Shigefumi Tachibe was born in Japan in 1960. At age 15 he first began working in Nagasaki in the French dining section of the Hotel Banshoro. At age 21 he served as exchange chef at the restaurant Gannino in Milan, Italy. Upon returning to Japan Chef Tachibe moved on to become the Executive Chef at La Maree de Chaya in Hayama, Japan. In 1983 Chef Tachibe came to the United States and helped set up Chaya Brasserie which features a high end fusion cuisine.