Natsuko Shoji is one of the world's most innovative and celebrated pastry chefs. As the chef and owner of été and Fleurs d’Été in Tokyo, she has earned prestigious accolades, including Asia's Best Pastry Chef in 2020 and Asia's Best Female Chef in 2022. Shoji's creations blend art, fashion, and haute patisserie, elevating the dessert experience to unparalleled heights.
The Biography
Born in Tokyo in 1989, Natsuko Shoji began her career in traditional Japanese pastry, working alongside some of the top chefs in Tokyo, including Hiroyasu Kawate at Florilège. However, it was her unique vision of merging fashion and dessert that set her apart as one of Japan's most revolutionary pastry chefs. Deeply influenced by haute couture, Shoji views fashion and gastronomy as parallel worlds, both capable of expressing creativity and telling stories through artistic forms.
In 2014, Shoji opened été, initially a small cake boutique, which later evolved into an exclusive restaurant with only six seats. Here, Shoji crafts custom-made desserts for each guest, drawing inspiration from seasonal Japanese ingredients and French fashion. Among her most famous creations is the strawberry cake inspired by Louis Vuitton's Damier pattern and her celebrated mango cake, which has earned her numerous international accolades, including Asia's Best Pastry Chef in 2020.
In 2021, Shoji launched Fleurs d’Été, a luxury pastry boutique celebrating seasonality and the craftsmanship of Japan's finest ingredients. Her cakes, which are true artistic masterpieces, have attracted an exclusive clientele, including high-profile figures such as David Beckham and Rene Redzepi. In 2022, she was awarded the title of Asia's Best Female Chef, cementing her status as one of the most influential figures in global gastronomy.
Shoji is also known for her dedication to promoting the next generation of female chefs. Through the Female Advisory Board of World's 50 Best, she works to improve the work environment for women chefs and create a more equitable future in the culinary industry.
