Japanese for Chefs and Culinary Students: Kitchen Calls, Techniques and Hierarchy
Chefs and culinary students heading to a kitchen in Japan, or working under a Japanese chef abroad, need fast, practical Japanese: the names of ingredients, tools and techniques, short kitchen calls like はい！ and お願いします, and the polite language of a strict kitchen hierarchy. You won’t get long explanations during service, so knowing the core words before you start lets you learn by watching, and shows the head chef you’re serious.
Kitchen calls you’ll hear every day
- はい！ Yes, chef / understood. Say it loudly and immediately.
- お願いします！ Order in, or “please” when passing something on.
- あがりました！ / できました！ It’s ready.
- 急いで！ Hurry.
- 後ろ通ります！ Behind you!
- お疲れさまです。 Said when arriving and leaving, and to colleagues during the day.
The kitchen hierarchy
Traditional Japanese kitchens have a clear order. The head chef may be 料理長 or, in a small restaurant, 大将. A chef trained in Japanese cuisine is an 板前, and the newest staff start with cleaning and preparation (仕込み, 下ごしらえ). Use polite Japanese with everyone above you, arrive early, and expect to watch for a long time before you’re trusted with more. Our guide to Japanese workplace culture explains the wider picture.
Techniques and preparation
| Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 切る / 刻む | to cut / to chop finely |
| 千切り | fine julienne |
| 煮る | to simmer |
| 焼く | to grill or pan-fry |
| 揚げる | to deep-fry |
| 蒸す | to steam |
| 出汁をとる | to make dashi stock |
| 味見する | to taste |
Tools and ingredients
- 包丁 (knife), まな板 (chopping board), 鍋 (pot), さらし (cotton cloth).
- 砥石: whetstone. Looking after your own knives is part of the job.
- 昆布, かつお節, 味噌, 醤油, みりん, 酒: the core of Japanese flavour.
- Seasonal ingredients (旬) matter a lot. See Japanese seasons and festivals.
Hygiene, allergies and service
- 手洗い and 消毒: hand washing and disinfecting.
- アレルギー and 抜き: “without”, as in ネギ抜き (no spring onion). See food allergies and dietary needs in Japan.
- まかない: the staff meal, often cooked by junior chefs as practice.
- Front of house greetings like いらっしゃいませ. See Japanese customer service phrases.
Before you go
- Learn the kitchen calls and core vocabulary, and practise hearing them at speed.
- Prepare a short, humble self-introduction for your first day. See how to introduce yourself in Japanese.
- Check your visa options carefully with official sources before you accept a position. See also hospitality jobs in Japan.
How Hanabuddies can help
A native tutor can teach you the Japanese of a real kitchen, from calls and techniques to talking with the head chef, with listening practice at the speed of service. If you need a menu or recipe translated for your own restaurant, we can help with that too; see translating a menu into Japanese.