In early 2025, Chizuko Kimura became the first woman in over 120 years of the Michelin Guide’s history to be recognized for her work as a sushi chef. This groundbreaking achievement did not happen in Japan, where tradition still limits women’s presence in the sushi world, but in Paris, where she leads her late husband’s restaurant, Sushi Shunei , with precision, passion, and quiet strength. What does it take for a woman to reshape tradition and claim her rightful space in today’s world? For centuries in Japan, women were traditionally forbidden from becoming sushi chefs, as explained by Tokyo Weekender. An old belief held that women’s hands were “too warm,” affecting the delicate taste of sushi, and that their presence in the kitchen was “too distracting” for the precise craft required. This long-standing mindset kept doors closed to women—until figures like Chizuko Kimura began proving that mastery knows no gender. I reached out to Chizuko because her story resonated with me on a deeply personal level. Having undergone my own profound transformation —leaving behind everything familiar to rebuild a life aligned with purpose—I saw in her journey a quiet echo of my own. We both had to redefine ourselves, step into the unknown, and hold on to courage as we navigated loss and reinvention. We met at her restaurant in Montmartre, Paris for a heartfelt conversation, where she generously shared her story with clarity and humility.
“Women leaders today are not replicating the past. We are redefining leadership on our own terms. With emotional intelligence, a spirit of collaboration, and strength forged in adversity, we are charting a new course. We lead with vulnerability, not as a weakness, but as a source of power that deepens our connection to others and fuels authentic transformation.”