Rain restaurant's owner and sushi chef, Takashi Ogasawara is a native of Tokyo, Japan. Ever since he was a child making homemade plum wine with his parents, Takashi had dreamt of, one day, owning his own restaurant. After moving to Seattle in 1991 he began his career at Samni sushi. He continued his education as a sous chef and line cook at well known restaurants such as I Love Sushi and Shiro's. He joined Wolfgang Puck where he learned the intricacies of western cuisine and later opened a Wolfgang Puck in Arizona. Later, he moved on to a position as Executive Chef at Wasabi Bistro located in the Belltown area of downtown Seattle. After one year with the company, Takashi, along with two other partners, decided to open up their own restaurant, Rain. This November, Rain will celebrate its fifth anniversary.
Takashi's career has earned him several awards including the blue ribbon award for the best entree at Seattle's 2004 Bite of Seattle, and another blue ribbon for the best appetizer the following year. In 2008, Rain won the People's Choice award from City Search and has been featured in several local publications, including The D-List, Seattle Times, Seattle Weekly, and Soy Source newspaper. It has been Takashi's dedication to fresh, homemade sauces, entrees, and desserts, and a relaxing, family atmosphere that has made Rain a truly unique experience.
