Shota Nakajima

In 2014, Nakajima opened a catering business, Kappo Kitchen and later Naka, a kaiseki restaurant, in June 2015.^[2] In February 2017, Naka Kaiseki rebranded as Adana.^[2] In March 2020, Nakajima opened his restaurant Taku, an Osakan kushikatsu concept, in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle.^[12] Adana and Taku closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, but Taku reopened in May 2021 as a karaage restaurant.^[13] Taku is now permanently closed. ^[14]

In late 2021, Nakajima began bottling his own teriyaki sauce, known as Make Umami, and selling it at Taku, Uwajimaya grocery stores, and on Amazon.^[15] In February 2022, Nakajima announced he was opening a teriyaki restaurant, Banzai Teriyaki, in Cle Elum, Washington.^[16] On June 23, 2022 Nakajima said he was no longer part of the Cle Elum project.^[17]

• James Beard Foundation, Semifinalist, Rising Star Chef of the Year (2018)^[18]
• Eater, Young Guns Winner (2018) ^[3]
• James Beard Foundation, Semifinalist, Rising Star Chef of the Year (2019)^[18]
• James Beard Foundation, Semifinalist, Rising Star Chef of the Year (2020)^[18]