My Father_Kimio
Kimio decided to introduce Japanese cuisine to the US.
Kimio was looking for the perfect place to start his business.
He took a chance and knocked on the door of the Hilton Hotel, asking to see the manager.
After meeting the hotel owner,
Kimio realized he would unlikely get to the building he hoped for. When He was about to leave, he heard some familiar words—‘sayonara’ - “Goodbye” in Japanese.
He asked the owner if he knew Japanese.
To Kimio’s surprise, what followed was an incredible story of fate
Not only had this man spent time in Japan,
but he had also stayed in Kimio’s family’s hotel!
Overwhelmed by this coincidence,
the owner offered to help him find a suitable place
in San Francisco instead of Los Angeles,
uniting new opportunities with old beginnings.
Kimio found the perfect opportunity to make his dream come true
The ground-floor property of the Downtown Hilton Hotel.
He quickly put plans into motion
with a local Japanese American Contractor,
striving to recreate a piece of Japan for himself and others.
He brought Japanese chefs and servers from Japan,
who shared his ambitions to introduce authentic Japanese cuisine and hospitality yet familiarity to US customers.
Culture evolves with encountering differences.
KIKU OF TOKYO
opened in San Francisco in 1971.
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