My Perfect Weekend with chef Taro Takayama

Who: Taro Takayama is executive chef at Takayama, a restaurant specialising in fine Japanese kappo-style cuisine. Born in Wakayama near Osaka, the 42-year-old came to the Republic in 2013, when he was appointed master chef at the residence of the Japanese Ambassador to Singapore. Before that, he had worked at the three-Michelin-starred Kashiwaya and Koryu in Osaka. After his stint with the ambassador, he became chef de cuisine at Mandarin Orchard Singapore. In 2017, he started Takayama at Downtown Gallery.

“My days off are Sundays and Mondays, when the restaurant is closed. On Sundays, I get up at 6am for dragon boat training at Kallang. I started with the team, The Liechtenstein Princely Navy, about four years ago after a regular customer invited me to join.

Teamwork is important at a restaurant. I like that dragon boating is the same – everyone has to pull together towards the same target. Men from all around the world – in their 30s to 50s – are in my team. I’m the only one in the food and beverage industry. The others come from banking, crypto or real estate development.

We take part in five or six races a year, and we do quite well. We got to the semi-finals in one competition. I have become more fit and muscular from the training, but I don’t have a six-pack yet.

The training ends around 10am, so I go home to play tennis or pickleball with friends. I’m a tennis beginner and hired a coach three years ago because I want to play with my wife Yoshiko, who has played for some time. I want to beat her in tennis one day, so I have to practise more.

There is a lot of stress in the F&B industry, so sports is a good way to destress. I used to play basketball in school.

My wife and I just had a baby, so I like to spend time with them on Sundays. In the afternoon, the three of us go for a walk around the Singapore River and have lunch there.

Sometimes, in the evening, we might have a barbecue with friends at my place or theirs. I help to make something simple, like grilled beef or fish.

I like exploring parts of Singapore. When I moved here, I had an apartment in the Bukit Timah area. It was close to the Rail Corridor and other green areas. If I could choose again, I would like to live in an area like that, where it is quiet and close to nature.

On Mondays, my wife, an assistant relationship manager at a bank, is at work, so I am fully in charge of the baby. I might take him for a walk near where I live in River Valley Road. Kou is only six months old, so I make sure he gets his milk and change his diapers. There are many things to do when you look after a baby, but it’s quite fun.

A lot of restaurants are closed on Sundays and Mondays, but sometimes, there are pop-up events. Recently, my wife and I enjoyed Canchita restaurant’s El Taco Secreto event in Dempsey Hill.”

Info: Takayama Japanese Restaurant is at 01-09/10 Downtown Gallery, 6A Shenton Way. Opening hours are Tuesdays to Saturdays, noon to 2.30pm, and 7 to 10.30pm. Go to takayama.com.sg for more information.