Sous Chef-Banquets - JW Marriott Hotel Tokyo

Role summary

Written by MyIslandJob from the job title and employer. See the employer's page for the full description.

The Sous Chef-Banquets supports the Executive Chef in planning and delivering high-quality food for conferences, weddings, receptions, and other events. Candidates are expected to have professional kitchen experience, preferably in luxury hotels or large-scale banquet operations, with strong knowledge of food preparation, presentation, hygiene, and cost control. Culinary training and food-safety knowledge are usually required. The role involves supervising chefs and kitchen staff, coordinating production schedules, maintaining Marriott standards, controlling waste, and ensuring dishes are served consistently and on time. Flexibility, leadership, organization, creativity, and the ability to work under pressure are essential. Japanese-language ability is likely valuable, while English may be required for communication within the international hotel team.

About the employer

JW Marriott Hotel Tokyo is a luxury hotel operated under JW Marriott, Marriott International’s premium hospitality brand. JW Marriott properties focus on refined service, wellness, thoughtful design, and memorable guest experiences, serving both leisure travelers and corporate clients. The Tokyo hotel brings the brand’s international standards to Japan, with upscale accommodation, restaurants, bars, wellness facilities, and event and banquet services. Marriott International is one of the world’s largest hotel companies, operating thousands of properties across numerous brands and countries. Employees typically work in a multicultural environment with structured service standards, training opportunities, and potential career mobility across the Marriott network. In a banquet kitchen role, the hotel environment is likely to be fast-paced, detail-oriented, and focused on consistent quality for large-scale events.

Working in Japan

Japan offers strong opportunities in hotels, restaurants, tourism, technology, manufacturing, education, and healthcare. Tokyo provides the widest employment market, excellent public transport, international communities, and a busy urban lifestyle, although housing and daily expenses can be high. Japanese workplace culture generally values punctuality, teamwork, respect, hierarchy, and attention to detail. Learning Japanese is highly beneficial, especially in hospitality, even when English is used internally. Foreign workers normally need an employer-sponsored work visa matching their occupation; culinary professionals may qualify through appropriate skilled-worker pathways, depending on experience, qualifications, and nationality. Applicants should confirm requirements with Japan’s Immigration Services Agency and the Japanese embassy. Relocation usually involves securing a contract, visa, accommodation, health insurance, and residence registration. Japan’s four seasons, excellent food, safety, and reliable infrastructure make it attractive, but adapting to language, workplace formality, and limited living space may take time.