Founded in 2004 to support the advancement and spread of Japanese cuisine both in Japan and internationally, the JAPANESE CULINARY ACADEMY is engaged in education, cultural, and technical research, as well as in disseminating the results of its research. JCA activities also include professional training, nutritional education, and exchange programs for chefs around the world. The Chairman of the organization, Yoshihiro Murata, is the owner/chef of the acclaimed kaiseki restaurant Kikunoi, with branches in Kyoto and Tokyo. Murata is the author of Kaiseki and Japanese Home Cooking with Master Chef Murata, both published by Kodansha USA.