Season 2

January 9, 1994

January 16, 1994

January 23, 1994

January 30, 1994

February 6, 1994

February 13, 1994

February 20, 1994

February 27, 1994

March 6, 1994

March 13, 1994

March 20, 1994

March 27, 1994

April 8, 1994

April 15, 1994

The challenger is the first to come from Kyoto. Kyoto-style cuisine has a 1,200 year tradition. The challenger was picked by the chairman of the Kyoto Chefs Association. He decided to become a chef way back in elementary school after receiving a knife from his grandfather. Takahashi, "Kyoto style cuisine is basically mild. It is light in flavor. So I have confidence in controlling flavors at a very fine level." Judges: Tamio Kageyama (Novelist), Mayuko Takata (Actress), Masaaki Hirano (Rosanjin Scholar)

April 22, 1994

Sakai must face a former apprentice. Which will prevail - Sakai's traditional methods or Nakagawa's nouveau "third wave" style? Judges: Tamio Kageyama (Novelist), Mayuko Takata (Actress), Asako Kishi (Critic)

April 29, 1994

Commentator Dr. Hattori issues a challenge to Michiba and is rewarded with an incredible secret ingredient. Judges: Joel Robuchon (Chef), Mai Kitajima (Actress), Masaaki Hirano (Rosanjin Scholar)

May 6, 1994

Italian chef Hiromi was a legend. After beset by personal tragedy and financial ruin, he seeks redemption in Kitchen Stadium. Judges: Shinichiro Kurimoto (Politician), Mayuko Takata (Actress), Masaaki Hirano (Rosanjin Scholar)

May 13, 1994

Sakai faces the first sushi master in a fish battle for the ages. Judges: Daijiro Hashimoto (Governor of Kochi), Mai Kitajima (Actress), Masaaki Hirano (Rosanjin Scholar)

May 20, 1994

Hot-flame Chinese cuisine is the challenger's specialty. Judges: Yasushi Akimoto (Music Producer), Mayuko Takata (Actress), Masaaki Hirano (Rosanjin Scholar)

May 27, 1994

It's a rematch from the World Chinese Cooking contest. Kiyoshi won 3rd, but Chen won 2nd. This time it's war. Judges: Yasushi Akimoto (Songwriter/Producer), Mayuko Takata (Actress), Asako Kishi (Critic)

June 3, 1994

Fermented soy beans are the featured ingredient in this battle between two master chefs. The challenger is a certified Maestro of the the Japanese Cuisine Seminar Group, a Japanese chefs organization that has over 20,000 members. Michiba is also a certified Maestro and the leader of the group. Judges: Tamio Kageyama (Novelist), Ristuko Tanaka (Actress), Masaaki Hirono (Rosanjin Scholar)

June 10, 1994

Kandagawa brings his apprentice to kitchen stadium for a sweetfish battle.

June 17, 1994

Sea Urchin provides a young chef the chance to revolutionalize Chinese cooking. Judges: Tamio Kageyama (Novelist), Mayuko Takata (Actress), Masaaki Hirano (Rosanjin Scholar)

June 24, 1994

The challenger has been the top chef at one of Japan's 3 star French eateries. Judges: Kazuyoshi Okuyama (Director), Mayuko Takata (Actress), Masaaki Hirano (Rosanjin Scholar)

July 1, 1994

The challenger is a nomad. He's worked in 200 plus restaurants, so cooking in the new environment of Kitchen Stadium is no challenge. Judges: Toshio Yamaguchi (Politician), Mayuko Takata (Actress), Masaaki Hirano (Rosanjin Scholar)

July 8, 1994

Knife skills will be put to the test in battle tuna. The challenger carries one of the longest knives in Japan. Despite his father being against it, the challenger began to apprentice at age 17. He is well versed in Tea Ceremony dining. He is now head chef at a restaurant visited by many Japanese Prime Ministers. He has chosen to battle Michiba because he does not like the way the Iron Chef uses non-traditional ingredients in Japanese dishes. The theme ingredient cost approximately $10,000. Judges: Shinichiro Kurimoto (Politician), Mayuko Takata (Actress), Asako Kishi (Critic)

July 15, 1994

Shimizu is a sous chef at the world famous Tour D'Argent. Both chefs appreciate the quality of these expensive lobsters. Judges: Shinichiro Kurimoto, Shyoko Tamura, Masaaki Hirano

July 22, 1994

Paul Bocuse sends two trusted apprentices to take not one, but two, iron chefs. This is the first time two Iron Chefs have been in Kitchen Stadium at the same time. Judges: Shinichiro Kurimoto (Politician), Kazuko Katoh (Actress), Mayuko Takata (Actress), Masaaki Hirano

July 29, 1994

August 5, 1994

Kandagawa sends another apprentice to take down the Iron Chef in this slippery battle eel. If this challenger does not defeat Michiba, Kandagawa himself will come to Kitchen Stadium to challenge the Iron Chef. Judges: Tamio Kageyama (Novelist), Mayuko Takata (Actress), Masaaki Hirano (Rosanjin Scholar)

August 12, 1994

Still smarting from his challenger's defeat in Sea Urchin Battle, leading gourmet writer Masuhiro Yamamoto sends another contender - Koyama, who is so popular he is a recurring character in a cooking-themed manga.

August 19, 1994

Chen faces the second female chef in kitchen stadium. She is a television icon to many Japanese housewives. Both chefs enjoy fame. One's an Iron Chef, the other hosts a popular cooking show. Spuds will fly in battle potato.

August 26, 1994

Considered the bad boy of French cooking, Keiji takes on Michiba in a battle of culinary rebels. The challenger earned the nickname Hound Dog after a 2 hour argument with Joel Robuchon about his food. He has over 10,000 recipes written down in French. He writes in French, thinks in French, and even says he dreams in French. Judges: Yasushi Akimoto (Song Writer), Julie Dreyfus (Actress),Masaaki Hirano (Rosanjin Scholar)

September 2, 1994

Aguri Suzuki (Race car driver) and Ukyo Katayama (Race car Driver) recommend the hybrid French-Italian challenger. Osako is a heavyweight contender out to challenge Iron Chef Chinese in this mushroom battle.

September 9, 1994

The challenger is a German-born French cuisine specialist. The challenger has traveled through numerous countries collecting recipes and cooking for VIPs. Will his deficiency in the Japanese language hinder his cooking? Judges: Shigesato Itoi (Copy Writer), Kazuko Katoh (Actress), Masaaki Hirano (Rosanjin Scholar)

September 16, 1994

Hiroi is a Nouvelle French Chef set to battle cutting edge Japanese master Michiba.

September 23, 1994

Kitchen stadium becomes a temple of food as for the first time a Buddhist Priest enters for Battle: Yam

September 30, 1994

Chen must face a man who was his father's trusted apprentice. When they both prepare his father's signature dish, who will win?

October 7, 1994

Sakai attempts to use a traditional "Japanese" ingredient in his French cuisine

October 14, 1994

The 50th battle in Kitchen Stadium. The challenger is the best in Hong Kong and considered one of the top three chefs in all of China. He says he has never lost in a competition he has entered. Can he keep his winning streak going in Kitchen Stadium? Judges: Shigesato Itoi (Copy Writer), Ryuichi Sakamoto (Composer), Asako Kishi (Culinary Critic)

October 21, 1994

October 28, 1994

The challenger, a great Italian talent, was thought to have disappeared. He makes his return in a surprise kitchen stadium appearance.

November 4, 1994

Michiba attacks a rising young apprentice from his hometown who critics have nicknamed "Little Michiba", in this angler assault. He uses the borderless cooking approach that made Iron Chef Michiba successful. Because of the time required to filet the theme fish, this battle is 15 minutes longer than usual. Judges: Shinichiro Kurimoto (Lower House Member), Mayuko Takata (Actress), Asako Kishi (Culinary Critic)

November 11, 1994

November 18, 1994

An actor known for his cooking skills wants a chance to see what it is like to battle in Kitchen Stadium. Judges: Shinichiro Kurimoto (Lower House Member), Hisoko Monda (Actress), Masaaki Hirano (Rosanjin Scholar)

November 25, 1994

Quail is the perfect secret ingredient...for the challenger. Can Sakai compete against this master of wild game cooking?

December 2, 1994

This challenger is the right hand man of famous chef Zhou Tomitoku. He won the bronze medal at the All China Cooking Skills Contest, beating out 300 other chefs. Noodle Battle Special Rule: Challenger will cook for 60 minutes, then tasting. Iron Chef will cook for 50 minutes, then cook for his final 10 minutes after challenger tasting is completed. Judges: Tamio Kageyama (Novelist), Mayuko Takata (Actress), Asako Kishi (Culinary Critic)

December 9, 1994

The challenger is a favorite of the manager of the Yakult Swallows baseball team. He is the chef at the hotel where they stay when they come to Osaka to play the Hanshin Tigers. He was once the head chef at the Japanese embassy to Morocco. He is skilled at preparing Cajun food. Many members of the Yakult Swallows are present to watch the battle. Judges: Tamio Kageyama (Novelist), Mayuko Takata (Actress), Asako Kishi (Critic)

December 16, 1994

Christmas day brings a strawberry battle and a female competitor. Sakai has a poor track record against women competitors. Will victory be his Christmas present?

December 23, 1994

The three battles that make up the "Mr. Iron Chef 1994" tournament. Four challengers battle each other and the winner faces an Iron Chef in the first episode of the next year.