HR0700 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0700 LRB099 13698 MST 37655 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Yoshi Katsumura of Chicago, who passed away on August 2, 2015; and

WHEREAS, Yoshi Katsumura was the owner and chef of Yoshi's Cafe on North Halsted, which offers a fusion of Asian and French cuisine; he and his wife, Nobuko, opened the restaurant in 1982, operating it for 33 years; and

WHEREAS, Yoshi Katsumura got his start cooking at the age of 20 with an apprenticeship under Iron Chef Hiroyuki Sakai in Tokyo; he moved to Chicago in 1973, working at Le Bastille, and then with Jean Banchet at La Francais; from 1978 to 1982, he presided over Jimmy's Place, which evolved into Jimmy and Yoshi's; and

WHEREAS, Yoshi Katsumura was named one of America's Outstanding Chefs; he received numerous accolades throughout the years; and

WHEREAS, One of Yoshi Katsumura's proudest moments was when Alderman Tom Tunney sponsored the renaming of the street his cafe was on as "Yoshi Katsumura Way"; and

WHEREAS, Yoshi Katsumura is survived by his wife, Nobuko; his children, Mari and Ken; his brother, Kazuhiro Katsumura; and his grandson, Hiro; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Yoshi Katsumura, and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Yoshi Katsumura as an expression of our deepest sympathy.