Shota Nakajima

Shota Nakajima is a Japanese-American chef and television personality. Born in Japan and raised in Seattle, Washington, Nakajima developed a passion for cooking at a young age. He pursued his culinary education at Tsuji Culinary Arts School in Osaka, where he apprenticed with renowned chef Yasuhiko Sakamoto. After returning to Seattle, Nakajima worked at Sushi Kappo Tamura under the guidance of chef Taichi Kitamura. Nakajima gained national recognition when he competed on Food Network's Iron Chef Gauntlet in 2017 and later appeared on Top Chef: Portland in 2020, where he was voted Fan Favorite. In addition to his television appearances, Nakajima has opened successful restaurants, including Naka, a kaiseki restaurant in Seattle.