Meet the team at Kioku

Chris brings over two decades of international culinary experience across Japanese, French and Southeast Asian cuisine, with a career spanning Vietnam, Iceland, France, Israel and Ukraine. Having trained under Marco Pierre White and held senior leadership roles at Nahm, Pantechnicon and NIJU, Chris is known for his disciplined leadership, technical precision and respect for exceptional ingredients. Now Executive Chef at Kioku at The OWO, he brings his global expertise and contemporary approach to Japanese dining to one of London’s most distinctive culinary destinations.

Born in Toyama Prefecture, Japan, known for its fresh seafood, Shibata trained for two years in Nagoya under sushi masters and mastering Kaiseki, moving to Osaka to refine his skills further. In 2020, he opened his successful omakase restaurant, Ichikawa, which attracted global attention, including from renowned chef Endo Kazutoshi.⁠ His vision for Kioku is to create a well-rounded experience that deepens public interest in Japanese culture and inspires visits to Japan. His approach to sushi is meticulous, ensuring every dish is perfectly balanced, even using specific mineral waters to wash the rice for the ideal taste to complement the fish.⁠ .