Born in 1956 to Indian parents and educated in England, my journey into the world of retail was not one of choice but necessity. Before completing my first year at university, I was thrust into managing a thriving family pharmacy business—a responsibility that instilled in me the resilience and vision to carve my own path. 

Determined to build something of my own, I launched a children’s fashion brand, spanning retail, wholesale, and manufacturing. By 1987, my venture had grown to such prominence that it was acquired by a publicly listed national retailer in a multi-million-pound deal—a defining moment that granted me the rare luxury of time to seek out my true life’s calling. 

 A Culinary Awakening : With an insatiable curiosity and a newfound freedom, I embarked on a global journey, immersing myself in the cultural and culinary traditions of the world. It was in the unassuming surroundings of a small Izakaya on the outskirts of Tokyo that fate intervened. There, in the dim glow of a humble eatery in Shin-Matsudo, I encountered Kamiya-San, the chef-patron whose philosophy on life and craftsmanship would forever alter my course. 

Seeing a conviction in me that even I had yet to fully grasp, Kamiya-San took a bold risk—staking his own reputation to secure me an apprenticeship with one of Japan’s most revered nokaji (master blacksmiths). What began as an introduction soon became an obsession. I dedicated the next decade to the relentless pursuit of understanding and mastering the artistry of mankind’s most fundamental tool—the cutting edge.