Your guides

Nic Watt Nic Watt moved to Japan in 1996, where his great love of the traditions of Japanese cuisine began. Before returning to New Zealand in 2012, he gained experience in highly successful restaurants such as London’s Park Hyatt Knightsbridge, Michelin-starred Japanese restaurant Nobu, and London’s Roka, as well as others in Hong Kong and the United States. Between 2001 and 2004, he served as executive chef at Taupo’s Huka Lodge. In 2013 he opened Masu at Auckland’s Sky City, winning a number of awards. Of Japanese cooking, Watt loves what he calls the ’’perfection of simplicity’’.

Andrew McCormick The son of All Black Fergie McCormick, he moved to Japan to play for Toshiba Fuchu in 1992. He was a powerful centre who had a large impact and played 25 times for the Japan national rugby union team, which he captained during the 1999 Rugby World Cup. A hugely popular player, he began coaching at Toshiba, then became a player and technical adviser at Kamaishi Seawaves. McCormick is head coach of Kwansei Gakuin University’s rugby club. He has spent more than two decades in Japan.

Bernadette Courtney An award-winning journalist who was most recently the editor of The Dominion Post in Wellington, Bernadette Courtney has travelled extensively and recently went on a five-day food tour through Tokyo. She loves the dedication to and craft around Japanese food.