Early Life and Education
His Japanese parents, a chemical engineer and a housewife, moved from the U.S. to England in 1978 when he was seven and his older brother nine. In 1989, his parents moved to Japan while Jun and his older brother, an orthopaedic surgeon, continued living in England.
Until then, the Tanaka brothers attended Wycliffe College in Gloucestershire, but Jun did not have a distinguished academic career and his A levels experience suggested the University route wouldn't be a successful option. He asked his Business Studies teacher whether setting up a restaurant would be a good idea, but he didn't receive a particularly encouraging response.
While considering career options at 19, Jun asked his father, who regularly dined at restaurants, which London restaurants he rated the most. Armed with his father's list, Jun approached each of them to gain a position as an apprentice. Top of the list were Le Gavroche, Chez Nico and Marco Pierre White’s restaurant Harvey's.
Read more about this topic: Jun Tanaka (chef)
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