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ABOUT

Our corporation's name, Kamakura comes from Japan's ancient capital with a famed avenue of cherry trees still leading to its symbolic shrine, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu where Chef Kevin Cory's family's Nichiei Sake is offered to the Gods. Our family's finest sakes will make their United States debut where the nation's famed palm trees and beaches meet Chef Kevin Cory's new restaurant, NAOE®.

Located on an island off the center of a major city, Brickell Key was first created as an off-shore property in 1896 composed of two small islands by the Father of Miami, Henry Flager. In 1943, Edward N. Claughton Sr. combined them into a single 44-acre island. Since the late 1970's, Swire developed Brickell Key into a sustainable green community with the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, ASIA and more encompassing the Village Green. NAOE® is located in the middle of town at the Courvoisier Centre which was acquired by Tishman & Speyer in 2007 and is managed by Jones Lang LaSalle.

In the 1920's Art Deco era, Shiseido Cosmetics used Art Deco style for their advertisements. Today, Shiseido creates major advertisements with Chef Kevin's first cousin, Cheiko Tsukayama's husband, an artistic genius and living legend, Katsura Funakoshi.

Shiseido Men, Katsura Funakoshi VIDEO

KATSURA FUNAKOSHI ~ VIDEO (.wmv)

 

In the photo below, Chef Kevin's Aunts, Kiyoshi Naoe (left) and Koko Naoe (right) are admiring our family's Nichiei Sake omiki (divine sake) offerings to the Gods at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, the symbolic shrine of Japan's old capital city, Kamakura.

Kiyoshi Naoe and Koko Naoe at the Omiki entrance at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, Kamakura looking at our relatve's sake cask, Nichiei sake from Nakamura Shuzou

(Photograph by Kevin Cory, 1999)

 

 

In the early 1900's, Chef Kevin's Grandfather, Naoe, Genhichiro continued the tradition of our family's 200 year old shoyu (soy sauce) brewery, Naoe in Oono, Kanazawa, Japan and opened another, NaoHichi while also operating the small town of Oono's Post Office and raising 11 children with his wife.

Inside Naogen shoyu brewery house in Oono, Kanazawa.

(Naoe family shoyu since 1825. The Naoe family's house is designated as a cultural asset of Kanazawa, Japan)

Soy beans and wheat are primary ingredients for shoyu production. Coincidently, Chef Kevin's other Grandfather, Christopher Cory born in 1873 had a farm near Mount Summit, Indiana, USA which primarily grew soy beans, wheat and corn. Christopher Cory later expanded to grow pepper in the Isle of Pines, Cuba. In 1973 when Christopher Cory was 100 years old, Chef Kevin was born in Miami.

In 1999, Chef Kevin Cory traveled to Toyama, Japan to reunite and train with his Uncle, Executive Chef Yasushi Naoe at Kawai Ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn with a reservation-only Kaiseki restaurant and formal tea ceremony since 1851. Yasushi Naoe first worked as an Itamae (Head Chef) in 1954 at the revered Asadaya Ryokan in Kanazawa, Japan. At Kawai Ryokan, Yasushi Naoe used Rosanjin pottery from the museum for very special occassions.

Yasushi Naoe signing a carving tool set for Kevin Cory in the kitchen of Kawai Ryokan, Toyama

(Toyama:  Yasushi Naoe at Kawai Ryokan.  Photograph by Kevin Cory, 1999)

 

An acupuncture event at the spa?... More information about Chef Kevin's first cousin, Acupuncturist, Hiroshi Tsukayama is coming soon. The sculpture below is of Hiroshi Tsukayama by Katsura Funakoshi titled "Summer Shower," in his book "The Day I Go To The Forest".

wood sculpture of Hiroshi Tsukayama by Katsura Funakoshi

(Summer Shower by Katsura Funakoshi)

 

In 2009, Chef Kevin Cory unveiled his original and innovative Japanese restaurant, NAOE®. Chef Kevin Cory continues to uphold the unparalleled authenticity of professional Japanese cuisine, continues to create signature dishes, continues to obtain the highest quality seafood from around the world, and continues to make daily trips to local fishing boats to ensure:

 

its not fresh... its Alive. ®

 

Chef Kevin Cory behind the open kitchen wood counter at NAOE.

(Chef Kevin Cory within NAOE's American hinoki slab open kitchen counter. Photograph by Greg Clark, 2009)

 

NAOE® relocated to Brickell Key in 2012.

Side communal table room, N by NAOE® opened in 2014.

 

NAOE:

5 SEATS ~ 5 STARS ~ 5 DIAMONDS

 

2013 Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award

FIVE-STAR AWARD (5/5)

for 10+ consecutive years

 

 

AAA CAA Inspector's Best of Five Diamond 2022 AAA Five Diamond Designation AAA Inspector's Best of 2020

AAA FIVE DIAMOND DESIGNATION (5/5)

 

 

TOP 5 JAPANESE RESTAURANTS IN THE UNITED STATES

La Liste France11/16/2023

 

 

Gayot Top 40 Restaurants in the United States 2015
Gayot 3 ToquesGayot 3 ToquesGayot 3 Toques

GAYOT 3 TOQUES

GAYOT TOP 40 RESTAURANTS IN THE UNITED STATES

 

 

Slow Food Miami Snail of Approval Award

SNAIL OF APPROVAL AWARD

 

 

Zagat
Zagat 29 Food, 23 Decor, 28 Service

#1 FOOD IN MIAMI

#1 SERVICE IN MIAMI

TOP 30 RESTAURANTS IN AMERICA

 

 

OpenTable

TOP 10 IN THE UNITED STATES HONOREE - #3

 

 

Yelp 2012 Real people. Real reviews.
Yelp NAOE 100 reviews Five-Stars

 

 

Florida Trend

Florida Trend Golden Spoon Award

GOLDEN SPOON AWARD

 

 

Frommer's

Frommer's - The Best of South Florida - Best Sushi

Frommer's 3 stars

3/3 Stars

 

 

Fodor's Choice

1/1 Star

 

 

Miami New Times

MIAMI'S TOP TEN CHEFS - #1

BEST SUSHI CHEF

BEST JAPANESE RESTAURANT

 

Our Private Dining and Reservations information are now available.

 

 

 

 

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