Authenticity as Survival Strategy: The Immigrant Experience of Japanese Chef on Identities and Food

Japanese chefs, as a small group of highly skilled foreign trained professionals, can be viewed as one of relatively privileged minorities in the Canadian multicultural context. However, being "privileged" immigrants does not mean they do not experience settlement challenges and disadvantages derived from their minority status in Canada. This paper delves into their specific challenges and the strategies they utilize to navigate their lives in Toronto, Canada. This study employs the phenomenological approach to illuminate individual experiences by examining how the Japanese culinary scene in Toronto is perceived by a sample of Japanese chefs and Japanese food business owners. Through narrative interviews, I aim to better understand the participants' subjective interpretations of what authenticity in the Japanese food scene is Toronto and how this intersects with their personal sense of cultural identity.