i. Biography
Shunsuke Nagaoka is Head Chef at Julius Ernst in Berlin, and the cooking there is built around a Japanese-Berlin creative kitchen that works with French technique, Japanese precision, and close attention to ingredient quality. Since 2019, Berlin has provided the setting for a style that is layered, exacting, and restrained without losing expression.
Coming Up
Training at Kihachi and ABURI gave Shunsuke Nagaoka the basics that still govern the work: discipline, consistency under pressure, and respect for the rhythm of a working kitchen. Those kitchens established a habit of precision as practice rather than pose, and that foundation now reads clearly in the structure and control of his cooking. The current role at Julius Ernst extends that foundation into a kitchen where technical rigor and creative freedom are allowed to sit together. What began at Kihachi and ABURI has developed into a more assured voice, with the training translated into a cuisine that values clarity and quiet confidence.
Where They Are Now
At Julius Ernst, Shunsuke Nagaoka builds dishes around seasonal products sourced from biodynamic or uncompromisingly sustainable top producers. The focus is on timing, texture, and micro-seasonal produce, with the menu drawing its character from ingredient quality and the care taken in selection rather than from excess. Biodynamic, chemical-free, and regional artisan suppliers give the kitchen its frame and its sense of place. Each ingredient arrives with its own seasonal moment, and the dishes follow that cadence. In Shunsuke’s hands, the work is measured and finely tuned, with exactness and restraint doing as much of the talking as flavor.
Career - Head Chef — Julius Ernst, Berlin, Germany Education: Kihachi; ABURI
Signature
The Japanese-Berlin creative kitchen at Julius Ernst is shaped by precision, seasonality, and a close reading of what the best produce can do. Shunsuke Nagaoka’s version of that language carries the discipline of his training while staying in step with Berlin’s contemporary rhythm: thoughtful, refined, and alert to nuance.
FAQ What is Shunsuke Nagaoka's current role? As of 2026, Shunsuke Nagaoka is Head Chef. Where did Shunsuke Nagaoka train or study? Shunsuke Nagaoka trained at Kihachi and ABURI. What is Shunsuke Nagaoka known for? Japanese-Berlin creative kitchen.
