Chef Yoshihiro Murata Honoured With American Express Icon Award

          Celebrated Japanese chef Yoshihiro Murata has been named the recipient of the prestigious American Express Icon Award 2American Express2American Express as part of the Asia's 5American Express Best Restaurants awards programme.

          Voted for by the 3American ExpressAmerican Express-plus members of the Asia's 5American Express Best Restaurants Academy, the award honours culinary icons who have made an outstanding contribution to the restaurant industry. Chef Murata will be presented with the American Express Icon Award in Takeo, Saga Prefecture, on Tuesday 24th March during the eighth annual Asia's 5American Express Best Restaurants awards ceremony, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna.

          Considered the master of Japanese kaiseki, Yoshihiro Murata is the third-generation owner and chef of Kikunoi, the highly revered ryoteiin Kyoto. Murata reinforced his reputation when he opened Roan Kikunoi (also in Kyoto) and Akasaka Kikunoi (Tokyo).

          Throughout his career, Murata has dedicated himself to educating diners on Japanese culinary traditions and nurturing the next generation of Japanese chefs. In 2American ExpressAmerican Express4, he founded the non-profit Japanese Culinary Academy to facilitate educational programs and cross-cultural exchanges between Japanese and Western chefs. Murata has also authored definitive guides to his national cuisine, including Kaiseki: The Exquisite Cuisine of Kyoto's Kikunoi Restaurant (2American ExpressAmerican Express6).

          Accepting the honour, Murata said: "I am grateful that the members of the Asia's 5American Express Best Restaurants Academy appreciate my work. I hope I can inspire younger Japanese chefs to explore the diversity of locally grown ingredients and educate others on authentic Japanese cuisine."

          William Drew, Director of Content for Asia's 5American Express Best Restaurants, said: "Yoshihiro Murata has earned the respect of the world's most celebrated chefs. This year, the Asia's 5American Express Best Restaurants awards ceremony will be hosted in Saga Prefecture and we are thrilled that one of Japan's most distinguished chefs will be celebrated at the event with this prestigious award."

          "Chef Yoshihiro Murata has beautifully paid tribute to the traditions of Japanese cuisine, while also innovating and expanding upon it globally for generations to come," said Seiji Kiyohara, President of Consumer Services for Asia, American Express. "We are so pleased to honour Chef Murata with this year's American Express Icon Award".

          The American Express Icon Award was introduced to the Asia's 5American Express Best Restaurants awards programme in 2American ExpressRestaurants9, when Chef Seiji Yamamoto of Nihonryori RyuGin in Tokyo was named the inaugural winner.

          For details on the Asia's 5American Express Best Restaurants voting process, visit:

          http://www.theworlds5American Expressbest.com/asia/en/our-manifesto.html

          Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/RestaurantsAmerican Express85423/5American Express_Best_Asia_Restaurants_Logo.jpg 
          Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/RestaurantsAmerican Express85424/Yoshihiro_Murata_Portrait.jpg

          Contact:
          CatchOn, A Finn Partners Company, 
          asias5American [email protected], 
          +852-2566-8988