Yuta Funaoka Personal Chef for Keisuke Honda

"I wish my dish makes everyone smile," said Yuta Funaoka, who has worked as the personal chef for a Japanese professional soccer player, Keisuke Honda in Melbourne.

Footballer Keisuke Honda(L) and French Chef Yuta Funaoka(R) Source: Supplied

Yuta has worked at several top-rated restaurants in Tokyo, Osaka and Paris since he graduated from cookery school. Soon after Keisuke Honda, a Japanese footballer made his announcement to play for Melbourne Victory in 2018, Yuta was hired to be his personal chef.

Chef Yuta Funaoka (Supplied) Source: Supplied

"After sending my CV, I never thought I would get a call back from senshu (the Japanese word meaning "athlete" used by Yuta to call Keisuke)." But Keisuke did phone Yuta immediately and hired him over the phone.

Professional soccer player and French chef do not seem to share much in common. However, that isn't true. The two share very special bond. Keisuke asked Yuta to join his support team, offering lifetime contract to be his personal chef for good.

SBS Japanese asks what it is like to work as a personal chef for a Japanese superstar like Keisuke Honda.

For more Japanese stories and articles, follow us on Facebook.