How a Formative Stage Led Chef JJ Jaksich to Open a Restaurant in Japan

One day, as a stage at Al-ché-cciano in Japan’s Yamagata prefecture, Chef Jerry “JJ” Jaksich was asked to help with an off-site event and ended up accompanying Chef Masayuki Okuda to the Kamo Aquarium. 

“We had a private event that was a half-hour drive from the restaurant, and on the way we stopped at this aquarium,” says Jaksich, who’s now chef/co-owner...