Who we are

I’m Ken. In London, I run Youtori — a supper club where I cook Japanese home cooking for Londoners.

When I first arrived in London, something felt off. The everyday Japanese food I grew up with — the kind you’d find in any kitchen or neighbourhood restaurant back home — wasn’t easy to come across. And beyond that, Japanese food culture itself was often misunderstood.

Through Youtori, I’ve spent years introducing as many Londoners as possible to real Japanese cooking. But personal reach has its limits, and I wanted to do more.

Mekiki started from that feeling. A guide to restaurants in London where you can genuinely feel Japan — curated not by algorithms, but by Japanese people who actually know the food.

London moves fast, and keeping up with the Japanese restaurant scene can be overwhelming. I hope Mekiki becomes a small reminder of home.

— Ken