About this season
Iron Chef is a Japanese television cooking show produced by Fuji Television. The series, which premiered on October 10, 1993, is a stylized cook-off featuring guest chefs challenging one of the show's resident "Iron Chefs" in a timed cooking battle built around a specific theme ingredient. The series ended on September 24, 1999, although occasional specials were produced until 2002. The series aired 309 episodes. Repeats are regularly aired on the Cooking Channel in the United States and on Special Broadcasting Service in Australia. Fuji TV will air a new version of the show, titled Iron Chef, beginning in October 26, 2012.
Episodes (52)
1. Mr Iron Chef 1995 :Chen vs Michiba (Beef Battle) (1)
Aired 3 January 1996 • 30 min
1995 Mr. Iron Chef tournament round 2 (part 1)
2. Mr Iron Chef 1995 :Chen vs Michiba (Beef Battle)(2)
Aired 5 January 1996 • 30 min
1995 Mr. Iron Chef tournament round 2 (part 2)
3. Chen vs Gao Jinyi (Dried Abalone Battle)
Aired 12 January 1996 • 30 min
4. Sakai vs Hidetoshi Ushimaru (Curry Powder Battle)
Aired 19 January 1996 • 30 min
5. Chen vs Hiroshi Yamanobe (Scorpionfish Battle)
Aired 26 January 1996 • 30 min
6. Chen vs Watanabe Yoji (Snapping Turtle Battle)
Aired 2 February 1996 • 30 min
7. Sakai vs Tadashi Yanagi (Pear & Chocolate Battle)
Aired 9 February 1996 • 30 min
St. Valentine's Day chocolate-and-pear dessert battle
8. Sakai vs Jinichi Tateyama (Leek Battle)
Aired 16 February 1996 • 30 min
As the Chairman seeks out a new Iron Chef Japanese, Toshiro Kandagawa boasts he can offer a challenger that could replace Iron Chef French.
9. Chen vs Takaya Nakazawa (Shiitake Mushroom Battle)
Aired 23 February 1996 • 30 min
10. Nakamura vs Kiyoshi Suzuki (Foie Gras Battle)
Aired 1 March 1996 • 30 min
In Nakamura's inaugural battle as Iron Chef Japanese II, he faces the head chef of Auberge de Suzuki in Seijo.
11. Chen vs Tatsujiro Yoshida (Cod Battle)
Aired 8 March 1996 • 30 min
12. Sakai vs Senji Osada (Scallop Battle)
Aired 15 March 1996 • 30 min
13. Nakamura vs Lin Kunbi (Bell Pepper Battle)
Aired 22 March 1996 • 30 min
Rematch battle for chef Lin Kunbi.
14. Chen vs Katsuaki Mori (Spinach Battle)
Aired 29 March 1996 • 30 min
Chen's opponent has been knighted in France as the Cavalier of Cheese, and is an expert in salad. Can he prevail?
15. France Special Part I: Nakamura vs. Bernard Leprince (Salmon Battle)
Aired 5 April 1996 • 30 min
Chairman Takeshi Kaga travels to battle the great chefs of France - witness as Iron Chef French #2 (Hiroyuki Sakai) and Iron Chef Japanese #2 (Koumei Nakamura) battle to defend the honor of Iron Chef and the Gourmet Academy
16. France Special Part II: Sakai vs. Pierre Gagnaire (Homard Lobster Battle)
Aired 12 April 1996 • 30 min
Chairman Takeshi Kaga travels to battle the great chefs of France - witness as Iron Chef French #2 (Hiroyuki Sakai) and Iron Chef Japanese #2 (Koumei Nakamura) battle to defend the honor of Iron Chef and the Gourmet Academy
17. Nakamura vs. Toyoaki Suganuma (Egg Battle)
Aired 19 April 1996 • 30 min
18. Chen vs. He Yewen (Lettuce Battle)
Aired 26 April 1996 • 30 min
The new chef of Akasaka Rikyu demonstrates his distinctive Hong Kong cooking skills.
19. Nakamura vs. Katsuko Nanao (Cod Roe Battle)
Aired 3 May 1996 • 30 min
20. Chen vs Shunji Morikawa (Pineapple Battle)
Aired 10 May 1996 • 30 min
Morikawa's restaurant, Cay, is said to have pioneered Thai food in Japan. His patrons include Stephen Hawking and Yoko Ono. Can Chen beat him at his own game?
21. Sakai vs Takao Tamotsu (Abalone Battle)
Aired 17 May 1996 • 30 min
22. Nakamura vs. Kenji Motai (Udon Battle)
Aired 24 May 1996 • 30 min
The challenger is the chief instructor of culinary skills at Hattori Nutrition College and was recommended by Dr. Hattori to be the new Iron Chef Japanese after Michiba retired.
23. Chen vs Ichio Gotoh (Cuttlefish Battle)
Aired 31 May 1996 • 30 min
24. Sakai vs Sonobe Yoshinobu (Salmon Roe Battle)
Aired 7 June 1996 • 30 min
The challenger is one of the three best chefs in Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan. His restaurant has won numerous awards at national competitions. He will be the first challenger from Hokkaido to do battle in Kitchen Stadium. He opened his award winning restaurant at the age of 27. Judges: Takenori Emoto, Hisako Manda, Yukio Hatoyama, Asako Kishi
25. Nakamura vs Son Kangi (Bonito Battle)
Aired 14 June 1996 • 30 min
26. Sakai vs Philippe Batton (Bacon Battle)
Aired 21 June 1996 • 30 min
27. Nakamura vs Tozawa Hideo (Clam Battle)
Aired 28 June 1996 • 30 min
28. Chen vs Nomura Takayuk (Ayu Battle)
Aired 5 July 1996 • 30 min
29. Nakamura vs Yamamoto Hideki (Conger Battle)
Aired 12 July 1996 • 30 min
30. Sakai vs Uki Yoshimasa (Tuna Battle)
Aired 19 July 1996 • 30 min
31. Nakamura vs Toriumi Masaru (Oyster Battle)
Aired 26 July 1996 • 30 min
32. Chen vs Yamamoto Takeshi (Pork Battle)
Aired 2 August 1996 • 30 min
33. Nakamura vs Thierry Houngues (Caviar Battle)
Aired 9 August 1996 • 30 min
34. Chen vs Tsugawa Toshizo (Sea Eel Battle)
Aired 16 August 1996 • 30 min
35. Sakai vs Sugawara Ken'ji (Corn Battle)
Aired 23 August 1996 • 30 min
The challenger was personally trained in California Cuisine by the legendary Wolfgang Puck. Judges: Tamio Kageyama, Chizuru Azuma, Ichiro Zaitsu, Asako Kishi
36. Chen vs. Shinsuke Shimada (Fleshy Prawn Battle)
Aired 30 August 1996 • 30 min
The challenger is a famous comedian in Japan. He is also known to be one of the most skilled chefs among entertainers. Judges: Tamio Kageyama, Keiko Saito, Ichiro Zaizu Asako Kishi
37. Nakamura vs Uetake Toshimasa (Peach Battle)
Aired 6 September 1996 • 30 min
38. Sakai vs So Choumei (Softcrab Battle)
Aired 13 September 1996 • 30 min
39. Nakamura vs Endo Tokuo (Mackerel Pike Battle)
Aired 20 September 1996 • 30 min
40. Chen vs Kashiwabara Takeo (Wax Gourd Battle)
Aired 4 October 1996 • 30 min
The challenger leads the kitchen of a hotel on the island of Okinawa. Judges: Tamio Kageyama, Kazuko Kato, Hideki Takahashi, Asako Kishi
41. Beijing Special: Chen vs. Son-So (Chicken Battle)
Aired 11 October 1996 • 30 min
Features chefs from each region with a battle between Son vs. Chen.
42. Nakamura vs Fujita Shin (Soba Battle)
Aired 18 October 1996 • 30 min
43. Nakamura vs Ogusu Ryuichi (Chestnut Battle)
Aired 25 October 1996 • 30 min
44. Chen vs Daniela Ozik (Mushroom Battle)
Aired 1 November 1996 • 30 min
45. Sakai vs Yamaoka Hiroshi (Chinese Cabbage Battle)
Aired 8 November 1996 • 30 min
46. Sakai vs Wein Nishi (Apple Battle)
Aired 15 November 1996 • 30 min
The challenger is the head of a very successful restaurant in New York. The New York Times gave his restaurant 3 stars. His grandfather is Japanese, and spent a lot of time talking to young Wayne about the culture of Japan. Judges: Shinichiro Kurimoto, Mayuko Takata, Tekenori Emoto, Yukio Hattori
47. Nakamura vs Kuroki Kenjiro (Angler Battle)
Aired 22 November 1996 • 30 min
The challenger is the head chef for several hotel kitchens. He lives near the largest fishing seaport in all of Japan. He uses his speed in the kitchen to overcome his small stature. He is known as Ushiwakamaru. Judges: Shinichiro Kurimoto, Nagisa Katahira, Tenmai Kanoh, Asako Kishi
48. Nakamura vs Miyashiro Kiyoshi (Cow's Tongue Battle)
Aired 29 November 1996 • 30 min
The challenger is the owner/chef at a restaurant known as a favorite of Japanese author Shusaku Endo. He trained in France for five years before returning to Japan. He was unhappy with the direction of French cuisine in Japan, so he opened his own restaurant. Judges: Tamio Kageyama, Megumi Ooishi, Takao Horiuchi, Asako Kishi
49. Chen vs Ishizaki Yukio (Garlic Battle)
Aired 6 December 1996 • 30 min
50. Sakai vs Suzuki Yoshio (Orange Battle)
Aired 13 December 1996 • 30 min
51. Nakamura vs Belnare Lebrance (Gull Battle)
Aired 20 December 1996 • 30 min
52. Nakamura vs. Michiba (Pork, Sweet Potato, and Octopus Battle)
Aired 31 December 1996 • 30 min
New Year's Special: 100 judges taste osechi (new year food)