Marcio Edagi is a third generation nikkei Japanese-Brazilian who has always been passionate about preserving his cultural roots and traditions. Growing up in a family that placed a strong emphasis on Japanese cuisine, Marcio was instilled with a deep appreciation for the art form and the emotional connection it can evoke.

Marcio's career has been marked by a strong understanding of traditional Japanese cuisine, which he has cultivated over time. However, his main focus has been on producing and fixing various television shows that are shot in Japan. Many of these shows have highlighted the country's unique cuisine, and have featured notable figures such as Anthony Bourdain, Miljuschka Witzenhausen, Sergio Herman, Rene Redzepi, and David Chang. Marcio has also worked on other popular shows, including The Kardashians Take Japan, Naomi Osaka, Chasing Waves, Making the Cut, and Peking Express.

Even though he has been working as a producer for over 20 years it was in 2015, when he founded his own production company, Imago Machina, which has worked on a range of projects, for Apple TV+, Disney +, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, NHK and CNN.

Marcio is committed to sharing his expertise and showcasing the art form and perfection of Japanese cuisine to the world, emphasizing the umami flavor that is unique to this island nation.

In addition to his accomplishments in the film and television industry, Marcio is also a passionate knife collector and a proud member of Sushi Saito. His deep appreciation for Japanese culture runs in his family, with several of his aunts pursuing careers in the food industry and one of his uncles working working as a farmer in Japan.

Marcio's name, which means "the branch of a tree" in Japanese, reflects his connection to the earth and the importance of preserving cultural heritage for future generations. He strives to continue promoting and honoring his family's traditions through his work.

Irene Herrera is a filmmaker and producer, born to a Cuban-Venezuelan family and raised in Miami. She has lived in Japan for the last 23 years, arriving as a recipient of the Monbukagusho scholarship to complete graduate studies at Nihon University's School of Art. She later became a journalism and film professor at Temple University's Japan Campus.

Upon arriving in Japan, Irene was immediately captivated by macrobiotic cooking, a traditional food philosophy prevalent in Japanese households. Her love for food and tea led her to become a connoisseur of Japanese cuisine, participating in dozens of tea ceremonies and exploring the country's unique shojin ryori at temples across Japan.

Throughout her career, Irene has worked on a wide variety of film and television projects. Her work has taken her all over Japan, from tea and wasabi fields to sake breweries, soy sauce kuras, family owned handmade mochi factories, and countless markets. She has filmed Mads Refslund as he forages with chef Yoshihiro Imai, renowned chef David Chang as he explores Tokyo and Noma founder René Redzepi as he meets some of the best sushi chefs in the country.

As a self-proclaimed matcha, mate, and cacao junkie, as well as a sibarita, Irene has a deep reverence for the vegetable and natural world. She has volunteered on Japanese farms, gaining a profound appreciation for the seasonality of Japanese food. In her free time, she has studied Thai cooking and enjoys Peruvian, Italian, Middle Eastern, Mexican cuisine, and all things vegan.

For Irene, eating is a sacred ceremony, and she believes in thanking the spirits of the plant and animal world for the energy they bring to our lives. She is passionate about intentional food and the nourishment it provides for both our bodies and souls.

In addition to her work in the film industry, Irene has also collaborated with the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) and the Prime Minister's Office to showcase Japan's cultural and human treasures through small documentaries and travel-related shoots. Her unique anthropological perspective on Japan and Tokyo adds depth and richness to her work.

Irene has traveled to over 75 countries and is proficient in five languages. Whether it be through storytelling, breaking bread or having a cup of tea, she is dedicated to promoting cultural understanding , awareness and a deep appreciation for Japanese culinary arts and culture.