Zaiyu Hasegawa is the owner and chef of Den, one of Tokyo’s most celebrated dining destinations. His passion for cooking began in childhood, inspired by the bento lunches his mother brought home from the ryotei where she worked as a geisha. After high school, he trained at Kagurazaka Uwotoku, a prestigious ryotei, where he lived and worked from the age of 18, developing a deep understanding of traditional Japanese cuisine.

In 2008, at 29, Hasegawa opened Den in Jimbocho. Within just a few years, the restaurant earned significant international acclaim and prestigious culinary accolades, quickly establishing itself among the world’s most respected restaurants.

Hasegawa’s cuisine blends classical Japanese techniques with a playful, contemporary spirit, celebrating seasonality, exceptional ingredients and cultural storytelling. Through Den, he has reinterpreted Japanese gastronomy with creativity and warmth, remaining faithful to its roots while introducing innovative presentations and unexpected flavour combinations that continue to captivate diners worldwide.