eman

The story

eman: Spanish Basque Restaurant in Tokyo – Michelin-Recommended

A Spanish Table in Kiyosumi-Shirakawa

In a quiet corner of Koto-ku, a renovated 60-year-old house houses eman, a Spanish restaurant that draws deeply on the cuisine of the Basque Country. The name itself comes from a Basque word meaning "to give" — a philosophy that informs every plate and the space that holds it.

The chef’s path to opening eman is rooted in serious training. After working at Spanish restaurants in Tokyo, he spent two and a half years in Spain: at a three-Michelin-star restaurant in the Basque Country and a one-star in La Mancha. He returned to Japan, served as chef de cuisine at a gastronomic restaurant in Nara and then in Tokyo, before opening his own place in Kiyosumi-Shirakawa.

Tradition, Evolution, and Recognition

The cooking respects Spain’s traditional dishes while pushing toward something new — a Spanish cuisine that carries both heritage and fresh perspective. The restaurant has been listed in Gault & Millau consecutively from 2023 through 2026, and received the Michelin Recommended distinction for the Tokyo guide in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

The interior is a single counter overlooking the open kitchen, air-conditioned and intimate. The neighborhood itself — a mix of old and new — suits the restaurant’s character: a place where the chef gives his ideas to the food and the space, and in turn receives inspiration from the people, the city, and the ingredients. The result is a dialogue between two cultures, served one course at a time.