{{Short description|Japanese chef of Kim Jong-il (born 1947)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2015}} {{Eastern name order|Fujimoto Kenji}} {{Infobox person | name = Kenji Fujimoto | image = | alt = | caption = | native_name = 藤本 健二 | native_name_lang = ja | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1947}} | birth_place = Japan | other_names = | citizenship = | education = | alma_mater = | occupation = Chef, writer | known_for = Personal chef of Kim Jong Il, defector | notable_works = ''Kim's Private Life'', ''The Honorable General Who Loved Nuclear Weapons and Girls''<br>''Kim's Chef''<br>''I was Kim Jong-il's Cook'' (2003) | party = | spouse = | partner = | children = | parents = | relatives = }}

{{nihongo|'''Kenji Fujimoto'''|藤本 健二|Fujimoto Kenji|born 1947}} is a Japanese chef who was the personal sushi chef of former North Korean leader Kim Jong Il from 1988 to 2001. Fujimoto, who uses a pseudonym and whose real name is not public knowledge, published a memoir in 2003 entitled ''I was Kim Jong-il's Cook'', detailing many of his experiences with Kim Jong Il. Fujimoto correctly predicted that Kim Jong Un (who was relatively unknown at that time) would be appointed as his father's successor as Supreme Leader instead of Kim Jong-nam or Kim Jong-chul, which was contrary to the prevailing consensus of experts on North Korean politics.<ref>{{cite news|last=Fifield|first=Anna|title=What do we know about Kim Jong Un? Very little. That makes this guy an expert.|date=January 8, 2016|access-date=April 25, 2020|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/what-do-we-know-about-kim-jong-un-very-little-that-makes-this-guy-an-expert/2016/01/08/6fde1b98-b3bd-11e5-8abc-d09392edc612_story.html}}</ref> Fujimoto's prediction proved true in December 2011.

A leaked U.S. diplomatic cable from Tokyo revealed that he was the best and often the sole source of North Korean information for Japan's Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2011/02/22/news/cable-leak-japan-has-spy-agency |title=Cable leak: Japan has spy agency |work=The Japan Times |date=February 22, 2011 |access-date=August 4, 2018 |archive-date=July 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190720114835/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2011/02/22/news/cable-leak-japan-has-spy-agency |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Biography==

===Arrival in North Korea=== Fujimoto first visited North Korea in 1982.<ref name=at>Foster-Carter, Aidan (July 2, 2003). [https://web.archive.org/web/20030703053537/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Korea/EG02Dg02.html Cook and tell: Another chef spills the beans]. ''Asia Times Online''.</ref> Six years later, he became Kim's personal sushi chef on a salary of £45,000 a year ({{inflation|UK|45000|1988|fmt=eq|r=-3|cursign=£}}),<ref name=guardian>McCurry, Justin (March 18, 2004). [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/mar/18/northkorea Kim Jong-il's chef spills the beans] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707122734/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/mar/18/northkorea |date=July 7, 2018 }}. ''The Guardian''.</ref> and was given two Mercedes cars.<ref name=watts>Watts, Jonathan (July 20, 2003). [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/jul/20/northkorea Chef serves up Kim's life of sushi and orgy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309021007/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/jul/20/northkorea |date=March 9, 2021 }}. ''The Guardian''.</ref> Soon after, he became Kim's companion; both men, according to Kenji, went shooting, riding and water-skiing together. He confirmed a widely believed rumour that Kim had a serious fall from his horse in 1992, breaking his collar bone and lying unconscious for several hours.<ref name=at/>

===Claims=== Fujimoto states that Kim Jong Il had a taste for "live fish"<ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/North-Korean-leader-gobbles-live-fish-with-gusto/articleshow/4612654.cms North Korean leader gobbles live fish with gusto]. ''The Times of India''. June 3, 2009. {{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref><ref>Leach, Ben (June 3, 2009). [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/5434529/North-Koreas-Kim-Jong-il-eats-live-fish-claims-former-chef.html North Korea's Kim Jong-il 'eats live fish' claims former chef] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124110517/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/5434529/North-Koreas-Kim-Jong-il-eats-live-fish-claims-former-chef.html |date=November 24, 2020 }}. ''The Daily Telegraph''.</ref> and expensive alcohol such as French wines and brandies, particularly Hennessy cognac,<ref>Joyce, Colin (July 21, 2003). [http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/07/20/1058639658967.html Catering to the excesses of a self-indulgent dictator] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514022052/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/07/20/1058639658967.html |date=May 14, 2013 }}. ''The Age''.</ref> while claiming that both Jong-il and his third son, Kim Jong Un, "both like shark fin soup three times a week".<ref name=abc>[https://archive.today/20121231092348/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/06/04/2588913.htm?section=world Chef lifts lid on Kim's cognac kid]. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. June 4, 2009</ref> According to Fujimoto, he would travel the world for Kim Jong Il, all expenses paid, purchasing Chinese melons, Czech beer, Uzbek caviar, Thai papayas and Danish pork.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20040830001003/http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200406/200406270015.html Kim Jong-il Satisfies his Gourmet Appetite while his People Starve]. ''The Chosun Ilbo''. June 27, 2004.</ref> On one occasion, an envoy was sent to China to retrieve some McDonald's hamburgers.<ref>Bone, James (October 14, 2006). [http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/asia/article2609967.ece UN takes aim at Kim's luxuries] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219211442/http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/asia/article2609967.ece |date=December 19, 2013 }}. ''The Times''.</ref> Kim's wine cellar contains 10,000 bottles, he said,<ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna31748449 North Korea runs its first televised beer ad] . NBC News. July 5, 2009.</ref> and the banquets that Kim holds have lasted for four days.<ref name=tt>McCurry, Justin (July 17, 2006). [http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2006/07/17/2003319224 Kim Jong-il's wine, women and bombs] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225040805/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2006/07/17/2003319224 |date=February 25, 2021 }}. ''Taipei Times''.</ref> Fujimoto also said there was an institute based in Pyongyang staffed by 200 individuals devoted entirely to Kim Jong Il's diet, ensuring he ate the best and most healthy foods.<ref>Demick, Barbara (June 26, 2004). [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jun-26-fg-gourmet26-story.html Rich Taste in a Poor Country] . ''The Los Angeles Times''.</ref>

He also spoke of "Kim's Pleasure Squad": young women chosen to dance for, sing for and bathe Kim; they would be instructed to undress while other guests were not allowed to touch them, with Kim saying that would amount to "theft".<ref>[http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/03/18/1079199368074.html Fear of chef who pampered Kim] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180401213249/https://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/03/18/1079199368074.html |date=April 1, 2018 }}. ''Sydney Morning Herald''. March 18, 2004.</ref> He said that Kim liked disco music, and preferred watching others dance, rather than dancing himself.<ref name=cbs>Petrun, Erin (December 21, 2006). [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kim-jong-il-party-guy/ Kim Jong Il: Party Guy] . CBS News. December 21, 2006</ref> Fujimoto said he himself later married one of the women at a drunken wedding,<ref name=watts/> where he passed out on cognac and woke to find his pubic hair shaved.<ref>Kurlantzick, Joshua (October 2006) [https://www.gq.com/news-politics/big-issues/200610/north-korea-power-struggle "The World's Most Dangerous Power Struggle"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524141528/http://www.gq.com/news-politics/big-issues/200610/north-korea-power-struggle |date=May 24, 2015 }}. ''GQ''.</ref>

He has described Kim Jong Il as having a "violent temper".<ref name=tt/> In an interview on Japanese commercial television, he says that Kim Jong Un, then the heir apparent of Jong-il, "knows how to be angry and how to praise. He has the ability to lead people... also he loves basketball, roller-blading, snowboarding and skiing... I watched him play golf once and he reminded me of a top Japanese professional."<ref name=abc/> Fujimoto says he was handed a photo of Jong-un when he was younger, adding they refused to share recent photos with him. He was told not to make the photo public; however, in February 2009, he released the photo.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090319041552/http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200902/200902130004.html 1st Picture of Kim Jong-il's Youngest Son Revealed]. ''The Chosun Ilbo''. February 13, 2009.</ref> Jong-il's other son, Kim Jong-chul, was said by Jong-il to be "too feminine and unfit for leadership".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20101030033011/http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Asia/Story/STIStory_338808.html Brother-in-law is kingmaker]. ''The Straits Times''. February 15, 2009.</ref>

In addition to these claims, Fujimoto spoke of a nuclear accident in 1995 at an unnamed plant, where several workers became ill and lost their teeth,<ref name=at/> and that Kim Jong Il was severely affected by his father's death in 1994, and was even found with a gun at one point.<ref name=at/> He was also reported to have asked Fujimoto in 1989 what he thought about nuclear weapons.<ref name=at/>

===Escape from North Korea=== Fujimoto has stated that he thought about leaving for Japan permanently on several occasions while in North Korea. On a visit to Japan in 1996, he was arrested after carrying a fake Dominican Republic passport.<ref name=at/> In March 2001, shortly before he escaped via China to Japan for fear he was being spied upon,<ref name=at/> he said he presented a videotape to Kim Jong Il of a sea urchin dish from a Japanese television show which he promised he would cook for him. Fujimoto said he would travel to Hokkaido to buy some sea urchin, to which Kim replied "That's a great idea. Go for it!"<ref name=fuji>Fujimoto (2004).</ref> On travelling to Japan, Fujimoto did not return to North Korea, and started living in hiding, after allegedly being targeted by North Korean agents.<ref name=guardian/> He appeared on Japanese television with his face obscured as a "Kim Jong-il expert".<ref name=fuji/> After publishing his memoir, ''I was Kim Jong-il's Cook'', he wore a bullet-resistant vest.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

===Return to North Korea=== In June 2012, Fujimoto received an invitation from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and on July 21, 2012, flew to Pyongyang via Beijing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20120721p2g00m0fp058000c.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120727225626/http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20120721p2g00m0fp058000c.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 27, 2012 |title=Kim Jong Il's ex-chef heads to N. Korea at invitation of Kim Jong Un |date=July 21, 2012 |work=The Mainichi |publisher=The Mainichi Newspapers |location=Japan |access-date=July 24, 2012 }}</ref> During his visit, he reportedly visited Kim Jong Un and his wife, and mentioned that Pyongyang had changed significantly over the previous decade.<ref>September 19, 2012, [https://edition.cnn.com/2012/09/19/world/asia/north-korea-chef/index.html?hpt=hp_c1 Kim Jong Il's sushi chef returns after fleeing for life] , CNN</ref> In 2017, Fujimoto opened Takahashi, a Japanese restaurant in Pyongyang.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sushi in Pyongyang: Japanese chef opens rare restaurant |url=https://www.apnews.com/94ba3376219e44fea206e14ecbc5bbd7 |website=AP NEWS |date=5 March 2017 |access-date=July 23, 2019 |archive-date=July 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723053208/https://www.apnews.com/94ba3376219e44fea206e14ecbc5bbd7 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In June 2019, media reports suggested Fujimoto had been arrested.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ryall |first1=Julian |title=North Korea 'arrests' Japanese chef who served Kim family for 13 years |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/06/28/north-korean-leaders-japanese-chef-arrested-pyongyang/ |website=The Telegraph |date=28 June 2019}}</ref> However, a month later, the British ambassador to North Korea, Colin Crooks, visited Fujimoto at his restaurant.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=ColinCrooks1 |last=Crooks |first=Colin |number=1153533166692511744 |website=Twitter |access-date=23 July 2019 |date=23 July 2019 |title=Lunch today prepared by Master Chef #KenjiFujimoto at his #Pyongyang Japanese restaurant. Sashimi set was excellent #britishembassy #DPRK #NorthKorea}}</ref> Japanese tourists are refused visits.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.koreaworldtimes.com/topics/news/6050/ |script-title=ja:やはり藤本健二氏の日本料理たかはしへ行けなくなっていた 日本人が拒否される理由は？ |publisher=KoreaWorldTimes|date=2019-09-26 |language=ja|access-date=2020-05-18}}</ref>

==Books== Fujimoto has written three books: ''Kim's Chef'', ''Kim's Private Life'' and ''The Honorable General Who Loved Nuclear Weapons and Girls''.<ref name=cbs/> His 2003 memoir ''I was Kim Jong-il's Cook'' (also known as ''Kim's Chef'') was a best-seller in Japan.<ref name=guardian/>

==See also== {{portal|Biography}} *Residences of North Korean leaders that Kenji Fujimoto witnessed firsthand

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

==External links== * Fujimoto, Kenji. (2004). [https://www.theatlantic.com/issues/2004/01/fujimoto.htm I Was Kim Jong Il's Cook]. ''The Atlantic Monthly''. '''293'''(1), 108&mdash;109. * Johnson, Adam. (2013). [https://www.gq.com/news-politics/newsmakers/201306/kim-jong-il-sushi-chef-kenji-fujimoto-adam-johnson-2013?printable=true Dear Leader Dreams of Sushi] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131226075708/http://www.gq.com/news-politics/newsmakers/201306/kim-jong-il-sushi-chef-kenji-fujimoto-adam-johnson-2013?printable=true |date=December 26, 2013 }}. ''GQ'' July 2013..

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Fujimoto, Kenji}} Category:1947 births Category:Living people Category:Japanese chefs Category:Japanese memoirists Category:21st-century Japanese writers Category:Pseudonymous writers Category:Japanese expatriates in North Korea