Kotaro “Taro” Arai was born on Japan’s southernmost island of Kyushu. At age 15, with the money Taro had saved from doing his paper route, Taro’s father decided to move to America. In 1987, Taro’s parents opened a modest Japanese restaurant called Mikuni in Fair Oaks, a suburb of Sacramento, California, to provide a living for the family.

Sushi chef Taro Arai is one of the hottest and most renowned sushi chefs to hit the restaurant scene. With seven Mikuni restaurants flourishing in Northern California, and a location outside Denver, Colorado, Taro is setting a fast pace in the world of sushi. Mikuni has been the winner of the “Best in Sacramento” readership survey for thirteen consecutive years, and under Taro’s leadership, Mikuni sushi chefs have conceived more than 300 original creations—many of them named for their loyal guests. Now, hear his take on the Essential 11 Questions.

More places you can find Taro:

Instagram - @mikunitaro

Website - MikuniSushi.com