Japanese Cuisine Curriculum Licensing for Culinary Schools, Educational Institutions and Restaurant Groups
License a complete Japanese cuisine curriculum for your students or staff — taught online, in English, and leading to a certification recognized by the Japanese government.
Please note: This page is available in several languages, but
all course materials — the 81 videos, the textbooks and the examination — are currently
provided in English only.
No Japanese language ability is required.
all narrated in English
association was founded
in that association
Japanese Cooking licenses a complete online Japanese cuisine curriculum to culinary schools, educational
institutions, restaurants, hotels and corporate training departments outside Japan.
The program is
supervised by The Association for the Advancement of the Japanese Culinary Art, and students who pass the
Advanced Level examination are registered for the Bronze
Certification of
Cooking Skills for Japanese Cuisine in Foreign Countries, established by Japan’s Ministry of
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF).
At a glance
- Format
- 100% online and self-paced, available 24 hours a day
- Language
- All 81 videos, the textbooks and the examinations are in English
- Courses
- 6 courses, from Beginner to Advanced Intensive
- Group pricing
- From $1,550 for a group of up to 10 students; per-student rates apply from the 11th
- Time to complete
- 2 weeks to 6 months, depending on the course
- Certification
- Japanese Cooking Fundamental Skills Certification; on the Advanced routes, the Bronze Certification of Cooking Skills for Japanese Cuisine in Foreign Countries (MAFF)
- Supervised by
- The Association for the Advancement of the Japanese Culinary Art, founded in 1930
- Please note
- The MAFF Bronze certification is not available to Japanese nationals
Who can license this program
Culinary schools & educational institutions
Add a Japanese cuisine module that leads to a Japanese government-recognized certification to your diploma or certificate curriculum, without hiring a specialist instructor.
Restaurants & restaurant groups
Standardise washoku technique across your kitchen team or across multiple locations.
Useful for
onboarding and for staff development in Japanese restaurants outside Japan.
Hotels, F&B and corporate training
Train banquet, catering and hotel food & beverage staff in authentic Japanese cooking, remotely and at each employee’s own pace.
The base fee for each course covers up to 10 participants.
From the 11th participant onward, a reduced
per-student rate applies.
A login ID is issued to each individual, even when you enroll more than ten
people, so progress can be tracked per student.
What your institution receives
81 video lessons, all narrated in English
Japanese food culture and manners, knife skills, decorative vegetable cutting, rice preparation, seasonings, four kinds of dashi, three basic soups, preparation of six varieties of fish and shellfish, six sashimi, sushi rice and three sushi dishes, three simmered dishes, five grilled dishes, two steamed dishes and three deep-fried dishes.
Students can study at any hour, from anywhere in the world.
Supervised by a Japanese culinary authority
The program is supervised and certified by The Association for the Advancement of the Japanese Culinary Art, Japan’s oldest Japanese culinary research organization, established in 1930, to which more than 10,000 Japanese chefs belong, together with Sunnylive, Inc.
Instructor feedback and membership
Students can ask questions within the online course and receive follow-up support from our instructors.
After completing the course they may register as members and continue learning through live lectures given
by Michelin-starred chefs and owners of established Japanese restaurants.
Six things that set this program apart
Tap a heading to read more.
1All 81 videos are narrated in English
The cooking videos are all narrated in English so that your students can learn
stress-free.
No Japanese language ability is required.
2Authentic cooking method
This program has been supervised by an authoritative organization in the Japanese
culinary world.
It is dedicated to providing up-to-date information and techniques, allowing students to
learn Japanese cuisine systematically from the basics.
3Practical cooking skills
A practical learning program that emphasizes reproducibility, so that students can repeat each dish reliably in your own kitchen.
4Learn based on your students’ skills
There are beginner, intermediate and advanced study programs, and students earn certifications according to their level.
5Instructor feedback
Students can ask questions in the online course and receive full follow-up support from our experts and instructors to ensure thorough understanding.
6Membership after the course
As members, students can attend live lectures given by Michelin-starred chefs and owners of famous Japanese restaurants, allowing them to keep improving and to follow the latest trends in the Japanese food industry.
What a graduate says
Jeffrey Ian Ross, Ph.D. United States — completed the Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced stages and earned the Bronze certification, 2023The course presents a well-structured series of instructional videos.
The slow pacing allows for pausing and note-taking at your own pace.The chef’s detailed feedback on my strengths and areas for improvement proved invaluable.
How the courses fit together
There are three routes to the Advanced Level.
Choose the one that fits your academic calendar.
Route 1 — Intensive learning
Best for: institutions that want students to reach the Advanced Level in a
single self-contained module.
It takes 6 weeks to 6 months, at each student’s own pace.
- Advanced Intensive Course
- Examination
Route 2 — Learning in two stages
Best for: students who already have kitchen experience and do not need the
Beginner Course.
Two terms, with an examination at the end of each.
- Intermediate Course
- Examination
- Advanced Course
- Examination
Route 3 — Learning step by step
Best for: complete beginners, and for year-long curricula where the Japanese cuisine unit runs across several terms.
- Beginner Course
- Examination
- Intermediate Course
- Examination
- Advanced Course
- Examination
Because study is self-paced and available 24 hours a day, each institution can fit the
program to its own timetable.
Only the Advanced Level examination leads to the
MAFF Bronze
certification.
Pricing for schools and companies
Every course has two prices: one fee covering up to 10 participants, and
a per-student fee for the 11th participant onward.
All prices are in US dollars and include
the examination fee and certificate issuance fee.
| Course | Certification | Up to 10 participantsUp to 10 | Each additional participant (11+)Each extra (11+) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | Fundamental Skills | $1,550 | $155 |
| Intermediate (after Beginner) | Fundamental Skills | $1,800 | $180 |
| Intermediate | Fundamental Skills | $3,200 | $320 |
| Advanced (after Intermediate) | Fundamental Skills | $3,200 | $320 |
| Advanced (after Intermediate) | +MAFF Bronze | $5,500 | $550 |
| Advanced Intensive | Fundamental Skills | $5,500 | $550 |
| Advanced Intensive | +MAFF Bronze | $7,700 | $770 |
Example: enrolling 20 students in the Advanced Intensive Course with MAFF Bronze costs $7,700 for the first 10 participants plus $770 × 10 for the remaining 10, i.e. $15,400.
- LevelBeginner
- Entry requirementNone — suitable for complete beginners
- Time to complete2 weeks to 2 months
- Certificate awardedJapanese Cooking Fundamental Skills Certification: Beginner Level
Beginner Course
From $1,550 for a group of up to 10 students
For students learning the basics of Japanese cuisine in a short period.
Leads to the Japanese Cooking
Fundamental Skills Certification: Beginner Level.
Full course outline
What your students will learn
Cooking techniques
- How to prepare rice
- How to make dashi stock (2 kinds)
- How to make basic soup (2 kinds)
- 1 simmered dish
- 2 grilled dishes
- 1 deep-fried dish
Enroll a group
- LevelIntermediate
- Entry requirementThe Beginner Course, or existing kitchen experience
- Time to complete3 weeks to 3 months
- Certificate awardedJapanese Cooking Fundamental Skills Certification: Intermediate Level
Intermediate Course
From $1,800 for a group of up to 10 students
For students who have completed the Beginner Course, or who already have kitchen experience.
Leads to the Japanese Cooking Fundamental Skills Certification: Intermediate Level.
Full course outline
What your students will learn
Fundamental knowledge about Japanese cuisine
- Japanese food culture and manners
- Basic vegetable cutting and decorative cutting techniques
- How to prepare rice
- Basic seasonings, spices and condiments for Japanese food
Cooking techniques
- How to make dashi stock (2 kinds)
- How to make basic soup (2 kinds)
- How to prepare fish and shellfish (3 varieties)
- Sashimi (3 varieties)
- How to make sushi rice
- 2 sushi dishes
- 2 simmered dishes
- 3 grilled dishes
- 1 steamed dish
- 2 deep-fried dishes
Option A · your students took the Beginner Course first
Option B · your students start here, at Intermediate
- LevelAdvanced
- Entry requirementThe Intermediate Course
- Time to complete3 weeks to 3 months
- Certificate awardedJapanese Cooking Fundamental Skills Certification: Advanced Level
Advanced Course
From $3,200 for a group of up to 10 students
For students who have completed the Intermediate Course and want to raise their skills to the
Advanced Level.
Full course outline
What your students will learn
Fundamental knowledge about Japanese cuisine
- Japanese food culture and manners
- How to use kitchen knives
- Basic vegetable cutting and decorative cutting techniques
Cooking techniques
- How to make dashi stock (2 kinds)
- How to make basic soup (1 kind)
- How to prepare fish and shellfish (3 varieties)
- Sashimi (3 varieties)
- How to make sushi rice
- 1 sushi dish
- 1 simmered dish
- 2 grilled dishes
- 1 steamed dish
- 1 deep-fried dish
Enroll a group
- LevelAdvanced
- Entry requirementThe Intermediate Course
- Time to complete3 weeks to 3 months
- Certificate awardedJapanese Cooking Fundamental Skills Certification: Advanced Level, plus the MAFF Bronze certificate and medal
Advanced Course 
+ MAFF Bronze
From $5,500 for a group of up to 10 students
The same Advanced Course, with registration for the Bronze
Certification of
Cooking Skills for Japanese Cuisine in Foreign Countries.
Students who pass receive a Bronze
certificate and a bronze medal acknowledged by the Japanese government.
Full course outline
What your students will learn
Fundamental knowledge about Japanese cuisine
- Japanese food culture and manners
- How to use kitchen knives
- Basic vegetable cutting and decorative cutting techniques
Cooking techniques
- How to make dashi stock (2 kinds)
- How to make basic soup (1 kind)
- How to prepare fish and shellfish (3 varieties)
- Sashimi (3 varieties)
- How to make sushi rice
- 1 sushi dish
- 1 simmered dish
- 2 grilled dishes
- 1 steamed dish
- 1 deep-fried dish
Enroll a group · MAFF Bronze included
- LevelBasic to Advanced, in one module
- Entry requirementNone — the course starts at basic level
- Time to complete6 weeks to 6 months
- Certificate awardedJapanese Cooking Fundamental Skills Certification: Advanced Level
Advanced Intensive Course
From $5,500 for a group of up to 10 students
Basic to advanced level in a single module.
Suitable for institutions that want one self-contained
Japanese cuisine unit rather than a multi-term sequence.
Full course outline
What your students will learn
Fundamental knowledge about Japanese cuisine
- Japanese food culture and manners
- How to use kitchen knives
- Basic vegetable cutting and garnishing techniques
- How to prepare rice
- Basic seasonings, spices and condiments for Japanese food
Cooking techniques
- How to make dashi stock (4 kinds)
- How to make basic soup (3 kinds)
- How to prepare fish and shellfish (6 varieties)
- Sashimi (6 varieties)
- How to make sushi rice
- 3 sushi dishes
- 3 simmered dishes
- 5 grilled dishes
- 2 steamed dishes
- 3 deep-fried dishes
Enroll a group
- LevelBasic to Advanced, in one module
- Entry requirementNone — the course starts at basic level
- Time to complete6 weeks to 6 months
- Certificate awardedJapanese Cooking Fundamental Skills Certification: Advanced Level, plus the MAFF Bronze certificate and medal
Advanced Intensive Course + MAFF Bronze
From $7,700 for a group of up to 10 students
The complete route: basic to advanced level in one module, plus registration for the Bronze
Certification of
Cooking Skills for Japanese Cuisine in Foreign Countries.
Full course outline
What your students will learn
Fundamental knowledge about Japanese cuisine
- Japanese food culture and manners
- How to use kitchen knives
- Basic vegetable cutting and garnishing techniques
- How to prepare rice
- Basic seasonings, spices and condiments for Japanese food
Cooking techniques
- How to make dashi stock (4 kinds)
- How to make basic soup (3 kinds)
- How to prepare fish and shellfish (6 varieties)
- Sashimi (6 varieties)
- How to make sushi rice
- 3 sushi dishes
- 3 simmered dishes
- 5 grilled dishes
- 2 steamed dishes
- 3 deep-fried dishes
Enroll a group · MAFF Bronze included
Eligibility and restrictions
The MAFF Bronze certification is not available to Japanese nationals
The Certification
of Cooking Skills for Japanese Cuisine in Foreign Countries is a Japanese government scheme for chefs of
non-Japanese nationality.
If a participant is found to hold Japanese nationality after registration,
the certificate will be invalidated and no refund will be given.
Please confirm the nationality of
every participant before enrolling a group.
The Japanese Cooking Fundamental Skills Certification itself is issued by The Association for
the Advancement of the Japanese Culinary Art and Sunnylive, Inc.
If you are unsure which parts of the
program your students are eligible for, please ask us before enrolling.
The
national scheme itself is described by Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on its
official page,
Certification
of Cooking Skills for Japanese Cuisine in Foreign Countries.
Technical requirements
Students need an internet connection and a supported browser.
Please check the
recommended learning environment before enrolling a group.
The process to get certified
-
Application.
Click the Add to cart button for the course and group size you need, then register your details to complete the purchase.
Purchase the base fee for up to 10 participants, and add one per-student unit for each additional participant. -
Course implementation.
The course starts within a few business days.
Detailed information about the course and the textbook is sent by e-mail in advance, and an individual login ID is issued for every participant. -
Examination and assignment submission.
Students book their examination and submit their assignment during the course period.
Learning is self-paced and available 24 hours a day. -
Completion and issuance of the certificate.
Students receive their examination and assignment results together with the certificate.
During the course period they can keep viewing the content even after the examination is over.
Registering as a member afterwards is a separate procedure.
Prefer to see it first? Watch part of the course free before committing your students.
What your students need for the course
- A device such as a PC, tablet or smartphone
- An internet connection — see the recommended learning environment
- Basic cooking tools — knives, pots, cutting boards and similar
- Basic seasonings and the ingredients for the program menus
Enroll your group
Pick the course and the number of participants above, then add it to your cart.
Payment is taken in
US dollars through our secure checkout, and login IDs are issued for every participant.
Frequently asked questions
Tap a question to open the answer.
Can culinary schools and educational institutions license this program for their students?
Yes.
Japanese Cooking offers group licensing for culinary schools, educational institutions,
restaurants, hotels and corporate training departments.
You can incorporate the program into your own
curriculum as part of your course offering.
Each participant receives an individual login ID, even when
you enroll more than ten people.
How much does it cost for a school or a company?
Group pricing has two tiers: a single fee covering up to 10 participants, and a per-student fee from
the 11th participant onward.
The Advanced Intensive Course including the MAFF Bronze certification is
USD 7,700 for up to 10 participants and USD 770 per additional student.
The Beginner Course starts at
USD 1,550 for up to 10 participants and USD 155 per additional student.
All prices include the
examination fee and the certificate issuance fee.
Can our students obtain an official Japanese government-recognized certification without traveling to Japan?
Yes.
The entire program is delivered online.
Students who pass the Japanese Cooking Fundamental Skills
Certification: Advanced Level examination are registered for the Bronze Certification of Cooking Skills
for Japanese Cuisine in Foreign Countries, established by Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries, and receive a Bronze certificate and a bronze medal.
Who is not eligible?
The Certification of Cooking Skills for Japanese Cuisine in Foreign Countries is not available to
Japanese nationals.
If a participant is found to hold Japanese nationality after registration, the
certificate will be invalidated and no refund will be given.
Please confirm the nationality of every
participant before enrolling a group.
Who supervises the curriculum?
The program is supervised and certified by The Association for the Advancement of the Japanese Culinary Art, a public interest incorporated association founded in 1930 to which more than 10,000 Japanese chefs belong, together with Sunnylive, Inc.
What language are the lessons in?
All 81 cooking videos are narrated in English, with accompanying textbooks.
The examination is also in
English.
No Japanese language ability is required.
How long does each course take?
Each course has its own length.
The Beginner Course takes 2 weeks to 2 months, the Intermediate Course
3 weeks to 3 months, the Advanced Course 3 weeks to 3 months, and the Advanced Intensive Course 6 weeks
to 6 months.
Students study at their own pace, 24 hours a day, so each institution can fit the program
to its own academic calendar.
Can we try the program before committing our students?
Yes.
A free trial is available so that you can review part of the course content before enrolling your
students.
Ready to talk numbers?
Tell us your participant count and timetable, and we will tell you exactly what it costs.