Project Member

Now you can find out more about the project members who worked on the design, menu, uniforms and music for TRAIN SUITE SHIKI-SHIMA to bring the concept of Shin-yu Tan-bo (Journeys to Discover Hidden Depth) to life.
  • KIYOYUKI
    KEN OKUYAMA

    Design

  • KEN OKUYAMA DESIGN, CEO
    Born in Yamagata, Japan, 1959.
  • Ken has worked as a Chief Designer for General Motors, a Senior Designer for Porsche AG, and a Design Director for Pininfarina S.p.A., being responsible for Ferrari Enzo, Maserati Quattroporte and many other projects. He is also known for numerous products such as motorcycles, furniture, robots and architecture.
    In 2007, KEN OKUYAMA DESIGN was founded providing design business consultancy to many corporations. The recent works include Shinkansen, trains, tractors, watches, etc. The company also produces and markets limited production automobiles, eyewear, interior products under KEN OKUYAMA brand.
    He is currently being a jury of the Reddot Design Award, a jury of the Peninsula Classics Best of the Best, a director of Yanmar Holdings Co., Ltd., a visiting professor of several universities, and publishing many books. He also has been appointed to a producer of "ARITA 400project" for 2013-2016, a member of the Development committee of the basic policy, EXPO 2015 Milano, a vice-chairperson of judging committee of GOOD DESIGN AWARD for 2006-2007, a honorary judge of Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegance 2001-2006.
  • KATSUHIRO
    NAKAMURA

    Cuisine

  • Overall Cuisine Supervisor
  • Katsuhiro Nakamura is Honorary Grand Chef of Nippon Hotel, as well as a food editor.
    Born in Kagoshima in southern Japan, Mr. Nakamura began his career at Hotel Ascot in Zurich in 1970.

    In the 15 years that followed, he worked as a professional chef at top restaurants throughout France, from Aux Armes De France in Alsace to L'Oasis in Provence and Lasserre in Paris.
    In 1979, he became Grand Chef of then-unknown restaurant La Bourdonnais in Paris.
    His skills brought the restaurant renown, and he became the first Japanese person to receive a Michelin star.
    In 1984, he returned to Japan, bringing authentic French cooking techniques with him. He was hired as Head Chef for the newly-opened Hotel Edmont (now Hotel Metropolitan Edmont) in Tokyo.
    In 1994, he became an executive director and Executive Chef.
    In 2003, he was awarded an Order of Agricultural Merit (Knight) from the French Republic.
    In 2007, he became Executive Chef at the Windsor Hotel Toya Resort & Spa, which hosted the attendees of the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit in 2008. Mr. Nakamura oversaw the meals of all the world leaders and their suites.
    In 2009, he became a director of Nippon Hotel.
    In 2010, he was awarded an Order of Agricultural Merit (Officer) from the French Republic.
    In 2013, he became Head Chef and Executive Chef Emeritus of Nippon Hotel.
    In 2016, he was awarded an Order of Agricultural Merit (Commandeur) from the French Republic.
    In 2017, he was appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador for the FAO(Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) in 2017.
  • HITOSHI
    IWASAKI

    Cuisine

  • The first executive chef of TRAIN SUITE SHIKI-SHIMA and now cuisine supervisor
  • Hitoshi Iwasaki was born in Tokyo and started his career in Hotel Edmont after graduating from culinary school.

    After working as a banquet chef, he began studying under the guidance of Katsuhiro Nakamura in French restaurant Four Grain.
    In 2004, he won the Second JR Hotel Group Cooking Contest.
    In 2007, he became head chef of Dining&Bar TENQOO.
    In 2008, he worked under Katsuhiro Nakamura to prepare meals for the attendees of the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit.
    From August 2012 to February 2013, he trained at La Pyramide, a two-star restaurant in Vienne, France, and Le Clos des Sens, a two-star restaurant in Annecy.
    In 2015, he became Executive Chef of TRAIN SUITE SHIKI-SHIMA.
    In 2017, he became Executive Chef of Hotel Metropolitan Edmont Tokyo.
    In 2019, he became Cuisine Supervisor of TRAIN SUITE SHIKI-SHIMA.
  • NAOKI
    TAKIZAWA

    Uniform Design

  • NAOKI TAKIZAWA DESIGN INC.
    Born in Tokyo in 1960.
  • Worked as a creative director of Issey Miyake (menswear 1993-2000, womenswear 2000-2007).
    Established NAOKI TAKIZAWA DESIGN INC. in 2007.
    Has been serving as a costume designer to the Empress of Japan since 2010.
    He also works as a design director, special project at Uniqlo, where he is in charge of collaborative lines.
    Project Professor, Department of Intermediatheque, The University Museum, The University of Tokyo between 2009 and 2013.
    Awarded an Order of Arts and Letters (Knight) from the French Republic in 2007.
  • NAOKI
    SATO

    Music

  • Naoki Sato is a composer who was born in Chiba Prefecture on May 2nd, 1970.
  • He studied in the composition department at Tokyo College of Music from 1989.
    After graduating in 1993, he composed in a wide variety of musical formats, from movie and TV scores to commercials.
    His work on Always: Sanchome no Yuhi (Always: Sunset on Third Street) in 2006 was awarded with the Japan Academy Film Prize for Best Music.
    His main works for film include Eien no Zero (The Eternal Zero) and the series Umizaru, Always: Sanchome no Yuhi and Rurouni Kenshin.
    He has also composed works for many television series, such as Good Luck!! for TBS, Water Boys and Priceless: Aru Wake Nedaro, Nnamon! (There's No Such Thing!) for Fuji Television, period fantasy series Seirei no Moribito (Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit) and period drama Ryomaden for NHK, and Shizumanu Taiyo (The never-setting Sun) for WOWOW.