The Sad Truth About Masaharu Morimoto's Childhood

Chef Masaharu Morimoto is quite iconic. According to his official website, the chef has hustled hard to become successful in the food industry. His most loved venture is his chain of restaurants, with establishments in Philadelphia, India, Mexico City, Las Vegas, Japan, Orlando, and more. His biggest strength? The chef is not afraid to experiment and combine both Japanese and Western cuisines to create a unique blend of dishes. 

Morimoto also gets recognized for being a solid participant on "Japan's Iron Men of Cooking" in the 1990s. The determined chef also made a mark with his impressive cooking skills in "Iron Chef America." Plus, Morimoto has written acclaimed cookbooks, brewed sake and other alcoholic beverages, created kitchen knives, and more. 

The chef was born and raised in Japan. He grew up in Hiroshima, where he aspired to become a baseball player. An unfortunate injury to his shoulder derailed that ambition, and Morimoto started cooking, specializing in sushi. His childhood wasn't easy, though. In fact, he barely received any love or support.

Unfortunately, Morimoto's family wasn't well-off. Food wasn't plentiful, and good food less so; they ate out as a family once a month, he told CBS News in 2016. It also didn't help that Morimoto's mom wasn't great in the kitchen. His parents often engaged in ugly fights, something that upset people around them and led to the family changing homes several times. Morimoto's father had a bad temper and wouldn't hesitate to get violent. According to the Japan Times, Morimoto's dad was also addicted to alcohol. Life was tough at home.

There was some respite in the form of sushi during those monthly restaurant experiences. The occasional restaurant visits were enough to leave the young Morimoto fascinated. He said, "The chefs were so cool, and the sushi was very good. We were so happy, and everyone was smiling."

If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). Also, if you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.