Here's Iron Chef Japan's New Chairman: Hiroshi Tamaki

Behold the stern gaze of actor/singer Hiroshi Tamaki, the new chairman of the Iron Chef reboot premiering in Japan on October 26. The original chairmen, Takeshi Kaga — he of the fondness for bell peppers — is not returning to the show after being off the air for 13 years. According to Kotaku, people in Japan are not pleased, calling this replacement chairman "simply too young and too handsome...What's more, he doesn't seem to be much of a gourmet food lover." How will Tamaki fit into the storyline? According to the mythology of the show, the chairman of the American version, Mark Dacascos, is Kaga's nephew; perhaps Tamaki is his son?

· First Look at the New Iron Chef Host (Does This Man Love Bell Peppers?) [Kotaku]
· All Iron Chef Coverage on Eater [-E-]