The Untold Story of Chase Kojima: Success, Struggles, and Sushi

In this episode, we sit down with Chase Kojima, the chef behind iconic restaurants like Sokyo, Kiyomi, Chuuka, Simulation Senpai, Senpai Ramen, and Senpai Dojo —venues that once set the benchmark for modern Japanese dining in Australia before closing their doors. Chase shares his journey from mastering Japanese cookery under his father to taking a leap of faith in Australia, where he built a career blending Japanese tradition with modern cuisine. We talk about his early lessons at Nobu and the challenges of running high-pressure kitchens. This is one of the rawest, most authentic episodes we’ve ever recorded about resilience, reinvention, and what it takes to thrive in hospitality.