Get to Know Us

Joel started his career in the family business, working in a machining shop. This is where he first learned great attention to detail and intricate craftsmanship with his hands. In 2009, he decided to follow his passion and went to learn more at the Sushi Chef Institute. He worked at various sushi restaurants in the Los Angeles area and in the Inland Empire, honing his craft, learning from several Japanese chefs. Joel met Regie at one of these restaurants and they found that their skills complemented each other and they made a great team. In 2018, the idea for Kisetsu was born. Kisetsu means “seasonal” in Japanese and they wanted to have menu offerings that reflected ingredients that were in season. In 2019, Kisetsu started having pop-up dinner events at Packing House Wines in downtown Claremont, where Joel and Regie created tasting menus with eight to ten courses that went beyond just sushi alone. These events were held monthly, and had many repeat customers. When the pandemic hit, indoor dining was banned and Kisetsu went in a different direction. In 2020 and 2021, Kisetsu began offering to-go boxes of sushi, and Joel and Regie strove to make each box more spectacular than the previous one. In September 2022, Kisetsu took over Hayato Sushi and Grill, and Michio and Mika were so kind to teach Joel and Regie some of their recipes. Now, Kisetsu Restaurant thrives with Hayato’s former customers, Joel and Regie’s former followers, as well as newcomers eager to try what our restaurant has to offer. In 2023, Junya joined the team, bringing knowledge from his varied experiences, including his time working with Iron Chef Morimoto. We are grateful to our family, friends, and everyone who has followed our journey from pop-ups to sushi boxes and now our restaurant. Kisetsu Restaurant will continue to offer seasonal selections for everyone to enjoy.