Death of famed sushi chain founder revealed by friend
Sushi entrepreneur Ricky Cheng Wai-tao died earlier this month at the age of 57 after battling pancreatic cancer for several years, a friend of the legendary businessman has revealed.
Edmund Leung Chun-yu, CEO of restaurant operator King of Catering, said the founder of Itacho Sushi and Itamae Sushi brands died in Tokyo on April 2.
A social media post by Leung on April 9 only came to the wider public’s attention on Monday night, prompting some internet users to offer their condolences.
“Boss of Itamae and Itacho, Cheng Wai-tao, died [on April 2] after battling with cancer,” Leung wrote. The King of Catering CEO told the Post yesterday that the news of his friend’s death had caught him off guard.
“It was a very sudden news … also a bit emotional when learning a friend is gone,” he said. “We had also agreed to meet next time in Japan for a drink.”
Leung said he only learned of Cheng’s death after someone approached him to ask whether he would be interested in buying the businesses behind the Itamae and Itacho sushi brands.
The Post has approached Itacho Sushi for comment.
Cheng, who was known for his frequent television appearances, was the first non-Japanese person to claim the prize lot at an annual tuna auction in Tsukiji Market in Tokyo after he paid HK$430,000 for a bluefin in 2008.
Sometimes known as Ricky San, or “Mr Ricky” in Japanese, Cheng launched the first outlet for Itamae Sushi in Tsim Sha Tsui in 2004. After the success of the first branch, Cheng registered the trademark for “Itamae” and “Itacho”, before personally opening a number of other restaurants under both brands.
He was later embroiled in legal battles with his former business partners for operating competing sushi restaurants.
Amid a legal dispute in 2017, Cheng revealed he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.