A pair of Japan-born, Los Angeles-based sushi entrepreneurs have died.
Katsuya Uechi, whose Katsuya restaurant chain was founded on the success of his Studio City, Calif.-restaurant Sushi Katsu-ya, died June 26. The Okinawa Prefecture-born restaurateur was 67.
Fumio Matsuda, the chief instructor and founder of the Sushi Chef Institute in Torrance, Calif., died June 17. He was 69. Born near Kobe, Japan, he was known to his American students and clientele as Chef Andy Matsuda. He founded his sushi training school in 2002. He is survived by his wife, Setsu, and their daughter, Julie (Andy).
Uechi’s American sushi journey began upon his arrival in the 1980s. He opened his restaurant in 1997, wowing customers with his innovative approach to sushi.