From Lottery Winner to Culinary King: The Journey of Kei Kurusu
Kei Kurusu’s rise to becoming a culinary icon is a fascinating story that begins with a lottery win and evolves into a successful career in the food industry. His journey is a testament to how passion and opportunity can lead to extraordinary achievements.
From a young age, Kurusu had an exceptional appetite. “At the age of 10, I could eat over 10 kg of food every day,” Kurusu, now 45, recalled in a late July interview.
Kurusu’s passion for food continued into his university years. With only one yen a day to spend on eating out, he started playing the lottery, hoping to fund his cravings. To his surprise, he won 200 million yen.
“The night I found out I won, my mind went blank,” Kurusu said. The next morning, he collected his winnings. He remembers the person who handed him the money advised him not to waste it. “But all I could think was that I could now eat whatever I wanted without worrying about money,” Kurusu added.
Kurusu began visiting restaurants, indulging in his love for food, and spent the entire 200 million yen in five years. His extensive culinary experiences led him to publish a book, The King of Gourmet, in 2004. The media buzzed about the young man with a voracious appetite. It was through TV that Kurusu’s parents learned about their son’s lottery win and his extravagant spending.
Leveraging his personal experiences, Kurusu opened Eculé in 2005, training young chefs and contributing to the development of Japanese cuisine. In 2009, he launched a high-end restaurant in Tokyo, “Bon.nu,” which serves only three groups of guests each day.
“Great food is like a puzzle, where you piece together different elements to complete the flavor profile,” Kurusu explained.
Kurusu believes that even without winning the lottery, he would have pursued his culinary passion. However, the 200 million yen allowed him to gain broader perspectives and deeper insights into the food world.
“A person who has eaten at just 10 restaurants is very different from someone who has dined at 2,000,” Kurusu remarked. “I’m proud of my unique experiences that no one else has.”
Kei Kurusu’s story is not just about luck but about seizing opportunities and following one’s passion with relentless dedication. His journey from a lottery winner to a culinary king offers inspiration and a unique perspective on the transformative power of pursuing one’s dreams.
