Takashi Okamura Leads Ordinary People in Roppongi

The one with the most impressive presence

In the early afternoon of mid-April, along the main street of Roppongi (Minato Ward), Gaien East Street, we spotted a trio of chefs walking with large white chef hats marked with the word “凡” (ordinary).

At the front was Takashi Sakai (33) from The Mummy, followed by Masaki Hasegawa (53) from Nishikigoi. In the middle, sandwiched between the two, was Takashi Okamura (54) from Ninety-Nine.

In fact, this was for the filming of the popular segment Cooking Time Handicap Match: Iron Chef vs. Ordinary Chef Squad from the NTV variety show Gurunai.

“The ‘Ordinary Squad’ led by Okamura challenges famous chefs known as ‘Iron Chefs.’ In this competition, they have 45 to 60 minutes to cook, while the chefs only get 10 minutes, creating a handicap match. So far, their record is 3 wins, 5 losses, and 2 draws (as of the April 3, 2025 broadcast), which is quite impressive.

Okamura, the leader, mainly handles the movement, Hasegawa is in charge of desserts, and Sakai plays the role of causing chaos in typical fashion, making the segment a huge hit,” says a TV writer.

Each episode features guest judges, and in the April 3 broadcast, Ryuto Sakamoto (22) from ACEes praised the sweet and sour pork made by the Ordinary Squad, saying, “It’s exactly the sweet and sour pork I wanted.”

Perhaps due to the confidence radiating from them, Hasegawa looked particularly impressive. Despite their chef attire fitting them well, not many passersby seemed to notice the trio. However, the few who did notice called out, saying things like, “Oh, it’s Okamura!” or “Isn’t that from Gurunai?”

As for the outcome of that day’s match, who won remains to be seen.

 

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