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The Chef & the Daruma film image; chefs working and laughing

The Chef & the Daruma

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For 36 years, Tojo’s has been a mainstay in the Vancouver food scene, beloved by critics, foodies, and a plethora of celebrities. A pioneer of Japanese cuisine in the West, chef Hidekazu Tojo helped bring sushi to the mainstream and is known as the inventor of the California Roll. Still working in his seventies, chef Tojo is inspired to look back on his life and ponder the legacy he will leave behind. He recalls his early years as a Japanese immigrant, coming to Canada at the age of 21, and his ambition to create a singular culinary path. We also accompany the chef on a return trip to Japan, where he connects with locals and explores new food trends.

Shot in Vancouver, Vancouver Island, and Japan, The Chef & the Daruma is a mouth-watering film tracing a journey of immigration, identity, and reinvention. Mads K. Baekkevold, in his first feature documentary, creates a loving tribute to a man who has devoted his life to sharing food.

Director

Mads K. Baekkevold

Featuring

Hidekazu Tojo

Credits
Country of Origin

Canada

Year

2024

Language

In English and Japanese with English subtitles

19+
90 min
Wallop Film

Book Tickets

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Credits

Executive Producer

Matt Lawrence Dix

Producer

Luis Guerra

Screenwriter

Natalie Murao

Cinematography

Kaayla Whachell

Editor

Anna Chiyeko Shannon

Production Design

Megan MacAulay

Original Music

Masahiro Takahashi

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