I’m sure almost everyone has seen the devastation and desperation in Japan as the result of an 8.9 magnitude earthquake that hit late Friday afternoon. If anyone has news regarding the chefs and cast of Iron Chef, please share it in the comments and I will add it to this main post.
If you have ever considered donating to this site, I encourage you to instead click here to go to the American Red Cross to make a donation to the relief effort.
Keith
This made me think of the two episodes that I remember having a challenger with a direct connection to the 1997 Hanshin Earthquake:
The owner of a partially destroyed restaurant re-opened to cook for her neighborhood – Tofu – 314
The son of a prominent Chinese chef who closed his restaurant after the earthquake destroyed it is the challenger – Dried Scallop – 502
UPDATE (3/12): Morimoto-san has posted on his twitter that he is on his way to Japan. With the time difference he may be there now. Here is a link to his twitter account. He has since posted this update: “Thank you for your prayers. I came to Japan yesterday; my family and friends are fine. My heart goes to people in Tohoku region.”
UPDATE (3/16): Occasional Judge Atsushi Akimoto, with the immensely popular girl groups he has created, has reportedly donated 500 million Yen ($6.18 million) to relief efforts.