Junji Tokunaga

Career Pastry discipline at The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo gave Junji Tokunaga a working base in exacting service, consistency, and the pressure of luxury production. He held the pastry chef post there until 2014, and that early span shows in the way his work keeps precision in view without losing freshness or lift. Since 2021, Hotel InterContinental Tokyo Bay in Hamamatsucho, Tokyo, has been the setting for his current pastry program. In that role, Tokunaga works within a hotel environment where finish, balance, and restraint matter at every point, and his output reads as part of that wider standard. - Executive Chef Pastry Chef — Hotel InterContinental Tokyo Bay, Hamamatsucho, Tokyo, Japan (2021–present) - pastry chef — The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo, Japan (until 2014)

The Work Today

At Hotel InterContinental Tokyo Bay since 2021, Junji Tokunaga has led pastry with a clear emphasis on balance: texture against aroma, acidity against sweetness, delicacy against depth. Born in Imabari, Ehime Prefecture, he brings a style that keeps classical pastry structure intact while introducing an off-center detail that changes the read without breaking the form. That approach is visible at Équilibre, where classic French pastries are remade as singular compositions with an unexpected turn. The work stays recognizably French in structure, but Tokunaga uses contrast to keep the result unsettled in a controlled way, which is where the precision lands.

Signature

The Dance of Princess Otohime and Caramel Chocolat Orange are presented as Junji Tokunaga’s signatures, and both titles point to a practice that treats form and flavor as linked. The names suggest composition first, with each dessert built to carry a clear structure rather than just a decorative idea.

In Their Words “The idea first came to my mind when I was trying to create an assiette-dessert (dessert plate).”

Acclaim

Winner, chocolate B-category, Coupe du Monde de la Pâtisserie 2014 JAPAN is the recognition attached to Tokunaga’s name, and it places his work in a competitive field where technical control is measured directly. The award aligns with the same traits that run through his pastry: clarity, discipline, and a measured sense of contrast.

FAQ What is Junji Tokunaga's current role? As of 2026, Junji Tokunaga is Executive Chef Pastry Chef. Where did Junji Tokunaga work before? Junji Tokunaga's earlier career included The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo. What recognition has Junji Tokunaga received? Winner, chocolate B-category, Coupe du Monde de la Pâtisserie 2014 JAPAN (2014).