Ippei Uemura

Born in Shiga, Japan, Chef Ippei Uemura has dreamed of cooking and traveling from an early age. He spent seven years studying Japanese cooking techniques in Kumamoto. From his native Japan, he arrived in France and settled in Marseille, where he opened the restaurant Tabi. In his gastronomic vision, Ippei Uemura combines a love of fine produce, ingredients from the Mediterranean Sea and the terroir of Provence, with a mastery of Japanese techniques. Add to that his talent and experience and you will understand why his work is receiving increasing recognition, starting with the Gault&Millau Young Talent Award 2017 and the Seafood Cuisine Trophy that same year.

A year later, he received the Gault&Millau Dotation for Young Talents, and his restaurant won a high 3 Gault&Millau toques, with a score of 15/20, and a Michelin plate since 2023.

Ippei has collaborated with the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, notably on the first import of Ishigaki beef to Europe. He also worked with Atout France on missions to Japan during which he shared his respect for the Japanese gastronomic and culinary environment with the French and Europeans. The chef is a member of the jury of the show “Très, très bon sushi” (Very, very good sushi) broadcast on the famous Paris première television. He is a judge at the European Sushi Championship.

A member of Gourméditerranée, the association of the best chefs from the South of France, chef Uemura has collaborated with the Festival Taste the Mediterranean for 11 years.

Photo: copyright @davidgirald