Sato Ryo

LA TRACE's 'footprints' concept reflects Sato's practice of personally visiting every farm that supplies the restaurant. He sources from small Nara Prefecture producers — Yamato vegetables, Yamato beef, Yoshino mountain ingredients — connecting French culinary technique to the ancient agricultural landscape of Japan's first capital.

Sato Ryo is the chef of LA TRACE, a one-Michelin-star French restaurant in Nara near the station. The restaurant's name means 'footprints' in French — reflecting his philosophy of tracing ingredients back to their origins by building direct relationships with local Nara farmers and producers. His French cuisine is rooted in Yamato terroir.

Japan — trained in French cuisine; developed direct farm relationships in Nara Prefecture

Career

• Chef at French restaurants in Japan, Japan (2000s–2015)
• Owner-Chef at LA TRACE, Nara, Japan (2015–present)

Mentored by French culinary tradition.