Nakatani Akihito Offers You Your 400 Vegetables Per Day

The Shinmachi-dori district of Gojo, close to Nara on the island of Honshu, is known for having conserved its period charm thanks to the small wooden houses known as machiya. Chef Nakatani Akihito plays an important role in the economic revitalisation of the city. At the helm of the Japanese restaurant Gojo Genbei, he serves dishes that pay homage to the region’s history, culture and agricultural resources.

The name Genbei comes from Nakaya Genbi, the title given to city chiefs during the Edo period. The building that houses the restaurant originally belonged to a family of tobacco merchants. It was due to be demolished, but was purchased by Tanaka Shūji, founder of Gojo’s Kakinoha Sushi Honpo Tanaka, a restaurant specialising in sushi from Nara, to preserve the historic urban landscape, and decided to turn it into a restaurant. He had just one name in mind to lead this project: Nakatani Akihito.

The chef’s philosophy is based on the use of local products. Thanks to the farms surrounding the city, Nakatami Akihito has over 400 different types of vegetable at his disposal. Each day, he cooks around thirty of these to make dishes that are 100% vegetarian. However, he also uses ayu and other fish found in the local river, as well as local game, like wild boar and deer. Rice is also grown close by, and soy sauce and sake are produced locally.

Gojo Genbei, 2 Chome-5-17 Honmachi, Gojo, Nara 637-0041. Closed on Tuesdays.