Iron Chef

1Chen vs Inoue Akihiko (Salmon Battle)

30 minJan 9, 1998

2Kobe vs Fukazu Yasuhiro (Deer Battle)

30 minJan 16, 1998

3Sakai vs Matsumoto Yoshimasa (Crab Battle)

30 minJan 23, 1998

4Chen vs Tou Choki (Black Tiger Battle)

30 minJan 30, 1998

5Sakai vs Sato Fumiaki (Radish Battle)

30 minFeb 6, 1998

6Nakamura Retirement Special

30 minFeb 13, 1998

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

7Nakamura's Retirement Special (Tuna Battle) Part II

30 minFeb 20, 1998

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

8Morimoto vs Hirayama Yukio (Red Snapper Battle)

30 minFeb 27, 1998

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

9Sakai vs Kondo Motohito (Girls' Festival)

30 minMar 6, 1998

10Kobe vs. Mario Frittoli (Broccoli Battle)

30 minMar 13, 1998

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.

11Morimoto vs Kimura Masayoshi (Rice Battle)

30 minApr 4, 1998

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?

12Sakai vs Tomoji Ichikawa (Guinea Fowl Battle)

30 minApr 10, 1998

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

13Chen vs Harada Mitsuro (Spanish Mackerel Battle)

30 minApr 17, 1998

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?

14Chen vs Shimamura Takashi (Pen Shell Battle)

30 minApr 24, 1998

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?

15Morimoto vs. Tetsuo Hagiwara (Bamboo Shoots Battle)

30 minMay 1, 1998

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.

16Kobe vs. Yosei Watanabe (Mango Battle)

30 minMay 8, 1998

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

17Morimoto vs. Yasuhiko Habuchi (Asparagus Battle)

30 minMay 15, 1998

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.

18Chen vs Liang Shuqing (Pork Belly Battle)

30 minMay 22, 1998

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

19Chen vs Liang Shuqing (Konnyaku Battle) Overtime

30 minMay 29, 1998

Battle Arum Root.

20Sakai vs Kobayashi Kumiko (Mishima Beef Battle)

30 minJun 5, 1998

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.

21Morimoto vs Kenichi Miyanaga (Sweetfish Battle)

30 minJun 12, 1998

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?

22Chen vs Kentaro (Potato Battle)

30 minJun 19, 1998

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.

23Kobe vs. Yasuhiro Sasajima (Eggplant Battle)

30 minJun 26, 1998

24Morimoto vs. Takaji Yoshida (Tofu Battle)

30 minJul 3, 1998

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

25Sakai vs Shimokawa Shuzo (Jinhua Pork Battle)

30 minJul 10, 1998

26Chen vs. Junichi Itoh (Yogurt Battle)

30 minJul 17, 1998

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.

27Morimoto vs Kajimoto Takeshi (Abalone Battle)

30 minJul 24, 1997

28Kobe vs Sakai Miyoko (Blue Crab Battle)

30 minJul 31, 1998

29Morimoto vs Hirokazu Handa (Giant Eel Battle)

30 minAug 7, 1998

30Sakai vs Watabe Masanobu (Peach Battle)

30 minAug 14, 1998

31Chen vs Miyazawa Kaoru (Carp Battle)

30 minAug 21, 1998

322000th Dish: French vs Chinese Part I

30 minAug 28, 1998

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

332000th Dish: French vs Chinese Part II

30 minSep 4, 1998

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

34Sakai vs Kyonori Miura (Squid Battle)

30 minSep 11, 1998

Sakai battles the "conjurer of garlic".

35Chen vs Maruyama Hideki (Sardine Battle)

30 minSep 18, 1998

36Morimoto vs. Shuichi Fuji (Salmon Battle)

30 minSep 25, 1998

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.

37Kobe vs. Shinya Tasaki (Tuna Battle)

30 minOct 2, 1998

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

38Sakai vs Ron Siegel (Lobster Battle)

30 minOct 9, 1998

An American chef enters Kitchen Stadium for a lobster battle.

39Chen vs Kagata Kyoko (Veal Battle)

30 minOct 16, 1998

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.

40Morimoto vs Tatsutoshi Kumamoto (Natto Battle)

30 minOct 23, 1998

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.

41Kobe vs. Kensuke Sakai (Pumpkin Battle)

30 minOct 30, 1998

42Sakai vs Kazumi Nagayama (Saury Battle)

30 minNov 6, 1998

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.

43Chen vs. Hisao Yaginuma (Shanghai Cabbage Battle)

30 minNov 13, 1998

Chen defends his honor in this Bok Choy battle.

44Kobe vs. Takatsugu Sasaoka (Maitake Battle)

30 minNov 20, 1998

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.

45Morimoto vs. Marco Molinari (Porcini Battle)

30 minNov 27, 1998

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

46Sakai vs Hazama Mitsuo (Duck Battle)

30 minDec 4, 1998

47Kobe vs Yoneda Hiromichi (Octopus Battle)

30 minDec 11, 1998

This octopus showdown has everyone up in arms.

48Chen vs Mitsuo Suganuma (Shark Fin Battle)

30 minDec 18, 1998

49Morimoto vs. Jiro Ogue (Turkey Battle)

30 minDec 25, 1998

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.