn/70099578007/ |date=2023-04-10 |website=Detroit Free Press |language=en-US |access-date=2023-04-20 |archive-date=2023-04-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416063813/https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/dining/michigan/wayne/2023/04/10/mei-lin-tournament-of-champions-food-network-dearborn/70099578007/ |url-status=live }}

In 2014, Nakajima opened a catering business, Kappo Kitchen and later Naka, a kaiseki restaurant, in June 2015. In February 2017, Naka Kaiseki rebranded as Adana. In March 2020, Nakajima opened his restaurant Taku, an Osakan kushikatsu concept, in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle.{{Cite web|last=Guarente|first=Gabe|date=2020-03-10|title=Star Chef Shota Nakajima's New Restaurant Taku Brings a Taste of Osaka to Capitol Hill|url=https://seattle.eater.com/2020/3/10/21173351/shota-nakajima-taku-opens-capitol-hill-kushikatsu-restaurant|access-date=2021-06-29|website=Eater Seattle|language=en|archive-date=2021-06-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629020030/https://seattle.eater.com/2020/3/10/21173351/shota-nakajima-taku-opens-capitol-hill-kushikatsu-restaurant|url-status=live}} Adana and Taku closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, but Taku reopened in May 2021 as a karaage restaurant.{{Cite web|title=Shota Nakajima Will Reopen Taku as a House of Fried Chicken|url=https://www.seattlemet.com/eat-and-drink/2021/04/taku-capitol-hill-opens-as-a-house-of-fried-chicken-shota-nakajima-top-chef|access-date=2021-06-29|website=Seattle Met|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-06-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629020030/https://www.seattlemet.com/eat-and-drink/2021/04/taku-capitol-hill-opens-as-a-house-of-fried-chicken-shota-nakajima-top-chef|url-status=live}}

In late 2021, Nakajima began bottling his own teriyaki sauce, known as Make Umami, and selling it at Taku, Uwajimaya grocery stores, and on Amazon.{{cite web|first=Denise|last=Sakaki|url=https://www.425magazine.com/eat-drink/chef-shota-nakajima-helps-you-make-umami/article_a3d76d12-5a12-11ec-bf04-d3603129efa9.html#:~:text=Top%20Chef%20season%2018%20finalist,restaurant%20Taku%2C%20and%20on%20Amazon.|title=Chef Shota Nakajima Helps You 'Make Umami'|date=15 December 2021|website=425magazine.com|access-date=26 March 2022|archive-date=25 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225164454/https://www.425magazine.com/eat-drink/chef-shota-nakajima-helps-you-make-umami/article_a3d76d12-5a12-11ec-bf04-d3603129efa9.html#:~:text=Top%20Chef%20season%2018%20finalist,restaurant%20Taku%2C%20and%20on%20Amazon.|url-status=live}} In February 2022, Nakajima announced he was opening a teriyaki restaurant, Banzai Teriyaki, in Cle Elum, Washington.{{Cite web|last=Stewart|first=Jade Yamazaki|date=2022-02-08|title=Shota Nakajima of 'Top Chef' Is Opening His First Teriyaki Restaurant|url=https://seattle.eater.com/2022/2/8/22924163/shota-nakajima-is-opening-a-teriyaki-restaurant-in-che-elum-taku-banzai-teriyaki|access-date=2022-03-26|website=Eater Seattle|language=en|archive-date=2022-03-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220305093409/https://seattle.eater.com/2022/2/8/22924163/shota-nakajima-is-opening-a-teriyaki-restaurant-in-che-elum-taku-banzai-teriyaki|url-status=live}} On June 23, 2022 Nakajima said he was no longer part of the Cle Elum project.{{Cite web |last=Stewart |first=Jade Yamazaki |date=2022-06-27 |title=Shota Nakajima Is Pulling Out of His Restaurant Project in Cle Elum |url=https://seattle.eater.com/2022/6/27/23185679/shota-nakajima-banzai-teriyaki-cle-elum |access-date=2023-10-18 |website=Eater Seattle |language=en}}

• James Beard Foundation, Semifinalist, Rising Star Chef of the Year (2018){{Cite web|url=https://www.jamesbeard.org/chef/shota-nakajima|title=Profile: Chef Shota Nakajima|website=Jamesbeard.org|access-date=2022-03-26|archive-date=2021-12-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207040246/https://www.jamesbeard.org/chef/shota-nakajima|url-status=live}}
• Eater, Young Guns Winner (2018)
• James Beard Foundation, Semifinalist, Rising Star Chef of the Year (2019)
• James Beard Foundation, Semifinalist, Rising Star Chef of the Year (2020)

{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nakajima, Shota}}

Category:Living people

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:American male chefs

Category:American people of Japanese descent

Category:Chefs from Seattle

Category:American restaurateurs

Category:Japanese emigrants to the United States

Category:People from Tokyo