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 (40)
1. Chen vs Xie Huaxian (Lobster Battle)
Aired 8 January 1999 • 30 min
2. Sakai vs Koei Kamimura (Codfish Battle)
Aired 15 January 1999 • 30 min
3. Kobe vs. Costantino Gemmoli (Bell Pepper Battle)
Aired 22 January 1999 • 30 min
4. Morimoto vs. Hiroyuki Hakogi (Yellowtail Battle)
Aired 29 January 1999 • 30 min
Toshiro Kandagawa is not happy with the results from the Ohta Faction challengers so far. Two have tried to defeat Morimoto, and two have failed. Ohta responds by choosing a challenger that is skilled at using salt. This challenger first met Ohta when he was only 15. Eight years later, he was one of Ohta's favorite cooks. He feels that salt is essential for drawing out the natural flavors of the ingredients. Will the third time be the charm for the Ohta Faction.
5. Morimoto vs Tetsuji Iio (King Crab Battle)
Aired 5 February 1999 • 30 min
The Royal Park Hotel's Grand Chef Mitsuo Shimamura's last two proteges defeated the Iron Chefs. Iio is Shimamura's right hand man, and his strongest yet to enter Kitchen Stadium.
6. Kobe vs Tsujiguchi Hironobu (Banana Battle)
Aired 12 February 1999 • 30 min
7. Sakai vs Senba Toshiya (Oyster Battle)
Aired 19 February 1999 • 30 min
8. Chen vs Asao Ryozo (Sturgeon Battle)
Aired 26 February 1999 • 30 min
9. Morimoto Retrospective Part I
Aired 5 March 1999 • 30 min
The first hour of the Morimoto Retrospective: Michiba & Morimoto tour New York City
10. Morimoto Retrospective Part II: Morimoto vs Nakamura Komei (Egg Battle)
Aired 12 March 1999 • 30 min
The second hour of the Morimoto retrospective.
11. Sakai vs Koji Hosogai (Oxtail Battle)
Aired 19 March 1999 • 30 min
12. Morimoto vs Masahara Seiya (Anglerfish Battle)
Aired 26 March 1999 • 30 min
13. Chen vs Cui Yufen (Chinese Cabbage Battle)
Aired 2 April 1999 • 30 min
14. Sakai vs. Tohru Komori (Udon Battle)
Aired 9 April 1999 • 30 min
While Japanese cuisine tends to tradition-bound. This challenger refuses to be bound by old rules. He respects the basics, but is always looking for new ways to expand. He entered cooking at the age of 18. He joined a group with a 178-year tradition in Edo-style cooking.
15. Kobe vs. Franco Canzoniere (Tomato Battle)
Aired 16 April 1999 • 30 min
A master of Roman cuisine devotes himself to proving that his Italian cuisine is better than the Iron Chef's.
16. Morimoto vs. Yusuke Yamashita (Cod Roe Battle)
Aired 23 April 1999 • 30 min
Morimoto faces the newest challenger from the Ohta faction, who want to prove that the Iron Chef and his innovative cooking methods are too bizarre. The challenger relies on saki to add traditional flavors.
17. Morimoto vs. Yamashita Yusuke Overtime (Scallions Battle)
Aired 30 April 1999 • 30 min
The Cod Roe battle ended in a tie, leading the chefs to battle with green onions (scallions).
18. Chen vs Okubo Takeshi (Bean Sprout Battle)
Aired 7 May 1999 • 30 min
The Kihachi sends its third challenger into Kitchen Stadium. So far the Iron Chefs have been successful against these well trained chefs. Can Chen continue the winning streak against Takeshi Okubo?
19. Sakai vs Michel Husser (Lamb Battle)
Aired 14 May 1999 • 30 min
The Iron Chef must face an authentic French chef who is endorsed by some of the top culinary experts of the day. The battle mimics the Sopexa, the most famous French culinary battle in Japan.
20. Chen vs Spano Stelvio (Piglet Battle)
Aired 21 May 1999 • 30 min
The Iron Chefs have been on a losing streak. The Chairman brings in an up and coming chef who could prove to be very dangerous indeed.
21. Indonesian Expedition Part I
Aired 28 May 1999 • 30 min
Japanese Iron Chef Emeritus Michiba and Japanese Iron Chef Morimoto travel to Indonesia
22. Indonesian Expedition Part II
Aired 4 June 1999 • 30 min
Japanese Iron Chef Emeritus Michiba and Japanese Iron Chef Morimoto travel to Indonesia
23. Kobe vs Makoto Osada (Giant Lobster Battle)
Aired 11 June 1999 • 30 min
Osada is the head chef of Nangoku-shuka, the Chinese restaurant that brought shark fin soup to Japan. The Prince of Pasta shows up to battle the newest challenger in this Chinese versus Italian battle.
24. Morimoto vs Nakazawa Keiji (Sushi Battle)
Aired 18 June 1999 • 30 min
The secret ingredient isn't an ingredient at all, but actually a style. The chairman, however, gives the chefs five themes to focus their sushi: tuna, kohada, anago, eggs, and kanpyo.
25. Sakai vs Makio Isao (Black Pig Battle)
Aired 25 June 1999 • 30 min
As Sakai battles thoughts of retirement, the rare ingredient is an equalizer between two powerful chefs who were friends in middle school.
26. Morimoto vs Michael Noble (Potato Battle)
Aired 2 July 1999 • 30 min
A Canadian superchef was inspired by an episode he watched. He brings his fine French cuisine to battle Morimoto.
27. Chen vs Tateno Yuji (Sea Urchin Roe Battle)
Aired 9 July 1999 • 30 min
Michiba returns to Kitchen Stadium, this time with his assistant as the competitor he's sponsoring. Yuji Tateno enters Kitchen Stadium prepared to battle an Iron Chef and to change the minds of the world-famous Zagats, culinary experts. What dish will exemplify sea urchin the best?
28. Morimoto vs Tanigawa Yoshimi (Pike Eel Battle)
Aired 16 July 1999 • 30 min
Kyoto's Gion festival inspires the Chairman to find a Kyoto cuisine expert. The combatants must create dishes focused on the flavor of the pike conger.
29. Kobe vs. Shoji Yamaoka (Jumbo Mushroom Battle)
Aired 23 July 1999 • 30 min
The two chefs battle it out over jumbo mushrooms. The challenger is a mushroom expert, so Kobe has his work cut out for him.
30. Chen vs Dominique Corby (Foie Gras Battle)
Aired 30 July 1999 • 30 min
In this special episode, the 300th competitor enters kitchen stadium. The chairman has Chen face a French challenger with an ingredient that does not lend itself to his cooking style.
31. Chen vs. Dominique Corby Overtime (Asparagus Battle)
Aired 6 August 1999 • 30 min
When the 300th challenger entered kitchen stadium, everyone expected an epic battle. This tie breaker is part two of the massive battle.
32. Kobe vs Sakai Hiroki (Conger Eel Battle)
Aired 13 August 1999 • 30 min
The challenger is an Italian chef who has impressed some of the biggest names in Kubuki-za theater. Will he impress the judges in Kitchen Stadium?
33. Morimoto vs Watanabe Akira (Cuttlefish Battle)
Aired 20 August 1999 • 30 min
Battle cuttlefish becomes a test of the chefs' seafood knowledge.
34. Sakai vs Yoshihide Koga (Stingray Battle)
Aired 27 August 1999 • 30 min
The sea ray rules the ocean, who will rule the kitchen?
35. Morimoto vs Shigematsu Ryozo (Sea Bass Battle)
Aired 3 September 1999 • 30 min
36. King Of Iron Chef's Tournament Round One (Tokyo X Battle)
Aired 10 September 1999 • 30 min
Two Iron Chefs will enter kitchen stadium, but only one can advance. Chen versus Kobe in a pork battle for the ages.
37. King Of Iron Chef's Tournament Round Two (Bell Pepper Battle)
Aired 17 September 1999 • 30 min
Steamed Bell Pepper custard and Bell Pepper Royale with Pike Eel feature in this match between Morimoto and Sakai.
38. King Of Iron Chefs Tournament Final 1
Aired 24 September 1999 • 30 min
Chen versus Sakai in what is supposed to be the grand finale of the tournament. Both Iron Chefs go all out with dishes like a classic lobster bisque and a cutting edge egg mousse and gratin au chili lobster. As the tournament nears its end, Sakai has been crowned King of Iron Chefs. Or has he? The chairman has another battle up his sleeve.
39. King Of Iron Chefs Tournament Final 2
Aired 1 October 1999 • 30 min
40. King Of Iron Chefs Tournament Final 3
Aired 8 October 1999 • 30 min
Alain Passard vs. Sakai, the winner of the King of the Iron Chef Tournament. The theme is Longgang Chicken. The challenger for this final Kitchen Stadium battle has been here before. He competed against Iron Chef Komei Nakamura in the 1997 Iron Chef World Cup. That battle ended in a tie. Chairman Kaga has invited him back to take care of this unfinished business. This chef is called the best in the world by some. He is a three star chef from France. He began cooking at 8 years old. This will a very tough challenge for the Iron Chef.