Jōichirō Yukihira

Jōichirō Yukihira (also known as Jōichirō Saiba in his earlier years) is Sōma Yukihira's father and the owner of Restaurant Yukihira in the anime Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma.

He is a legendary, world-class chef and a prodigy who attended Tōtsuki Culinary Academy as part of the 69th Generation. There, he was a former resident of Polar Star Dormitory, joined the Elite Ten Council as a freshman (starting at 7th seat and rising to 2nd seat), and earned a fearsome reputation as "Asura" for his unparalleled skill and unorthodox creations. However, he left the academy without graduating due to overwhelming pressure and expectations from peers.

Despite not finishing school, Jōichirō became widely revered in the culinary world for his genius and versatility. He pioneered the eclectic Yukihira Style of cooking, which emphasizes creative experimentation, trial and error, and blending countless techniques without being bound by tradition—this style was later passed on to his son Sōma.

Personality-wise, Jōichirō is laid-back, eccentric, and charismatic with a playful side (often saying "It wasn't much!" after amazing feats), but he turns intensely focused and professional when cooking. He's a supportive mentor and friendly rival to Sōma, frequently challenging him to cook-offs at their family diner while encouraging his growth without pressure. He's also a widower who rediscovered his passion for cooking through his late wife's family restaurant.