John Sugimura

Japanese roots cooking from the streets by Japanese-American, professionally trained and second-generation chef John Sugimura. A skilled chef celebrating and guarding the values of often-overlooked nuances and practices of traditional Japanese cuisine. Chef John cooks to reconnect with a Japanese grandmother who lost everything when she was sent to a WW2 internment camp. My family was unjustly incarcerated during World War II in Tule Lake. As a third generation Japanese-American, I work to preserve and share the history of the WWII incarceration of Japanese Americans to promote equity and justice today.

Daily fresh fish and produce prepared in an open kitchen in the spirit of Chef John Sugimura’s immigrant obaasan (grandmother) with the values of harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility promote the true spirit of Japanese cuisine and traditional sushi. Eating chef John’s cuisine is like eating in his grandmother’s restaurant in the 1930s. It is the ultimate expression of flavors, colors, and cooking methods, coming together in an authentic experience that is one-of-a-kind.

Executive Chef Sugimura is third-generation "Sansei" and meets Japanese nationality requirements, took lessons and acquired knowledge and skills regarding Japanese cuisine at the prestigious Japanese cooking institution Sushi Institute of America and has practical experience in a Japanese restaurant located in and outside of Japan. Sugimura is skilled to uphold the values of traditional Japanese cuisine, known as washoku and is skilled to reverse widespread misperception that Japanese authorities would like to correct. Japan takes its food seriously.

John Sugimura is the corporate executive chef, brand ambassador, and equity partner at PinKU Japanese Street Food in Minneapolis and at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. More recently, chef John joined food management companies HMSHost International and Taher, Inc. “The Food People” to share their passion for scratch cooking providing Japanese culinary leadership across the country.

PinKU is understanding. Socially relevant. Japanese urbanity. It tells a story.

Photo credit: Asha Belk