Iron Chef — Season 6

01 Chen vs Inoue Akihiko (Salmon Battle)

Jan 9, 199830m

02 Kobe vs Fukazu Yasuhiro (Deer Battle)

Jan 16, 199830m

03 Sakai vs Matsumoto Yoshimasa (Crab Battle)

Jan 23, 199830m

04 Chen vs Tou Choki (Black Tiger Battle)

Jan 30, 199830m

05 Sakai vs Sato Fumiaki (Radish Battle)

Feb 6, 199830m

06 Nakamura Retirement Special

Feb 13, 199830m

Nakamura's final fight is with Hattori Yukio in Battle Tuna.

07 Nakamura's Retirement Special (Tuna Battle) Part II

Feb 20, 199830m

Nakamura's final fight is with Hattori Yukio in Battle Tuna.

08 Morimoto vs Hirayama Yukio (Red Snapper Battle)

Feb 27, 199830m

Morimoto’s debut as an Iron Chef brings a difficult challenger—Yukio Hirayama.

09 Sakai vs Kondo Motohito (Girls' Festival)

Mar 6, 199830m

10 Kobe vs. Mario Frittoli (Broccoli Battle)

Mar 13, 199830m

Pinchiorri, the perfectionist, was a female chef in the 70's who combined French and Italian cooking techniques. Iron Chef Kobe was her apprentice. Angelo Paracucchi was also working to revolutionize Italian cooking. His star pupil, Mario Frittoli, is a master chef and today's challenger. These 2 students of Italian masters will face off in battle broccoli.

11 Morimoto vs Kimura Masayoshi (Rice Battle)

Apr 4, 199830m

The challenger is a master at using oils in his Chinese cooking. This is Morimoto's second battle. Can the secrets of Chinese cuisine beat the innovations of Iron Chef Japanese?

12 Sakai vs Tomoji Ichikawa (Guinea Fowl Battle)

Apr 10, 199830m

Tomoji Ichikawa is a French superchef in Japan. He has traveled and trained extensively in France under Pierre Troisgros. Iron Chef French will have his hands full in this battle, specially designed around Wedgewood china. Judges: Shinichiro Kurimoto (Fmr House Member), Kuniko Asagi (Actress), Masumi Okada (Actor), Kazuko Hosoki

13 Chen vs Harada Mitsuro (Spanish Mackerel Battle)

Apr 17, 199830m

The challenger is a Master Chef hailing from Kyoto. He, like most Iron Chefs, combines traditional knowledge with cutting edge technique and flavors to create exquisite dishes. He has the support of former Iron Chef Michiba and Dr. Yatori. Can the Iron Chef win this battle?

14 Chen vs Shimamura Takashi (Pen Shell Battle)

Apr 24, 199830m

The challenger is a seafood expert: he chooses and cooks gifts from the sea masterfully He has apprenticed in the top kitchens of Japan. Which competitor will find the soul of the sea?

15 Morimoto vs. Tetsuo Hagiwara (Bamboo Shoots Battle)

May 1, 199830m

The challenger is a stubborn chef descended from a long line of Tokyo dwellers. Restaurants run in his family. Iron Chef Japanese will have his hand's full facing such a strong tradition. It's traditional Japanese versus neo-Japanese cooking.

16 Kobe vs. Yosei Watanabe (Mango Battle)

May 8, 199830m

The challenger is one of the few Mexican food specialists in Tokyo. He opened the first restaurant dedicated to Latin cuisine. He specializes in authentic Mexican food, rather than American versions of Latin cuisine. This is a Latin duel in Kitchen Stadium

17 Morimoto vs. Yasuhiko Habuchi (Asparagus Battle)

May 15, 199830m

Andre Pachon is the leader of the French Chef community in Japan. Several of his apprentices have already appeared, but this time Pachon sends his number one man.

18 Chen vs Liang Shuqing (Pork Belly Battle)

May 22, 199830m

The younger sibling of the Liang brothers, rulers of Cantonese cuisine in Japan, faces Iron Chef Chinese.

19 Chen vs Liang Shuqing (Konnyaku Battle) Overtime

May 29, 199830m

Battle Arum Root.

20 Sakai vs Kobayashi Kumiko (Mishima Beef Battle)

Jun 5, 199830m

The challenger is a woman who knows what she likes. As an elite culinary critic, she also trained at Cordon Bleu and at Taillevent, an elite French restaurant in Paris to better understand cooking. Iron Chef will have his hands full in the Battle: French.

21 Morimoto vs Kenichi Miyanaga (Sweetfish Battle)

Jun 12, 199830m

Former Iron Chef Michiba decides that Morimoto needs some helpfinding his feet in Kitchen Stadium, so he recruits his number one sous chef from his own days in Kitchen Stadium. Kenichi Miyanaga knows the Stadium well. Can the new Iron Chef prove his worth?

22 Chen vs Kentaro (Potato Battle)

Jun 19, 199830m

Japan's culinary media is dominated by today's challenger, a food critic, musician, and graphic artist. The son a of a famous chef and former challenger, Kentaro is determined to make a name for himself in Kitchen Stadium.

23 Kobe vs. Yasuhiro Sasajima (Eggplant Battle)

Jun 26, 199830m

24 Morimoto vs. Takaji Yoshida (Tofu Battle)

Jul 3, 199830m

Morimoto fights a traditionalist chef who fills his dishes with nostalgia.

25 Sakai vs Shimokawa Shuzo (Jinhua Pork Battle)

Jul 10, 199830m

26 Chen vs. Junichi Itoh (Yogurt Battle)

Jul 17, 199830m

Dubbed the scientist of cooking, the challenger has studied Italian, French and Japanese techniques for over 17 years. He is even praised by culinary critic Asako Kishi.

27 Morimoto vs Kajimoto Takeshi (Abalone Battle)

Jul 24, 199730m

28 Kobe vs Sakai Miyoko (Blue Crab Battle)

Jul 31, 199830m

29 Morimoto vs Hirokazu Handa (Giant Eel Battle)

Aug 7, 199830m

30 Sakai vs Watabe Masanobu (Peach Battle)

Aug 14, 199830m

31 Chen vs Miyazawa Kaoru (Carp Battle)

Aug 21, 199830m

32 2000th Dish: French vs Chinese Part I

Aug 28, 199830m

Part 1 of 2: Chen and Sakai gain partners, as Kaga demands a french vs Chinese showdown. The chairman also surprises everyone with 3 theme ingredients. Pork, Snapping Turtle and Banana

33 2000th Dish: French vs Chinese Part II

Sep 4, 199830m

Sakai vs. Chen. Each have a special partner chef assigned by Kaga in a French vs. Chinese showdown.

34 Sakai vs Kyonori Miura (Squid Battle)

Sep 11, 199830m

Sakai battles the "conjurer of garlic".

35 Chen vs Maruyama Hideki (Sardine Battle)

Sep 18, 199830m

36 Morimoto vs. Shuichi Fuji (Salmon Battle)

Sep 25, 199830m

Led by Tadamichi Ohta, the chef who defeated Sakai, the Ohta faction invades Kitchen Stadium to uphold traditional Japanese cuisine. Fuji is Ohta's first contender against Morimoto.

37 Kobe vs. Shinya Tasaki (Tuna Battle)

Oct 2, 199830m

Tasaki is a world champion sommelier who always dreamed of becoming a famed chef. Chairman Kaga decides to grant him his wish.

38 Sakai vs Ron Siegel (Lobster Battle)

Oct 9, 199830m

An American chef enters Kitchen Stadium for a lobster battle.

39 Chen vs Kagata Kyoko (Veal Battle)

Oct 16, 199830m

The first female challenger in Kitchen Stadium, the 26 year old Kagata defeated Chen Kenichi. Years later, after studying under Chef Shimamura at the Royal Park Hotel and opening her own restaurant, she returns to fight Chen again with milk-fed veal.

40 Morimoto vs Tatsutoshi Kumamoto (Natto Battle)

Oct 23, 199830m

One month ago, the Ohta faction "invaded" Kitchen Stadium to fight Morimoto with traditional Japanese cuisine. Their leader, Tadamichi Ohta, now sends a second challenger.

41 Kobe vs. Kensuke Sakai (Pumpkin Battle)

Oct 30, 199830m

42 Sakai vs Kazumi Nagayama (Saury Battle)

Nov 6, 199830m

Nagayama was brought in to revive the venerated Tokyo University restaurant Shochiku, and now his old-and-new style will go against an Iron Chef.

43 Chen vs. Hisao Yaginuma (Shanghai Cabbage Battle)

Nov 13, 199830m

Chen defends his honor in this Bok Choy battle.

44 Kobe vs. Takatsugu Sasaoka (Maitake Battle)

Nov 20, 199830m

The challenger likes to follow one of the philosophies of Rosanjin: 'never kill the natural flavor of the ingredient.' He is known as the Prince of Japanese cuisine. He is extremely picky about the ingredients he uses. The theme ingredient costs about $150/kg ($68/lb). This is a battle between the Prince of Japanese cuisine and the Prince of Pasta.

45 Morimoto vs. Marco Molinari (Porcini Battle)

Nov 27, 199830m

By the age of 13, Molinari was already a chef at a 3-star restaurant. Now, cultures clash in this mushroom battle.

46 Sakai vs Hazama Mitsuo (Duck Battle)

Dec 4, 199830m

47 Kobe vs Yoneda Hiromichi (Octopus Battle)

Dec 11, 199830m

This octopus showdown has everyone up in arms.

48 Chen vs Mitsuo Suganuma (Shark Fin Battle)

Dec 18, 199830m

49 Morimoto vs. Jiro Ogue (Turkey Battle)

Dec 25, 199830m

For the 1998 Christmas day battle, the contender is the successor of Alain Chapel, a successful 3 star restaurant owner. Side Note : Christmas is not a holiday in Japan, people still have to work that day.